Page 7 of Dangerous Secrets
“I went to Sawyer’s placeto pick up these boards.You must not’ve been watching out for meclose enough if you missed me driving back.”
She rolled her eyes.“Right.All I’mdoing is sitting by the window, waiting for you to comehome.”
Green eyes narrowed and she silentlycursed herself for saying something he could read more into thanshe’d intended.Seeing no other option, she forged ahead.“What areyou making?”
“First tell me why you’rehere.Were you secretly hoping to find me?”He raised one brow.“Here I am, sweetheart.”
Warmth flooded her cheeks.He wasbaiting her and doing a damn good job of it.“Don’t mock me.Ineeded to get out of the house so I took a walk.If I’d known youwere here, I’d never have come in this direction.”His gazeremained steady and she shrugged.“I spent a lot of time here withJames.”
She left it at that.If he wanted topoke at her for missing James, then he was more of a jerk than shethought.She stared at the boards leaning against the wall andrepeated her question.“What are you making?”
“A coffin.”
Her gaze flew to Walker’s.“You’remaking James’s coffin?”
For a split second his eyes reflecteda deep well of grief.Grief that matched her own.“He always saidhe wanted a simple wood coffin when he was buried.”He shrugged.“Sawyer said he could give me a couple hours tomorrow to work onit.We’ll line it and add some finishing trim, but leave itunstained.We should have it to the mortuary within a coupledays.”
A simple pine coffin.She couldn’tthink of anything that would suit James better, and that hisgrandsons were making it for him made it all the morefitting.
She swallowed against the tightness inher throat, her voice rough when she spoke.“That’s perfect,Walker.It’s exactly what James would want.”
His gaze held hers and the feeling ofconnection, of understanding, swelled.
She turned away, hoping he wouldn’tsee her blinking back tears.Right now, everything made her tearup.She hated feeling she was on the verge of a big uglycry.
With her back to Walker, she crouchedto stroke the little dog who watched her with big, brown eyes.Whenshe’d finally gained some control, she stood.Walker leaned againstthe workbench, his arms crossed over his wide chest, attentionfocused on her like a laser beam.
Absently, she spun the handle of thevise attached to the bench.“When are you leaving?”
“Anxious to get rid ofme?”
“Can you ever answer aquestion directly?”She gave a frustrated sigh and gave the viseone last turn.“I’m curious.But honestly, you don’t want to see meany more than I want to see you.Tell me so I know how long we’llhave to deal with each other.”
“That’ll be a longtime.”
“Meaning what?”
“Exactly what I said.I’mnot going anywhere.”
“But you live inAlaska.”
“Not anymore.”
“You’re staying.”Herstomach hitched and she told herself it was because she wasdisappointed.
“I’ve learned a few thingsover the past years, Laney.One is that you can’t outrun anger.Sometimes you have to stand and fight.I’m ready to stand andfight.”
She looked at him sharply.“What doyou mean, stand and fight?”
“Exactly that.I’m goingto find who set me up.When I do, they’re going to pay.”
“Why now?Why didn’t youfight before?”
“I had to think onit.”
She asked incredulously, “For eightyears?”
“Seems like.”
