Page 5 of Walker

I finally gather my senses and walk the rest of the way to him. “Let me help you inside, darlin.” He gently takes my hand, helping me inside the truck.

The sight of the man sitting across the seat takes my breath away just as much as the man who helped me inside the truck. He’s younger, closer to my age, tan skin and muscular, tattooed arms that are barely being contained by the white t-shirt he is wearing, his jeans are stretched tight on his thighs where his hand is resting.

I slide to the middle and the other one gets in beside me, leaving me squashed right between two of the most alluring men I have ever seen.

Both of them are staring at me, almost like they’re staring into my soul. I can feel my face growing hotter by the second.

I look down to my lap trying to play it cool, but the appeal of them beside me is crazy.

“How was work today?” Lynn asks me, breaking the moment.

I look up at her, feeling sad thinking about the cases I had today. “It was hard. I had a few more trauma cases.” It still amazes me the things that people go through, especially the cases with small kids.

“I’m going to the veterans center next week. I’m going to see some soldiers who are experiencing severe PTSD.” Both of the guys are looking at me with awe and respect.

I’m proud of what I do.

Lynn looks at Tristan lovingly, holding his hand tighter. “Tristan and Darren just finished their service in the SEALs. They’re transitioning back to civilian life full-time.”

I look at them both. “Wow, thank you both for your service.” I have a special place in my heart for all of our service men.

“My dad, Walker, was in the special forces until I was born and he left so he could raise me,” Tristan tells me as he points to his dad next to me.

I look to Darren and to Walker. “My dads were special forces but Everett, one of my dads, was kidnapped and held captive for days. He was haunted by that for years.” My heart hurts to even think about what he had been through, I’ve seen the scars on his body.

Walker bursts out laughing suddenly, causing me to jump in shock. “Fuck, I knew your dads! I was in the forces with them.”

I smile at him. “That’s amazing! I’m sure they would love to know that I met you tonight.”

Walker gives me a small smile causing me to look down at my lap blushing at the attention.

Tristan slows down and I see a man standing on the highway with a flashlight waving us to drive inside.

My stomach twists in knots in anticipation when we pull to a stop. Everyone opens their doors and I slide out Darren’s side.

I eye the woods trying to see if I can see someone walking through them, but you can’t see anything, only the small torches giving a small shadowy light.

I hear a bunch of sharp piercing screams soon followed by a chainsaw. I jump moving to the middle of the group so I don’t get taken by someone. “Oh my God,” I whisper. A clown runs out of the woods chasing someone, they fall and I cringe because that would be my luck.

We start to get in line when a bunch of guys run in front of us jostling each other, causing one another to bump into other people and fall to the ground.

We’re next in line to pay. I start to get my wallet out when Walker stuffs my hand back into my pocket with a small smile tilting his lips. He scoots in front of everyone whipping his card out before anyone else can.

I look at Darren beside me shaking his head, putting his wallet back in his pocket. “What the fuck, Dad?” Tristan says.

Walker gives Tristan a look. “Tristan,” he says in a gruff voice, handing us our wristbands.

I laugh at them both, at their antics. We get into the line to get on the hayride, right behind those idiot guys.

I swear every tree limb looks like it’s someone staring at us or hiding. “Have you ever been to one of these before?” Lynn asks me.

I shake my head no. “I was a chicken when I was younger.” I don't take my eyes off of the woods so I’m ready if someone tries to jump on us.

“When you were younger?” Lynn asks with sarcasm.

I turn around eyeing her, catching the hint she is throwing. I squint my eyes together giving her my meanest look. “What were you saying?” I ask.

She looks away from me biting her lip. “Nothing.” She shrugs.

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