I tugged on Jensen’s arm. “I don’t know if shots are such a good idea for me. I don’t have the highest alcohol tolerance.”
She sent me a reassuring grin. “Don’t worry. We’ll just shoot these and then get water bottles to take on the dance floor with us.”
I caved to the peer pressure. “Oh, all right.”
John re-emerged with four shots, lime wedges, and salt. “Here you ladies go.” His eyes traveled down the length of my body. “I don’t think I’ve met you before. I’m John.”
I took his outstretched hand, shaking it. “Taylor.”
Jensen grabbed two shot glasses, handing me one. “Taylor just moved into the guest cabin a few weeks ago.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you. I gotta get back to work, but maybe I can buy you a drink when my shift’s over?”
“We’ll see,” I teased. He grinned and headed for the opposite end of the bar.
“Come on,” Jensen said. “Down the hatch.”
“Down the hatch” were Jensen’s and my famous last words. The country tunes blared from the bar’s speakers as Jensen and I twirled around the dance floor in fits of hysterical giggles. This was a blast. Why didn’t I go out more?
On my last twirl, I ran smack into a wall of muscle. “Hey there, Short-stack,” a deep voice said as hands grasped my arms in an attempt to steady me.
I tipped my head back and found vibrant green eyes staring down at me. “Whoa. You’re pretty.”
His lips quirked. “Pretty, huh?”
I nodded. Jensen tugged my hand. “Let her go, Walker. We have more dancing to do.”
Walker chuckled. “I think you two are done for the night. Bryce is right behind me.”
Jensen perked up at that, and I spotted Bryce’s sandy brown head making his way towards Jensen. She launched herself at him and, luckily, he caught her. She then proceeded to plant a long, hot kiss on the man’s lips.
“Shit. I do not need to see that, guys,” Walker grumbled.
I giggled as Bryce slowly set Jensen down on her feet. “Sorry about that, Walk,” he said. Bryce’s eyes then turned to me, a warm smile in place. “Nice to see you again, Taylor.”
“You, too.” My body wavered, and Walker slipped an arm around my waist to keep me upright. Shit. Shots were such a bad idea. Walker’s arm felt warm and comforting around me. I burrowed into his side, suddenly feeling very sleepy.
“I’m going to take her home. Can you handle J?” Walker’s voice rumbled against the cheek I had pressed to his chest.
“Yeah. No problem, man. I’ll see you later,” Bryce’s voice came as if from far away.
“Drive safe,” Walker instructed.
My eyes opened as Bryce said, “I will. Precious cargo.”
“You got that right.”
Walker ushered me towards the exit, and I called over my shoulder, “Bye, J! So. Much. Fun.” I punctuated each of the last words with a fist in the air. I could hear Jensen’s laughter even over the crowd.
Walker propelled me forward. “Come on, let’s go.”
The cool night air was a jolt to my system, sending any desire for sleep fleeing. I shivered. Walker must have felt the movement because he slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.
I inhaled deeply. The scent of the coat was a mixture of his woodsy cologne and something uniquely Walker. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Walker opened the door to his truck and helped me into the seat in silence, but each brush of his hand sent tingles shooting across my skin. When he leaned across to buckle my seatbelt, my entire body trembled.
“Still cold?” he asked.
I shook my head, not trusting my voice.
He studied my face but said nothing, just shut the door and rounded the truck.
The ride home was silent. I spun my ring in circles on my finger and nibbled at the corner of my lip.
Walker pulled into the cabin’s drive, then shut off the truck and came around to open my door. “Come on, let’s get you inside so you can catch some shuteye.”
He helped me down, and we made our way to the front porch. Two steps up, I turned, leaving me face-to-face with Walker and his gorgeous eyes. “Thanks for taking me home.”
“Anytime. I’m glad you let your guard down enough to have a little fun.”
“I don’t have my guard up.”
Walker’s head fell back and he let loose that same laugh I’d heard that day at the saloon, back when I didn’t even know his name. “Oh, honey, your guard is up so high, you can’t even see over it.” His face grew serious. “But, maybe one of these days, you’ll lower it enough to see that letting people really know you isn’t the worst thing.”
My breaths came in shallow bursts. Heat flared in Walker’s eyes as his gaze dropped to my mouth. Fuck it. I closed the distance between us.
My lips met his in a hesitant caress that soon turned hungry. His tongue parted my lips, and I tasted a hint of bitterness left behind by a beer. My lower belly clenched as his hand drifted to my neck, tangling in my hair. I pushed my body flush against his, needing more contact, more of his body, more of anything to do with him.
Suddenly, the hand on my neck was gone, and there were two on my shoulders, pushing me back. “I can’t. This is a bad idea.”
I blinked rapidly, still a little dazed from the mixture of booze and lust. “Why not?”
Walker roughly ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. “For one, you’re drunk.” I’m not that drunk, I thought petulantly. “And two…” His voice trailed off as if he were searching for the right words. “The timing isn’t right.” My spine stiffened. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re gorgeous.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, tasting blood. “I get it.” I turned on my heel and headed up the stairs.
“Taylor…”
“Thanks for the ride,” I called without turning around. I quickly fumbled for my key, unlocking the door with a speed and dexterity I should not have possessed given how much tequila I had consumed that evening. I was through the door before Walker could say another word.
I knew an excuse when I heard it. I knew when I wasn’t wanted.