‘Walker, that’s so thoughtful!’ she said, turning back to where he was watching her progress anxiously. Unloading the tray again, she snapped off the braces and detangled herself. ‘It’s going to make life so much easier!’
He looked genuinely pleased.
‘Thank you, really.’ She took the couple of steps towards him in her boot, wanting to show him just how touched she was. She put both hands to his chest, which felt as though it had been carved from stone, and turned her face up to his. Close up, he smelled of peppery spice and his jaw was freshly shaven and firm against hers as she pressed her lips to his cheek. His hands found her elbows, holding her gently, and she had the sudden urge to twist her arms around his neck and taste his mouth. Get a grip, she thought. It was just a kiss on the cheek. But all of a sudden, she wanted to ravish the man in the middle of the afternoon.
Jayden’s descent on the stairs sounded like a herd of elephants, but served to bring her back to reality. She stepped back slightly, her hand falling from Walker’s chest. He was watching her carefully, and suddenly she thought that maybe he’d wanted the kiss too. She could see the amber in his hazel eyes, like small sparks of fire. Her breath caught.
‘I didn’t realise Jayden was here,’ Walker said. Was that disappointment in his voice? Or was she imagining it?
‘Yes, he gets home at three thirty every day,’ Gabi said, wondering why the hell she was being so specific. Unless she wanted him to come by another time?
‘Shame,’ said Walker quietly, and his eyes burned into hers. ‘I thought you might need a massage.’
Gabi felt a jolt of pure excitement. So, she wasn’t mistaken. He did feel it too.
‘That would have been nice,’ she said just before Jayden raced into the kitchen, wearing jogging bottoms and ready for instruction. ‘But we are doing fall guy training here today,’ Gabi said, raising her voice.
‘Another time then,’ Walker said, turning to leave. He paused, then turned to face her. ‘Are you coming to the hoedown at The Bolthole at the weekend? Fox texted the girls about it. Apparently he has a special announcement to make.’
Gabi grinned. He wanted her to go. Who knew what might happen?
‘I’ll be there,’ she said, and he nodded. Pushing his hair off his face, he gave her one last scorching look before walking towards the front door.
Ten minutes later, as Jayden practised his forward rolls on the crash mat in the garden, Gabi sat in a nearby wicker chair and inspected her new tray. Not just a present, ahandmadepresent. It had taken time and thought and patience. She ran her fingers down the elastic. They turned in her hands and she saw the name tag, Walker McBride. He’d used his own braces. And suddenly all her thoughts of Honeybridge as a holiday destination came flooding back– after all, a holiday wasn’t a holiday without a holiday romance.
Chapter Sixteen
Walker
Their usual high, round table at The Bolthole was already two deep with bottles of beer. Walker sat next to Fox who, he noticed, wore a brand-new checked shirt and a secretive smile, but he insisted he wasn’t sharing his big news until everyone was there. Although they were chatting, Walker clocked Etienne eyeing the door for Isabella. He nudged him.
‘Missing her already?’
Etienne shrugged and tilted the cowboy hat back on his head. ‘What can I say, mate? I can’t get enough of her.’
Walker shook his head in mock dismay. ‘Who would have thought it? Etienne the one-night wonder practically living with his girlfriend.’ They clinked bottles at the enormity of the change.
‘Now that I’ve found her, I just want to be with her all the time.’
‘Everything changed so quickly,’ Walker said.
‘From the very first time I touched her,’ Etienne replied. Walker had a sudden flash of memory, the feeling of Gabi’s skin under his hands. He found himself following Etienne’s lead and glancing towards the entrance.
‘Same for me and Amber,’ Alex joined in. ‘Although obviously mine didn’t end in a happy ever after.’
‘There’s still time, Al.’ Etienne slung his free arm around his brother’s shoulders.
‘Did you not see her at Story Stars?’ Alex snorted to dismiss the idea.
‘What about you, Fox?’ Walker asked. ‘Anything to report?’
‘Reggie lost another tooth,’ Fox said happily. Walker laughed.
‘How about your love life?’
‘What love life?!’
‘What about your sex life then?’ Etienne asked.
