“Because of fucking Marcus. He used the term, and I thought he was a crazy, but knowing what I do now, it sticks.”
“We’re not going into this blind, Walker. We’re going to do tons of diligence before Maren sets up a date. Trust me on this.”
He goes back to being quiet, this time reaching over to hold my hand.
“We’ll be careful. Maren’s already working on hooking him. She’s going to spend some time seducing him.”
“So, he’ll assume he’s getting laid.”
“That’s the plan for now.”
“I don’t like it.”
My already frazzled nerves spike again as my heart sinks. The last thing I want is to put him in a bad mood for this weekend. It’s the first weekend he’s had off in a while.
“I’ll be with her, in disguise, in case anything seems off.”
“This whole plan is off.”
Now, it’s my turn to go quiet.
“I want to know when and where this is taking place.” He squeezes my hand, his voice still strained.
“All right.”
“Look at me,” he orders a lot more gently.
I do as he says, him lifting our joined hands to his mouth and kissing my fingers.
“Two days. I want you to myself for two days. Think you can leave all this behind for that long?”
“Absolutely,” I answer confidently and without hesitation.
He may not have said it in so many words, but I know how much he’s looking forward to this time away. Agents Kelly, Ross, and Collins all went home for the weekend, all of the men taking some well-deserved time to recharge.
We ride in silence for a few more minutes, this time without the tension filling the air. That is until he turns off onto ‘Walker Scott Lane’.
“Walker Scott Lane? You have a lane named after you?”
“Not me, my grandpa.”
“Was he famous?”
“Depends on who you ask. He was a war hero, a horse breeder, and an all-around family man. He and my grandma had seven children. There are Scotts all over.”
“Seven!”
“Seven,” he confirms.
“I had no idea you had such a large family.”
“My grandparents started their family when they were living near Asheville. My dad was the youngest, so when grandpa found this land and it was perfect for the horses, he relocated. My dad was in high school and had no choice but to come. Obviously, he stayed around. The rest are scattered.”
“But why didn't I know? I feel clueless.”
His mouth covers my knuckles again, and he nips lightly then kisses the area. “I'm telling you now.”
“Seven kids. How does that even happen?”