Page 36 of Finding Redemption

“I was thinking my black dress shirt.”

“No, you look better in blue and black dress shirt says business,” she answers flatly.

“It is business, Ava.”

“Uh, huh. Get your ass over there and be charming, like your brother. Sweep her off her fucking feet,” Ava directs.

“It’s business. She has a boyfriend.”

“Well, change that.” Fucking Ava.

“I’m not that kind of man,” I argue.

“Maybe not, but you’re also not a chicken shit. Get your ass over there.” How in the hell does Riley stand her?

“I’m going. Later.” I hang up the phone and head over to my closet, grabbing my black dress shirt from the hanger. “She has a boyfriend, and I’m not interested in her anyway,” I growl out loud.

8

Idrive off with Walker in my rearview mirror. “Even with half a beard, he’s still the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

I drop by my office to check on a few things before getting my workout in. Before I know it, three hours have passed and I rush to the gym. Alden’s cooking dinner, and I don’t want him to make a bigger mess than I can clean up. Which is going to happen anyway.

Hurrying back to my place, I open the door to the smell of burnt meat. “Alden?”

“Sorry. I got caught up in a call. It’s under control,” he yells from the kitchen. I leave the front door open to help clear the smoke.

As I turn the corner to the kitchen, he’s trying to switch the alarm off. “Dammit.”

“Do tell.” I shake my head, jerking a magazine from the table and fanning the alarm from the floor. “How about takeout?”

“I’ve got this. Chill.” About the time he says it, the alarm in my room goes off, a screaming sound bouncing off the walls. I run to my bedroom, standing on a chair to fan it. Alden runs in right behind me, bumping me off the chair.

I fall into his arms, our bodies a tangled mess, legs and arms everywhere. We’re laughing our asses off until someone clears their throat, surprising us. I look up from my splayed position on the floor into dreamy blue eyes, the color of the sky on a crisp fall morning.

“Walker?” I utter, trying to register that he’s here.

“Are you all right?” He reaches down for my hand. As I slide mine into his, a charge makes my hair stand on end. My heart pounds in my chest. I look to see if it’s cracked it open. Why is he here? In my house?

“I am.” I shake my head as he watches me untwine from Alden, who giggles as I push away from him, crawling until I can stand. “We were cooking.”

He squints as he scans the room. “In the bedroom?”

I point to the ceiling. “The alarm was going off from the smoke.”

His eyes snap to the ceiling, which is quiet now. “Right.”

“Hey, I’m Alden.” My best friend reaches for Walker’s hand, who reluctantly takes it.

“Walker,” I grunt.

“I’m sorry to interrupt. I wanted to drop the new proposal off. Give you a little extra time to look it over.” He holds up a file.

I take it from him but never take my eyes off his. “Thank you. That’s awesome.”

“I didn’t mean to barge in but with the smoke, the door was open,” he explains as I stand here, holding his hand, dumbfounded.

“Oh, no. You’re fine… it’s fine. Thank you.” I stumble over every word.