“We’ll wait until it dries and then vacuum it up.”
“But I want it to be clean before Valentine and Dad get home.”
I looked into my niece’s earnest face and smiled. “I know. We’ve got plenty of time.”
Rylie gave a last look at the mud and skipped into the kitchen. “What are we making?” she asked when she stepped onto the small stool Lucas had gotten just for her in the kitchen.
She liked to cook with Valentina, and they often did projects together, just like she did with me when I was babysitting.
I pointed to the two eggs on the counter beside a bowl of flour. “You can crack those eggs into the bowl. We’re making peanut butter cookies.”
I was relieved Valentina had called me in a pinch. She often worked from home, but Shay needed her on short notice for help with an ordering problem. I’d needed something to do. After the other night with Walker and those sleepy sensual moments the following morning, my heart felt full to bursting. Feathering along the edges of my thoughts had been the idea that maybe, just maybe, I could relax and have faith in Walker.
Then, I’d gotten that cryptic text from him. I’d tried calling and texting. And got nothing. We were on day two now, and I still hadn’t heard anything from him.
The only conclusion I could come to was Walker must’ve regretted his insane impulse to tell me he was falling in love with me. Because I was constantly prepared to tolerate the abrupt ripping away of trust, it made perfect sense.
I was a mix of angry, hurt, and painfully disappointed. Because, dammit, I had gone and fallen in love with him like an idiot. Even worse, I’d let myself have faith in him, and in us.
Although it was hard to keep my mind off Walker and just how stupid I’d been, I did my best to throw myself into making cookies with Rylie. If anyone could keep me sort of distracted, she could.
I reached for my phone again, spinning it around on the counter and tapping the button to see the screen. Still nothing from Walker. A big, fat nothing.
Apparently, he’d decided he didn’t need to explain anything to me after all. “That’s just fine,” I murmured to myself.
“What’s just fine?” Rylie’s voice reached me when she appeared from the end of the hallway. She’d been building a fort in her playroom.
“Oh, nothing, sweet pea. Just talking to myself.”
Rylie wrinkled her nose as she eyed me. “I know. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just got some things on my mind.”
Rylie opened her mouth, and I braced myself for her next question. There was nothing quite like being grilled by a curious seven-year-old.
I was saved by the door opening, and Valentina stepping through. Her arms were laden with grocery bags.
“Let me help you with those.” Hallelujah, something else to do. I hurried around the counter.
Rylie trotted over too, and the three of us carried the groceries into the kitchen.
“You’re a little early,” I commented as we finished putting away the groceries.
Valentina brushed her hair away from her forehead with the back of her wrist and closed the refrigerator. “Oh yeah. It didn’t take as long as Shay thought. She’s not really a fan of crosschecking things on the spreadsheets. I sent her away and took care of it,” Valentina explained with a smile and a shrug. “Lucas is out on a call, so I’m not sure when we can expect him for dinner.” She looked down at Rylie. “Now would be about the time JJ asks you to do your homework. Do you want to go to your room and take care of that while we get dinner ready?”
Rylie’s braid bounced up and down on her shoulder with her nod. With a little wave, she dashed down the hallway.
Valentina smiled at me. “She loves her new desk. Now she doesn’t want to do her homework in the kitchen anymore.”
“She’s a good kid. Anyway—” I began, just as Valentina spoke at the same time.
“Do you want to stay for some coffee and maybe dinner?” she asked.
I almost hugged her in relief. I was that desperate not to have time on my hands. As it was, I wasn’t due at the bar for my shift until eight tonight. The hours between now and then yawned before me. That was plenty of time for recrimination and beating myself up over being an idiot about Walker.
“I’d love that!”
My answer must’ve come across as a bit too enthusiastic because Valentina gave me a quizzical look. I did love hanging out with her and we’d become tight friends, but enthusiasm wasn’t really my style.
“I’ll make coffee,” I volunteered quickly before stepping around her and aiming straight for the coffee maker on the counter. “What are you planning for dinner?”
“I promised Rylie I’d try this new recipe she found. It’s basically homemade macaroni and cheese. Lucas will eat anything, and I’m sure it will be good.”
She started pulling things out of the refrigerator and cabinets while I started coffee. Once I had the coffee going, I slipped my hips onto a stool across from where Valentina was working on the counter. She shooed me away when I offered to help.
“There’s really nothing to this. It’s noodles and this melted cheese sauce.” After a few quiet moments, Valentina asked, “All right, what’s wrong?” She turned on the burner under a pot of water and started shredding cheese.
“What do you mean?” I hedged.
Valentina narrowed her eyes at me and pursed her lips. “I know you well enough to know when you’re in a weird mood, and you’re definitely in a weird mood. If I had to guess, it’s something to do with Walker. Shay mentioned he had some kind of family emergency.”
“She did? Does she know what’s going on?” My second question practically tripped over the first because it
