Damaged!: A Walker Brothers Novel: (The Walker Brothers Book 3)

by J. S. Scott

  “I talked to her at length on the phone. I like her. If I was ever going to take a chance, I knew it would be with her. I have no idea if there will be some kind of love connection between her and Dane, but that wasn’t what I was trying to do. My goal was for him to see that not all women are soulless vipers. If they can manage to be friends, I’d be happy. Maybe it would bring Dane out of himself. Maybe he’d get off the island more often.”

  “Sebastian really wants him here for his wedding,” Eva said wistfully. “And I want to see him. It’s been a long time.”

  “I do have a private jet,” I suggested. “We could always go visit.”

  “I’d love that,” she said in an animated voice. “I guess I’ve never even thought about going to see him. I’d feel like I was intruding. He’s never actually invited us.”

  “I feel that way, too,” I admitted. “But maybe it’s time for us to just invite ourselves.”

  I’d never invaded Dane’s privacy. I figured he wanted to be alone. But I was starting to wonder whether he’d just not asked us to come because he thought we’d refuse. I was beginning to regret giving him his space.

  “Let’s talk to him at Sebastian and Paige’s wedding,” Eva suggested. “I wouldn’t exactly be sad to go visit a tropical island in the winter, and I’d like to see more of Dane.”

  “Same here,” I agreed. “I just hope he gets to the wedding. He’s been pretty busy for the last few years, and I have a feeling he’s using that as an excuse. The longer he stays isolated, the more unlikely it will be that he’ll continue to come visit. I can’t handle that, Eva. He’s all that Sebastian and I have left.”

  “He’ll get here,” Eva said confidently. “He isn’t going to miss his brother’s wedding. Maybe he skipped the holidays, but his brothers are only going to get married once. Well, I hope they only get married once, anyway.”

  “I don’t plan on ever letting you go,” I said firmly. “You’re stuck with me.”

  Eva was my entire world, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

  “Happy to be stuck,” she shot back at me with a charming smile.

  “So, how long do we have until the wedding?” I asked my wife. “Has Paige set a date?”

  “Not yet,” she said. “But we’re almost done planning, so it should be confirmed soon. Paige is considering relocating the ceremony since it’s going to be so cold here.”

  My wife and Sebastian’s fiancée had been planning the wedding for weeks, and I knew my brother was getting impatient. I knew my brother didn’t give a shit where it happened. “It better be soon. Sebastian won’t make it much longer.”

  Eva laughed. “He’ll live. We don’t need to hurry. They’re already living together. It’s not like she’s holding out on him.”

  “Doesn’t matter. He wants to make it official.” I could understand his frustration. I’d had the same desperate need to make sure that Eva was connected to me. Maybe it was primal instinct, but it didn’t feel right not being married to her. After all, I’d waited my entire life to find her.

  Eva changed the subject when she asked, “What else did Dane say?”

  I shrugged. “Most of what he was bellowing made no sense.”

  “Poor Dane,” Eva commiserated.

  “If he gets comfortable with Kenzie, his discomfort now will be worth it.”

  “I think it will be good for her, too,” Eva said. “She hasn’t had the easiest life, and maybe living on a tropical island will be a nice break.”

  “She’s lived in the city all her life. I think it’s going to be rather unnerving, actually.”

  “But it will be a respite. New York gets pretty old,” she argued.

  I knew the streets hadn’t been kind to my wife, and there was nothing she loved more than hiking in the mountains. Even though we lived in Denver, we got away as often as possible.

  “Do you need a break?” I asked, suddenly worried that I’d been neglecting her.

  She stood and slowly made her way to my chair. I reached out and snagged her waist, pulling her down to my lap.

  Holding Eva never failed to lighten my spirits. I had no idea how I’d gotten so damn lucky, but I’d stopped questioning my fate. I was just damn glad she’d married me.

  “No. I don’t need a break,” she replied with a happy sigh, running her fingers through my unruly hair. “I like getting away, but we do it often enough. I have to be in a city to do what I love, and so do you.”

  I could argue that Walker Enterprises could pretty much be headquartered anywhere, but her studies in the culinary arts were a different story. Her talent required a lot of people who wanted to eat, and she was far better off in a place where people could appreciate her skills.

  My wife didn’t know it yet, but I planned on buying her the best restaurant in Denver once her studies were complete. She deserved a special place where she could create her own recipes.

  “I don’t give a damn where I am as long as I’m with you,” I said hoarsely, tightening my arms around her waist.

  “Ditto, Mr. Walker,” she said playfully.

  My heart skipped a beat as my beautiful Eva looked down at me with love in her eyes, an expression I’d learned to count on since we’d confessed how we felt about each other. “I love you,” I said automatically, unable to keep my emotions confined inside my chest.

  “I love you, too,” she said in a husky whisper as she lowered her luscious mouth to mine.

  All thoughts of my little brother faded as Eva flooded my damn soul. I’d worry about Dane later. There wasn’t much I could really do, and I couldn’t concentrate when I had Eva this damn close.

  Whatever happened between Dane and his assistant had to be left to fate. I wasn’t going to interfere anymore.

  I just hoped that someday, my youngest sibling could be as happy as me and Sebastian. Nobody deserved it more than he did.

  CHAPTER 6

  Dane

  SIX YEARS AGO…

  I lived in a house with no mirrors.

  On purpose, I’d avoided the presence of any reflective glass when the home had been decorated. It wasn’t like I was a damn vampire or something. I was just a guy who hated the sight of my own face.

  I rarely saw my reflection unless I was shaving—a task I’d just finished.

  Looking at my jawline in the only mirror I had in the house, I called it good and flipped down the adjustable glass that I used in the master bathroom to take the hair off my face.

  Okay, maybe I could have let the decorator put up mirrors in the other bedrooms, and I would probably be open to getting some—if I ever had visitors. But right now it was just me, and I hated looking at myself.

  I gazed down at Picasso’s soulful dark eyes as he looked up at me from his position at my feet. “Yeah. Okay. You’re here,” I muttered to my dog. “But I don’t think you want to check yourself out in the mirror.”

  Picasso cocked his head in a way that had always perplexed me, like he understood every word I said, even though I knew he didn’t.

  I went into the walk-in closet to get a clean shirt, pulled it over my head, and asked the mutt, “Do you want to go to the beach?”

  The canine was up in a flash, and whining to be taken out to the water.

  I was pretty sure Picasso understood the word “beach.” Or maybe he just knew that we started almost every day with a walk out to the water.

  I watched, slightly amused, as he shot out the door. I followed at a slower pace.

  Going about my daily routine kept me sane. I’d have coffee first, then I’d retreat to my studio. Really, all I had to do was work on my art. It wasn’t like I really had any other pressing matters right now.

  I wondered what Trace and Sebastian were doing, then tried to resist the urge to call and find out.

  I’d only been home from my annual h
oliday visit for a few weeks now, and I was already feeling the oppressive silence of the large residence.

  Occasionally, I’d give into the urge to talk to Sebastian and Trace on the phone, and then I’d end up feeling more alone than I could handle. So I avoided their calls until I had to talk to them.

  It was easier that way. I didn’t want to hope for something that would never be reality.

  After I finished prepping the coffee, I leaned against the sink waiting for it to finish.

  Really, was living on a private island so damn bad? I had my freedom. I had my dog. I could pursue anything that interested me and work on my art.

  I had boats now, so I entertained myself with fishing and scuba diving.

  I’m fine being alone. I’ll get used to it.

  I tried to banish my brothers from my mind as I poured a cup of coffee and sat down to read the world news, trying not to think about how much I wished that I had somebody to talk to about what was happening around the globe.

  Like I did every morning, I just scanned the news by myself.

  Just like every other day.

  I was always alone.

  CHAPTER 7

  Kenzie

  I collapsed on the bed in the most gorgeous room I’d ever seen with a sigh of relief. Theo had finally finished telling me where I could find everything in the suite, and had retreated, so I was alone for the first time since I’d been picked up at the airport.

  Dane had almost sent me away, and I shuddered to think about what might have happened if I had to try to start all over again.

  I’d be homeless.

  I’d have nowhere to go.

  I’d have nowhere to run.

  This job opportunity had meant everything to me. I thought it would be my chance to build up my resources and plan my life. I needed a new start so badly, and I’d been desperately hoping that working for Dane Walker would be the beginning of something different for me.

  Now, I knew it was going to be just one more battle for survival.

  I didn’t want to have to move every time my location was discovered. I’d been doing it since I’d hit adulthood.

  I lay on my back and looked around the enormous bedroom. It was tastefully decorated in a light, bright, beachy décor. The blue room was actually an aquamarine color. Splashes of bolder navy blue and other deeper colors made the bedroom fun and relaxing.

  There wasn’t anything fussy or pretentious about the space. But it screamed luxury anyway.

  I’d seen the attached bathroom when Theo had brought me upstairs, and I knew that the colors and theme had been carried throughout the space. The bath was the same color, and I love the bold accents.

  The only really strange thing I’d noticed was the surprising lack of mirrors. Luckily, I had a large makeup mirror in my suitcase, but the fact that an amazing suite like this lacked reflective glass was rather…odd.

  There was a lovely sitting area and desk on the other side of the room, and I knew I was going to love having my own TV. Sharing a space with several other women meant I rarely got to watch what I wanted on the television. Not that I’d had much time.

  “No slacking,” I told myself sternly as I sat up. I was here to do a job, and I was going to accomplish as much as I could immediately.

  I started putting away my clothes, unwilling to believe that my stay would only be temporary.

  I have to stay here. I need to stay here.

  After changing into a pair of jeans and light shirt, I told myself I was ready.

  Even though I wasn’t thrilled about having another interaction with Dane, I was ready to get to work. I couldn’t stand to be idle. I was fairly certain it wasn’t in my DNA. I’d spent my whole life being busy, very rarely taking the time to kick back and relax.

  I’ll be fine.

  Dane Walker had definitely not left me with a good first impression, but I’d have to get over my fear of running into him. I was here to help him.

  Unfortunately, he was more than a little intimidating. He looked like he was in his mid-twenties, about the same age as me. Not that it helped to know we had something in common. The tension between us could practically be cut with a knife.

  I’m attracted to him. Really attracted.

  Now that was a problem.

  There was no way I could look at his massive body and not feel slightly daunted. He was ripped, but I had a feeling that it wasn’t from lifting weights or working out. Dane had sun kissed skin, and the appearance of a man who worked a lot outside. His skin was naturally tanned by the sun. So I was betting he was incredibly active around the island.

  His chocolate-brown stare had been unnerving, but I couldn’t deny how much it had gotten to me. He had strong features, and they were topped off by his unruly jet-black hair.

  Yeah, he had some scars, and I’d wondered how he’d gotten them, but they weren’t something that would put anybody off. My heart ached for whatever had happened to him, and I assumed that he’d gotten those marks from the accident that had killed his father.

  I went downstairs to explore, trying to get my bearings in the mammoth home.

  On the first floor, I found a living room, a family room, and a chef’s kitchen that I was dying to check out. I wasn’t a great cook, but I did know my way around a kitchen.

  I walked by the theater room, looking at the indoor pool and spa for a moment before I kept moving on.

  Finally, I reached his office.

  To my dismay, I found that it was already occupied.

  “Mr. Walker?” I asked hesitantly as I passed through the open door.

  “What do you want?” he asked unhappily.

  “I’m your assistant. I meant to ask you what you wanted.”

  “Nothing. Working hours are over.”

  Thank God he’d donned a shirt. It made looking at him far easier to do without drooling over his heavily muscled form.

  “What exactly are my working hours?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t say I had to leave.

  “Since you’re my assistant, I guess they’re whatever I want them to be,” he stated in a bemused tone.

  He wasn’t looking in my direction. He was standing in front of the French doors with his back to me, apparently lost in thought. Jesus! I did like the view. The man had the tightest ass on the planet. “Okay,” I said obligingly.

  I was pretty sure he was trying to get rid of me, but I lingered inside the room. It didn’t feel right for me to just leave.

  “Tell me why a beautiful woman like you ended up here?” he demanded.

  I stared at the broad shoulders that were encased inside the stretched cotton T-shirt. “I needed a job,” I said honestly.

  Dane turned to me, and then took a seat at his desk. His expression was still broody, but he motioned for me to sit down in the chair in front of his desk.

  “Why did you need a job?” he pressed.

  I moved to sit down, considering what I wanted to reveal about my disastrous personal and professional life, feeling like a loser for messing things up so badly. “I lost my job. I worked at an art gallery in New York.”

  He lifted an arrogant eyebrow. “Which gallery? And why did they fire you?”

  “I didn’t say they fired me,” I protested.

  “Did they?”

  “Yes,” I said in a defeated tone. “It wasn’t they; it was him. I worked at Keith Maxfield Fine Art.”

  He nodded. “I do business with him.”

  “I know. I saw your painting in person for the first time when I went to work there.”

  “Tell me what happened,” he demanded. “I’m your employer now. I have the right to know.”

  I let out a nervous sigh. Dane was right. He should know my work history, even though I wasn’t technically his employee. I’d actually been hired by his brothers. But I
knew I was rationalizing.

  I made it as simple as possible. “He’d deny it, but Keith asked me out a number of times. I said no. He tried to force himself on me. I kicked him in the balls. The next morning, he fired me.”

  I hated to think about that day. It had been one of the worst of my life. I would have just walked off the job and never gone back if I hadn’t desperately needed that position. Had I known Keith was going to fire me, I would have left without having a dismissal on my work record. Unfortunately, I had needed my job, so I’d stayed, hoping Keith would recover from having his balls handed to him and leave me alone.

  Dane leaned back in his chair, assessing me. “That motherfucker tried to assault you?” he asked in a hoarse, guttural voice.

  “Yes.”

  There was an eerie silence between us until he finally answered, “First thing tomorrow morning, you’ll be contacting the gallery and letting them know I won’t be giving them any more of my work. I don’t do business with guys like him.”

  I nearly choked on the big lump in my throat as I stared at Dane in shock.

  His order had been matter-of-fact, but I had no doubt that he meant what he said. “You believe me?”

  “Do I have reason not to think it’s true?”

  I shook my head, my heart pounding heavily in my chest. “No. But I’m nobody. Maxfield is a big gallery.”

  “Until you give me reason not to trust you, your word is good with me,” he answered.

  My eyes watered as I took in what he’d just said. I had just been a woman in the lowest position somebody could have at the gallery. Yet, Dane believed me. Just like that. It made my chest ache with gratitude that he had taken me at my word. “Thank you,” I said in a low, emotional tone.

  “For what?” he asked.

  “For believing me. Most people would take Keith’s side. Especially his clients. He’s pretty powerful in the art world.”

  “I don’t give a damn about how well he can throw his weight around. All he is to me is a peddler who can sell my pieces. I don’t need him.”

  Dane was right. He didn’t need Keith. Any other gallery would kill to exhibit his work. “I know a few that are still up and coming,” I said haltingly. “They’d love to have any pieces you’ll give them. I have a friend. An old roommate. She’s a female, but extremely knowledgeable in abstracts.”