Walker looked down at Maze’s face as she danced in front of him. She was dewy, flushed . . . and sexy as hell.

“I’m awesome,” she said, apropos of nothing. Actually, she yelled it over the music as she shimmied and shook her hot bod to the beat. “And also, you’re lucky to have me.”

This had him blinking in surprise. “That’s one hundred percent true,” he finally said. “But I wasn’t aware that I . . . ‘had’ you.”

She shrugged. “Just announcing my stance.”

“Good to know. And . . .” He let loose what was first and foremost on his mind. “. . . you’re commando?”

“Laundry day.” Then she turned her back to him and kept dancing.

Walker had gotten a call from Boomer half an hour ago. He’d barely been able to hear over the noise in the background. All he’d gotten was “the girls” over a whole bunch of music and laughter and “. . . they’re lit . . . might want to come get their drunk asses . . .”

Walker’s plans for the night had been entertaining Sammie with Jace, but after she’d gone to sleep and Jace had taken over the baby monitor, Walker had been headed for a beer and eight hours horizontal without conscious thought. He’d gotten as far as cracking the beer when the call had come in. The drive had been easy. No traffic at the lake or in Wildstone at this time of night.

He’d nodded to Boomer as he’d entered the bar. They’d known each other for a very long time. In fact, Boomer was trying to sell him the Whiskey River so that he and his wife could move to L.A.

Walker had to admit he was damn tempted. It’d mean quitting his job at the FBI, though, and he’d put his life and soul into the work.

But then again, that job had nearly taken his life and soul more than once.

Laughter drew his eyes back to the girls. Specifically Maze. She looked . . . happy. Just the sight of her took down the walls he’d built up, proven by the fact he was on the dance floor. He’d never been able to resist her, not once since he’d met her as a defiant, wary, resilient, amazing, tough girl. At the moment, though, she and her two comrades were dancing and singing at the top of their drunk lungs to “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift. Heather was boogying, her feet planted on the floor, rocking side to side and swinging her arms with abandon over her head. Caitlin was dirty dancing with the air, shaking her booty along with everything else God had given her. Maze was the only one of them with any rhythm at all, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her as she worked her hips to the music, eyes closed, singing loud enough for people in the next county over to hear her. It made him laugh. As always, she made him laugh.

Heather and Caitlin caught sight of him and sent twin dazzling, drunken grins his way.

“Walker!” Heather yelled right in his face. “Dance with us!”

Caitlin pulled him in a little and went back to shaking her groove thing, looking more like she might be having a seizure than actually dancing. “We need more drinks,” she announced.

Thank God. Walker turned and headed to the bar.

“Told you,” Boomer said, and they both looked out at the girls on the floor tearing it up. Caitlin and Heather threw their arms around Maze and nearly took her out at the knees. They all staggered but managed to stay upright.

“How many drinks in are they?” Walker asked.

Boomer grinned. “Probably a full pitcher each.”

Shit. “Switch to virgin for this last pitcher.”

“Look at you, acting like the boss already. You making me an offer for this place or what?”

“Haven’t ruled it out,” Walker admitted, accepting the virgin pitcher. “Thanks for the call.”

“It’s nice to see them cut loose. Caitlin’s not usually all that much fun.”

“Yeah, well, hungover Caitlin’s going to skin all of us alive if she’s too sick for her wedding rehearsal tomorrow.” He took the pitcher back to the party. Thirty minutes later, it was empty and Caitlin said, “I can’t feel my feet.”

“Do you want to go home?” Walker asked. “Or . . . ?”

“Home.” She beamed. “I love it that you think of us as home.” She threw her arms around him and squeezed the breath from his lungs. “I also love that I can always count on you.”

“Always,” he said, getting a grip on her wrist, then turned to gather the other two. He had no problem being the rescue squad for the night. Or ever. It was something that he’d done a thousand times for both Caitlin and Heather and would do a thousand more without conscious thought, because they were family.

He’d never rescued Maze before. At least not in a way she’d recognize as such, because Maze hated needing help or rescue. Feeling those things made her feel trapped. Worthless.

And that was the last thing he wanted for her.

As for what he did want, well, his brain and his heart were not on the same page. Neither were certain body parts, which twitched as he watched her, still out there on the dance floor, moving with easy, sensual grace.

As if she felt him, she opened her eyes. She didn’t stop dancing, though, just kept swaying, watching him with those beautiful eyes of hers.

“Caitlin wants to call it a night,” he said. “Your chariot awaits.”

Heather and Caitlin both “Awwwwed” in sync and looked at him like he was the sweetest thing on the planet.

Shaking his head, he turned and eyed their booth. “Let’s get your stuff.” Since they all just kept dancing, he headed back to the booth and gathered three purses, which he slung over a shoulder. “What do you guys keep in here?” he asked, shocked at the weight.

“Stuff,” Heather said. “I bet you’d make the best husband on the planet. Isn’t that right, Maze?”

Maze pretended not to hear.

Walker reached for Caitlin’s hand because she was usually the most reasonable. “Come on, honey, let’s get you home.”

She clapped her hands to his cheeks. “I love you, Walk.”

“No, I love him,” Heather said, pushing her way in, cuddling into his side.

Maze rolled her eyes. “No getting mushy at a bachelorette party, it’s the rules.”

“Hey, it’s important to express your feelings,” Heather said. She looked at Walker. “She loves you too.”

He should be so lucky. “Yeah, yeah,” he said. “We all love each other, but I’ll love you more if you get outside and in the car.”

He managed to wrangle them halfway to the door, but then Heather had to go to the bathroom and Caitlin wanted to hug and kiss Boomer goodbye. Maze, suddenly a little quiet and broody, wanted to walk home.

Feeling like he was herding cats, he ended up standing on the sidewalk waiting for Heather and Caitlin to come outside. Maze sat on the curb, something definitely wrong. He had no idea if it was last night or something that had nothing to do with him, but his luck wasn’t that good so he figured that yeah, it was definitely last night. Aka him. “You okay?”

She lifted a shoulder.

Even he knew that was woman code for no. Taking off his sweatshirt, he wrapped it around her and sat at her side. “Is this about last night?”

“I don’t want to talk about last night.”