Chapter Four
"Oh, God." Paige stared at him, her cheeks flushed pink. "They know you're
here."
"Well, I did talk to Ralph before I came up here. I imagine he told them."
"Oh, God," she repeated. "Is that why. . . Two hours? Oh, God."
Why was she so upset about the others leaving for two hours. . .? Oh, shit,
they were not only giving them time to talk things out but also to. . . He
was going to kill Toby.
"Did he tell you that Tim and I had a fight?" She changed the subject as
she set the pillow aside.
"Yes, but he didn't tell me what it was about," he said. He held up his hands
before adding, "And it's none of my business."
"Well, it was about you, so. . ." She glanced at him, then down at the floor.
"He and Toby and Cabe were drinking tequila and I had a couple shots, too.
After awhile, Tim said he wanted to talk to me so I took him to the interrogation
room. He accused me of being jealous of you and Linda, and I was just using
him to get back at you."
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "I told him he was crazy, that I didn't
care who you dated, that we were just friends slash colleagues. He didn't
believe me. He said I'd been sending him mixed signals and that I was nothing
but a big. . .tease."
Her face turned bright red. "Then he said you and Linda were probably screwing
each other's brains out and he didn't see why I wouldn't even let him kiss
me. I, uh, told him to get out until he could show some respect for me and
for you and Scorpion and. . . Then I came up here and wondered if what he
said about you and Linda was true, and I am sorry, but. . .I. . .I cried
all over your pillow."
She picked up the pillow, which was streaked with her makeup. "I'll take
it home and wash it. . ."
"No, it's okay." He took it from her and surreptitiously sniffed it. It smelled
like lavender. Just like she did. He placed it back onto the bed.
Tim seemed like too nice a guy to turn into such an asshole after a few drinks.
But then alcohol had the ability to change a person, as he knew all too well.
He reran her words through his mind and realized she had omitted something.
Something which made him clench his jaw and fists.
"Did he. . .did he try to. . .f-force. . .?"
"He just tried to kiss me. He was a little drunk. . .so was I."
"That's no excuse." Walter's murderous thoughts now switched from Toby to
the Homeland trainee.
"Walter, it's all right. I kinda, uh. . ." She dropped her eyes and smiled.
"Well, I kicked him."
"Good."
"In the. . ." She waved her hand in the general direction of his groin.
Even though the other man had deserved it, Walter still winced. He'd been
hit there once. It had been a physically painful experience he'd rather not
repeat. The only thing that could ever be more painful would be losing Paige.
And he had come to the realization he had been almost stubborn enough to
let it happen. He drew in a deep breath then exhaled.
"What I said yesterday, about burying feelings?" She nodded. "I can't do
it anymore. I almost made the worst mistake of my life last night. I have
feelings for you that won't stay buried no matter how deep I dig. They keep
coming back up to the surface. I think. . .no, I know. . . I-I love you.
He watched as she sat down onto the bed and covered her face with her hands.
Kneeling down in front of her, he took her hands in his, revealing the tears
rolling down her cheeks. He felt so helpless, he hated seeing her cry. Especially
when he didn't understand why.
"Walter," she said, pulling her hands away before wiping at her face, smearing
her mascara even more. "I love you, too. But I can't do this anymore either.
My heart feels like it's been on a roller coaster after eating too much cotton
candy. I need to know if we're going to be together or not. It's your decision.
All or nothing."
"You're the most important person in my life," he said. "But I'm worried
I'll screw it up. I always do. I've never had a relationship with a woman
that lasted more three months. I don't want to lose you."
"That's not true." She was smiling at him, a smile which made his heart flip.
"What. . .? Which part?"
"The part about never being in a relationship a woman for more than three
months. That's not true."
"I can assure you it is." He didn't know why she seemed so smug.
"How long have you known Happy?"
Happy? "Uh, I've never. . .uh. . .we never. . . I've never ever thought of
her in. . .in that way."
"How long?" she persisted.
He thought for a moment. "About five years."
"And how long did you know your sister?"
"All my life, until she. . .she died." Pain filled his chest and he had to
fight back tears.
"And how long have you known me?" she asked after he had gotten himself back
under control.
He understood then the motive behind her questions. "One year, seven months,
and three, no, four days. I could calculate the hours and minutes. . ."
"No, that's fine." She chuckled. "That's longer than three months, isn't
it?"
"Yes, but. . .but we haven't been in a relationship. It's not the same."
"Walter, we've been in a relationship from that first day when you asked
me to trust you." She reached out, gently placing her hand on his bruised
cheek. "And I have trusted you, ever since that first time. I may have gotten
frustrated and angry with you from time to time, but I never stopped trusting
you. Even when you were breaking my heart."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I trust you, too. It's me I don't trust. I'm going
to do something to annoy you, or ignore you to work on one of my projects,
or say something inconsiderate without thinking, or. . ."
"Walter, you've already done all those things and I'm still here. I'm still
willing to take the next step. I'm not expecting hearts and flowers and poetry.
I accept you the way you are."
"But you like those things, you should have them."
"But I don't need them. I need you more." She lightly stroked his face. "So,
all or nothing?"
It only took a second to make his decision. "All," he whispered as he touched
his lips to hers. A shiver of desire shot down his spine as she opened her
mouth and their tongues met. Wrapping his arms around her, they fell back
onto his bed, with him ending up onto top of her and between her legs.
His mouth made its way to her ear then down her neck. His mind was a clean
slate, filled with only the taste and warmth and softness of the woman writhing
beneath him as he cupped her breasts.
"Walter?"
For the second time that day, Walter froze as Paige stared at him with wide
eyes.
What the hell was Linda doing there?