“Tell h-her thank you. That was v-very kind,” she stammers, patting his hand.
We still haven’t shared her Parkinson’s diagnosis with anyone else yet. Our primary focus has been on getting her well enough to be sent home. Thankfully, the doctor recommended minimizing her interactions to reduce the risk of infection, so we didn’t have to come up with another excuse for why she couldn’t have visitors. Our friends have been incredibly understanding, though that hasn’t stopped them from sending gifts, or in Julie’s case, having Walker personally deliver books and a homemade dessert, judging by the see-through container of cookies sitting on the empty chair beside him.
I press myself farther against the wall, and peek my head into the room, hoping to go unnoticed for a little while longer.
“Let’s see what we have here,” Walker says to Mama, starting with the book on top of the pile. “The Governess Who Tamed the Duke. No surprise she included a historical romance—they’re her favorites.”
“What is i-it about?” Mama asks.
Walker flips the book over to read the blurb.“When a spirited governess enters the quiet halls of Greyhaven Estate, the brooding Duke of Ashwood is unprepared for her wit and fiery independence.Their stolen moments in shadowed corridors and moonlit gardens defy what’s expected of them and toss aside every high rule of society.”He punctuates each word witha provocative lilt, carrying the same heat as his bedroom voice, but slower, and deliberately measured.“But when whispers begin to circulate through the ton, they have to decide if being together is worth the price of scandal.”
Now I see why Mama jumped at the chance to have Walker read to her. It’s far better than hearing it from me or one of her nurses.
When Walker glances up at her, she shakes her head, scrunching her nose. I bite my cheek to stifle a giggle at her unenthusiastic reaction.
“How about we check out what else we’ve got,” he suggests, sliding the first book onto the rolling tray beside him and picking up another. “Next up isFramed in Heat,a contemporary romance by the looks of it.”
The cover is a soft coral and slate gray, featuring a woman in a light blue blouse standing on a rooftop, her camera held out, facing the skyline, while a man watches beside her.
Walker rests back in his chair as he reads the description.“Freelancer photographer Riley thought her biggest challenge when she lands a high-profile fashion shoot in Miami would be the scorching sun—not the infuriatingly arrogant designer, Ethan.”He slows his pace, drawing out the building tension.“From heated arguments on set to unexpected rooftop encounters, sparks turn to desire. But can rivalry blossom into romance amid the chaos of fashion and fame?”
Mama tilts her head, pinching her lips together.
Walker chuckles when he looks back at her. “Judging by that look, I’m putting this one straight in the no pile.” He sets it on top of the last reject. “Why don’t we see if there’s something here that’s more of a slow burn with higher stakes?”
“You k-know me well,” Mama says, her hand shaking as she slides it over to give Walker’s a squeeze, her eyes sparkling with affection.
His murmured reply is too quiet for me to hear, but it makes Mama laugh. He may have started helping her because of me, but it’s obvious he’s grown to genuinely care about her, and that means everything to me.
Walker thumbs through the remaining books, a spark of excitement in his eyes when he reaches the last one. “Ah, here we go,” he exclaims triumphantly. “This bodyguard romanceGuarded Desire: A Love Storylooks promising,” he notes, turning to look at the back.
“Coleson Hayes built his reputation on discipline. Clients hire him because he doesn’t make mistakes, won’t cross lines, and never lets emotion interfere with the job. No attachments. No complications. Then he’s assigned to Lina Jackson, a woman who tests his patience and whose beauty is as dangerous as her father’s enemies. With every glance and brush of her hand, his restraint falters, and when he gives in to a single night of temptation, he’s left—”
I don’t catch the rest of Walker’s sentence, distracted by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind me. When I turn, I see Nurse Brown standing nearby with her tablet, likely finishing up her rounds before her shift ends.
“Good lord, that man’s voice is ridiculously hot,” she gushes in a whisper, nodding to Walker. “I could listen to that sultry drawl twenty-four seven and never get enough.”
“He’s taken,” I blurt out.
I blink, heat rising to my cheeks as I realize how possessive I sound.
Nurse Brown flashes me a smirk. “Good for you, girl. He’s a total dreamboat. I can see why you’re so quick to claim him. If he ever retires the cowboy hat, he could absolutely be a narrator.”
I laugh softly. “I’ll make sure you’re one of the first to know if he ever changes careers.”
When my eyes return to Mama’s room, I find her smiling at Walker as he opensGuarded Desire: A Love Storyto the first page. A wave of peace washes over me, and I owe that all to him.
It’s been five days since Mama was admitted to the hospital. I’ve barely left her side, afraid I might miss an update from the doctor. Luckily, the pneumonia responded well to treatment, and she was finally discharged this morning.
We got back to my parents’ house an hour ago, and she’s already fast asleep. She was worn out when we arrived and seemed relieved to be back in her own bed.
Walker’s working on the ranch today so he couldn’t be here, but we’re planning to meet up at my place once he’s off work. As much as I’ve loved being with Mama, I’m excited to spend the night at home with him and to see the animals. I’ve missed them all so much.
I’m curled up in the rocking chair beside Mama’s bed, keeping watch over her when my phone buzzes on the armrest.
Backroads & Bad Decisions Group Chat
Briar: Checking in to see how your mom is doing today.
