Page 45 of Careless Hope
“He did a great job,” I agreed, stealing a glance at Walker, who stood beside me, his posture relaxed yet attentive.
“Caroline, you’ve got to see the view from over here,” Eryn beckoned, and I followed her gaze to where the land stretched into the horizon, the sunset casting a fiery orange glow on the pastures at the base of the mountains.
“Beautiful,” I murmured, meaning more than just the scenery. The ranch reminded me of legacy, kinship, and I felt my heart fill with gratitude for being invited here.
“Speaking of beautiful, I just love seeing you two together,” Eryn gushed, looping her arm through mine conspiratorially. “You make a striking pair.”
I felt my cheeks warm, unsure of how to respond. Walkercleared his throat, stepping closer to us, his nearness sending a jolt of awareness down my spine.
“Ah, well, we’re just?—”
“Great together,” Walker finished for me, his hand lightly touching the small of my back. His touch was casual, familiar, as if it belonged there. “Thanks, Eryn.”
“Of course! It’s just so nice to see Walk so happy,” she said, looking between us with an expression that held no trace of doubt.
The mention of his happiness reminded me the lines were blurring. He did look happy. And the way his gaze lingered on me longer than necessary, the gentle way he guided me towards our seats—it all felt dangerously close to real.
A chill had descended with the evening, and I instinctively snuggled deeper into my light jacket, grateful for the glow of the outdoor heaters that stood like sentinels around the patio. They cast a warm amber light against the darkening sky, turning the breaths escaping our lips into misty clouds.
“Caroline, you cold?” Walker asked, his eyes crinkling with concern as he noted my shiver.
“Just a bit,” I confessed, watching as Gray approached us, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. His expression was softer than usual when he caught sight of Walker, but the lines etched around his eyes spoke of a lifetime spent squinting against the sun and wind, guarding against the challenges of ranch life.
“Hope you brought your appetite,” Gray said, giving Walker a firm pat on the back that seemed to straddle the line between affection and assertion. “Got some prime steak grilling that’ll warm you right up.”
Walker grinned, the corners of his mouth stretching wide under the shadow of his hat. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, brother.”
In that exchange, I saw a glimpse of their dynamic—Gray, the ever-watchful guardian, and Walker, still the playful rebel seeking his place.
“Let’s not keep you cold. Go on warm up by the heaters, food’ll be ready in a minute,” Gray announced, leading the way to the rustic wooden table set under more string lights that crisscrossed overhead. The atmosphere was cozy, intimate almost, despite the open space. The heaters hummed quietly, an unobtrusive symphony to the night’s gentle chorus.
I felt a tug at my heart, a yearning for something I couldn’t quite name. Was it the desire to belong to this world, so different from the sterile halls of hospitals and my office? Or was it something deeper, a connection to Walker that went beyond our pretend romance?
“Nice night, isn’t it?” Walker’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to find him standing beside me, his gaze following mine to the pool, with its steam rising from the water to create a hazy backdrop.
“Yeah,” I replied, my voice soft. “It’s beautiful.”
“Gray spent weeks getting that pool just right,” he said, pride lacing his words. “Said he wanted a place where we could all relax after a hard day’s work.”
I smiled, sensing the unspoken bond between the brothers, the shared pride in what they had built. It was a testament to their dedication, a reflection of their character, much like the sturdy fence that stood protective around the yard. I knew they had their disagreements and Walker felt like Gray gave him a hard time. But I also knew they loved each other. Respected each other.
As an only child, I always wondered what that kind of love would feel like.
“Looks like he succeeded,” I commented, my eyes meeting Walker’s.
He only stared right back at me, stared right into my soul. “Andersons always get what they want.”
“Hey everyone!” The sound of Sutton’s cheerful voice broke through our intimate moment, and I turned to see her walk through the glass doors and onto the patio. Her brother Damon followed behind her, his usual sullen expression affixed to his face. Mason Bridges followed behind him.
“Hey,” I said, giving Sutton a hug.
“Shrimpy. Looking like you grew up finally,” Damon said, calling me by the embarrassing nickname he’d given me when I was seven. Damon was a big brute, but had a soft streak on the inside. He just never let people see it.
“Finally, right?” I laughed.
He wrapped his enormous arms around me in a hug. I still only came up to his chest, and I marveled at how defined that chest was nowadays. I knew he was a former Marine, but damn. The man had muscles.
“Damon,” Walker said in greeting to his cousin, while pulling me back to his side. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders again, but this time his touch felt possessive. It shouldn’t have excited me, but it did anyway.
