Ashley “Buck” Buchanan moved back home to take care of his sick mother when he was 22. That was the first time he met Pippin, the neglected 6-year-old boy next door. Fifteen years later, Buck, a caretaker by nature, offers up his couch for Pippin, who needs a break from his mom and a quiet place to sleep.<br><br>Pippin Olander is a ray of sunshine despite his emotionally lacking upbringing and works hard to make a better life for himself. Even though he’s fiercely self-sufficient, he learns to accept help from Buck, his rock and the only steady presence in his life.<br><br>Their friendship deepens and grows into something more as they spend time together. But when other people try to throw a wrench in the works, when Pippin’s independence is triggered, can Buck and Pippin trust in the love they’ve found?

His Steady Heart

“I’ll give it back to you before you leave for work tonight.”


“No.” I take the key, press it into his hand, and close his fingers around it. “Keep it. I don’t wanna see you on the porch steps again. Next time your ma has, uh, her boyfriend for a visit, you get your butt over here. Since I ain’t got a guest room, I only have the couch to offer. But it’s plenty comfy, trust me. Sheets are in the closet in my room.” For the first time, I regret turning the teeny-tiny second bedroom where Ma used to sleep—me and my sister shared the master—into a gym.


He blinks rapidly and looks away as he presses the hand clasping the key against his heart. “Yeah, okay,” he murmurs, and I fight the urge to do a victory lap around the kitchen for getting him to agree.


To hide my happy smile from him, I, too, look away. And not looking at him eases the urge to pull him into my arms and squeeze him hard and whisper stupid promises in his ear that I’m not sure he wants to hear.


Chapter 3