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

“Is that why you haven’t been around? You thought I wanted the place for myself?”


“No.” He sighs. “Mom’s been sick, so Richard hasn’t been around.” He wrinkles his nose when he says the current boyfriend’s name.


“Just so you know, my offer stands whether your ma has a visitor or not.”


“Thanks. But apparently she needed me, so I had to be home as much as possible.”


For the first time ever, there’s a hint of disappointment in his tone and I suppress an urge to raise my fist in victory over the fact that he’s maybe finally starting to open his eyes to his mother’s ways.


He could definitely have used a mother concerned more about his welfare than screwing around with half the population in town a long time ago. A mother who didn’t send him to school in tatty clothes without lunches and spent what little money she had on salon appointments to keep herself looking good enough to attract the next guy to support her.


Chapter 8