Scarlett lay in bed at the hospital in New York. Her father sat next to her, holding her hand. Her brother and Charlene stood on the other side.

It’d been the kind of week that left Scarlett speechless. She’d fallen in love, had the cancer return, had the guy leave her, and she and her father were reconciled. How did that happen?

She smiled up at Brent and Charlene. “I told you guys I didn’t want you to cut your honeymoon short for this.”

Brent squeezed her hand. “Are you kidding? We’re not cutting it short. Actually, we’re just here taking a tour.” He turned to Charlene. “What do you think of this amazing hospital?”

Charlene played along. “I’ve always wanted to see this hospital on my honeymoon.”

Warmth filled Scarlett’s chest. “Thank you.”

The nurse came in and checked a couple of things and had her father fill out more forms.

Scarlett felt a surge of emotion. She and her father had spent lots of time talking. It amazed her that he was here.

Even stranger was her situation with Kurt. Since the wedding, since that fateful scene when he’d confessed his love, he’d sent her flowers and texts and tried so hard.

Just then, her brother asked, “How’s Kurt?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Her brother grunted. “The guy sure doesn’t know how to decide if he’s in or out, does he?”

“He never did,” said a voice from the doorway. Scarlett looked up and saw Marissa had walked into the room, holding up a handful of peonies. “Hey.”

Scarlett cracked a smile. “Hey.”

Her father cleared his throat and stood. “I’ll give you a minute.”

Brent and Charlene stood too. Brent walked past Marissa and put his fingers to his eyes before pointing them at hers. “Watching you.”

Marissa hesitated and her lip trembled.

Scarlett didn’t want to be mad anymore. She didn’t have any energy for it. “Come here.”

Marissa rushed to her side, throwing herself onto her. “I’m so, so sorry.” She pulled back, and tears fell down her cheeks. “I’ve been such a fool.”

Scarlett was so grateful her best friend was back and acting like her old self. “Me too.”

Marissa pulled back and put a hand on Scarlett’s head. It was such a motherly gesture. “You’re going to get through this.” She blinked. “I’m going to help get you through this.”

The determination Scarlett felt from Marissa was a nice shot of strength. She smiled, not sure if she believed it. “Okay.”

“Yeah, she’s gonna get through it.” A male voice interrupted them.

When Walker walked in, the first thing she noticed was the way his facial hair had grown out and how when he pulled off his sunglasses he looked a bit hollow around the eyes.

Scarlett vaguely knew she should be getting more sleepy and relaxed, but that was the furthest thing from her mind. Traitorous tears welled up in her eyes. “Why are you here?” She wanted to demand it, but she didn’t have the umph behind the words.

He stopped and his eyes flashed to Marissa.

She put her up hands and backed out. “I’ll be waiting, Scarlett.”

Scarlett’s heartbeat went up a notch. Her eyes rolled up toward Walker’s face. “Go away.”

He sat, pulled the chair closer, and took her hand. “I need to talk to you.” When she tried to sit up, he gently helped her lie back down. Hold on there, sweetheart.”

Tears streaked down her cheeks, and she hated thinking about all the pain this conversation could inflict on her. “Don’t call me sweetheart.”

Walker leaned in, gently reaching in and brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “I need to talk to you.”

“No.”

“Please.” He squeezed her hand. “Because I realized something and I really want to tell you.”

She shook her head. “Just go.”

He trailed a hand down her head. His touch was so intoxicating to her.

“Please stop,” she croaked.

“Scarlett, I’m so sorry I left. I’m so sorry.”

She stared up into his brilliant eyes, and she suddenly wanted to know. “Fine, tell me.”

Walker pressed his lips to her head. “Thank you. Okay, so this past couple of days I was drunk and hung over all at the same time, if that’s possible, at my grandfather’s cabin. I was in my boxers, and Grant showed up.”

This didn’t make sense. “O-kay.” A million thoughts tried to go through her mind, but they were getting stuck because her mind was feeling murky. “I don’t get it.”

Walker took her hand into both of his. “I know, it’s coming out all wrong. Listen, last week, Grant told me that I didn’t need a house or a lake—I needed connection. And I didn’t understand it then because I was so afraid. And I’ve been going along since Laura died, really, from relationship to relationship, just trying not to care. And then Tams died and I felt like—”

“It was your fault.”

“Right.” He blinked. “Then Mama died and I just … it nearly …”

“Broke you,” she said, thinking of his PTSD attacks. Thinking of how she’d felt when her own mother had passed.

He nodded. “But Grant helped me realize I was being a coward by leaving you. Because … because …”

She waited, and tears rushed down her cheeks. She thought of the man who had lost so much. But even though she knew this was hard for him, he’d hurt her. “You don’t believe I’ll live.”

“No!” He kissed her head. “That’s the thing. I realized that I can’t control it. And I think that’s what I’ve been trying to do in a weird way by staying away from relationships—I was trying to protect myself. And I realized that I don’t want to anymore.”

Pain filled her chest. “You don’t want to? That doesn’t even make sense.”

He let out a light laugh. “I’ve felt more in those days we were together than I have since … since as long as I can remember. And I know that was you.”

She couldn’t believe it. She sniffed. “Stop it.”

“I haven’t flown a helicopter in over a year, but I wanted to with you. I haven’t connected with any woman, but I found myself wanting to know you, and wanting to tell you things about myself that I hadn’t told anyone.”

She was afraid to trust this, but she knew beyond reason that she had fallen in love with this man.

“I don’t care how many moments I get with you. I am in this. I want you. I love you, Scarlett Powers.”

She let out a light laugh at the way he said her full name.

He sighed. “Since the first day we met and I freaked out at your lake house, I should have realized it was never about the house …”

“It wasn’t?”

“No, it was about you. Dang, woman, you’re everything to me. And I don’t want the house without you. I don’t want to row in a lake if that means you’re not with me.” She felt him shaking. “And I am here. With you. As long as I get you.”

More tears came down her face, and she reached up and put her hand on his.

He squeezed it. “I realized I want to love you. No matter what happens.”

She stared into his brilliant eyes and hated that loving him hurt so bad. She could feel herself fading; the medicine was taking effect.

A nurse appeared in her hazy vision. “It’s okay. You’re going to be just fine.”

Her eyes fluttered. “Walker.”

Walker squeezed her hand again. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

“I love you,” she said, and then it all went dark.