Page 47 of Careless Hope

“Sounds like a solid plan,” I chimed in, our eyes locking. “And Walker’s got the drive to make it happen.”

“Thanks, Caroline.” He smiled at me, the warmth in his eyes sending a flutter through my stomach.

“Caroline believes in me, Gray. Maybe you should too,” Walker added, half-joking, half-serious.

“Always have, little brother,” Gray replied, and despite the gruffness of his voice, affection underpinned every word. “Just making sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Walker assured him, and I believed him. This man was more than ready to step up—to prove himself not just to his brother, but to himself, and maybe, just maybe, to me.

As the night deepened, the air grew cooler, but the conversation around the table stayed warm. The banter between the brothers, the shared laughter—it wove a spell, drawing me closer to this world, to Walker.

And as I watched him there, animated and so alive against the backdrop of the family he loved, I knew. I knew that whatever this was between us, pretend or not, I was falling for the manwho wanted to leave a legacy as enduring as the land beneath our feet.

“Shall we head over to the fire pit?” Eryn suggested, her voice cutting through my reverie.

“Sounds perfect,” I found myself saying, the anticipation of spending more time beside Walker making my heart race in a way that was anything but pretend.

As we ambled over to the fire pit, the glow of the flames cast a dance of shadows across Walker’s face, giving him an even more rugged look—if that was possible. The chuckle that escaped him as he caught me staring was low and knowing, like he understood every unspoken word between us.

“Like what you see, Doc?” he teased, a lopsided grin spreading across his features.

“Can’t help but admire the view,” I shot back, my voice light despite the warmth flooding my cheeks. “The firelight is a good look for you.”

“Is that so?” Walker said, winking at me before turning his attention to Gray, who was already stoking the flames. “Hey, Gray, did you hear that? Our Caroline here thinks I’m looking particularly handsome tonight.”

“Must be the low light; it’s a miracle worker,” Gray quipped without missing a beat, earning a hearty laugh from Eryn. The familiarity of their banter made me feel like I was suddenly part of an inside joke I’d been missing out on all these years.

“Very funny,” I said, rolling my eyes but unable to suppress a smile.

We settled into the Adirondack chairs surrounding the pit, the warmth seeping into our bones. I watched as Walker’s hand found its way to mine, clasping onto it with practiced ease. It was a simple gesture, one that should have felt like another act in our charade, yet it sent my heart skittering in a very real way.

“Tell me, Caroline,” Gray began, the serious undertone in his voice a stark contrast to the laughter from moments ago, “how do you plan on juggling the practice and . . . whatever this is with Walker?”

His gaze was sharp, protective even, and I sensed the weight his question carried. It wasn’t just about my time management skills; it was about loyalty, about whether I was truly in this—whatever ‘this’ was—for the long haul.

“Well, I—” I started, but Walker cut me off.

“Let’s not talk shop right now, alright? We’re here to relax.” There was a firmness to Walker’s words that told me this was an old dance between them, a push and pull that spoke volumes of their relationship.

“Of course,” Gray conceded, though the look he shot me promised this conversation wasn’t over.

The rest of the evening passed in a comfortable rhythm of laughter and soft glances, but Gray’s question lingered in my mind, mingling with the crackle of the fire. It was a reminder that, despite the connection I felt with Walker, none of this was real, and one day, it would have to all end. It wasn’t just us who would be affected. Our friends and family would be too, to a degree.

A lead weight settled in my stomach at the thought of disappointing everyone. Or worse, if they all found out none of it was real and we’d simply lied the whole time.

Sutton caught my eye from across the fire, her grin mischievous in the flickering light. Talking to her would be a good distraction. I excused myself and meandered toward her, feeling like a covert agent as I approached.

“Caroline,” she whispered when I was close enough, her gray eyes dancing with secrets. “You two are getting good at this. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were truly smitten.”

“I know,” I murmured, tucking a stray lock behind my ear. “It feels like walking a tightrope sometimes.”

“Ah, but that’s where the thrill is, isn’t it?” She winked, then leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I mean, there’s obviously chemistry there, so even if it’s not a love match, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it while you have him.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of our deception more than ever. The intimacy of this shared secret with Sutton added layers to our friendship, but also a twinge of guilt. All around us, the night hummed with an innocent ignorance, and I couldn’t help but feel like an imposter.

Not just to everyone else, but to Walker too. If I was really developing feelings for him, then I wasn’t being fair. He never wanted to get tangled up in someone’s heart.

“Speaking of acts,” Sutton continued, her gaze flicking to where Walker stood laughing with Gray, “you guys do the deed yet?”

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