A war-torn soldier and heartbroken widow.
Beckett Ivan has seen things that most people cannot even begin to imagine.
He’s lost friends that were more like family, and he’s witnessed unspeakable things happen to innocent people.
With a broken spirit, he’s headed back to Indiana, where his best friend’s widow is alone.
He promised Kevin that if he made it back home, he’d see to it that she was taken care of, and that’s what he intends to do.
What he hadn’t planned on was falling in love…
Fallon Addington was mourning the greatest loss of her lifetime. While trying to help maintain the ranch her late husband loved so much.
Pregnant with their second child, she’s barely got the energy to keep it together most days—that is until Kevin's best friend, Beckett, shows up on her doorstep, insisting on giving her a hand.
A daily reminder of all Kevin was, Fallon is determined to avoid the soldier who’s taken up residence in the barn loft.
All too soon though, she begins to see past what’s on the surface and realizes that Beckett needs her more than he’s let on.
With a little help from her favorite horse, Ranger, the two are forced to work through their grief together.
They say time heals all wounds but what happens when Beckett’s time stateside is up? Is Fallon in for another heartache or does fate have different plans for the man who’s taught her how to love again?
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Excerpt
Copyright 2025, Aubree Valentine
Beckett’s tires squealed as he pulled up in front of the hospital entrance. His best friend’s wife was in labor.
And Kevin wasn’t here to see it.
That all too familiar grief hit him again.
Fuck.
It didn’t help that he’d been stumbling around awkwardly ever since their encounter that knocked him so far off kilter that he couldn’t remember which way was up.
He jumped out of his truck and tossed the keys to the hospital Valet.
“Sir!” the valet called after him.
“My..she’s…in labor!” Beckett yelled back, not slowing down.
“You’ll need this,” the Valet caught up to him and handed him a key tag that he’d need to claim his truck later.
“Thanks,” he grumbled back.
The older lady at the security desk took longer than he would have liked to take his license and give him a pass that would allow him onto the Labor and Delivery floor.
He skipped the elevators and took the stairs instead, ignoring the pain in his knee with every step he climbed.
Following the instructions from the lady in the lobby, he pressed the badge to the scanner near the door. As soon as they opened enough for him to slip through he did.
Kevin’s family greeted him with warm smiles and excited hugs.
“Where’s Garrison?” he asked, looking around the room.
“Still in school. Aiden’s going to pick him up and keep an eye on him until Fallon’s ready for visitors,” William, Kevin’s father, answered.
Beckett nodded, trying to catch his breath.
“Have a seat, son,” Neville, Kevin’s grandfather, said as he patted him on the back. “We’re going to be here a while.”
He sat and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees to catch his breath. “Did anyone call Fallon’s parents?”
Harriett shook her head. “She asked us not to.”
Beckett snorted. He didn’t blame her. Fallon’s mother was a handful on a good day. And a bitch if she was having a bad day. The woman had been a complete nightmare when she was in town for Kevin’s funeral. So much so that Fallon kicked her out after she decided to pick a fight about Garrison, calling the boy a spoiled brat.
He’d never hit a woman, or his elders. But he might make an exception for that one.
“Lindsey said you’ve been helping out Fallon while she’s on bedrest. Taking care of Garrison, making sure the kid gets to school and everything,” William said, nonchalantly.
“Yeah, I…I um…” Did they know about what happened two weeks ago, too? “I had some things I needed to take care of today. Lindsey was on the way over with lunch so Fallon said she would be fine when I left the house to go run errands. I wouldn’t have left her otherwise,” he explained, suddenly feeling the need to defend himself.
He probably could have tapped out all together after what happened but who else could be there for her?
All of the Addingtons had full-time jobs and a ranch to tend to.
Fallon’s parents were out of the question.
That left Beckett to suck it the fuck up and keep his promises…and stop thinking about the way Fallon came undone.
“Hey. You don’t need to defend yourself. Lindsey was with her. I was merely going to thank you for taking care of her,” William told Beckett. “It’s not easy for her to ask for help. Kevin used to tell us that all the time. We’re glad you’ve stuck around and she’s got someone in her corner.”
He sighed in relief. “Thanks, William. I appreciate that. I owe Kevin, and Fallon, a lot.”
“Pretty sure you wiped the slate on any debts you owed them a long time ago,” Neville chuckled.
Garrett stayed quiet but eyed him with a knowing glance.
“Listen, Beckett,” Neville cleared his throat. “There’s something that Fallon mentioned…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Lindsey walked into the waiting room.
Beckett was the first one to notice her and immediately jumped out of his seat. “How is she?”
Lindsay grinned. “Almost ready to push, but she’s asking for you.”
“Me?” Beckett looked around to gauge everyone’s reaction. No one protested or scowled.
William stood and clapped him on the back, “If she’s asking for you, then you better get going.”
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About Aubree Valentine
Aubree Valentine is a masterful storyteller who weaves tales of passion, heartbreak, and happily-ever-afters that leave readers swooning and coming back for more.
A hopeless romantic at heart, Aubree channels her boundless imagination and appreciation for the complexities of romance into every book she writes. Her characters are as real as they are irresistible—flawed, relatable, and unforgettable—taking readers on journeys filled with sizzling chemistry, emotional twists, and moments that tug at the heartstrings.
Whether it’s a steamy small-town romance or a friends-to-lovers tale, Aubree’s stories always promise: love, laughter and happily ever after. When she’s not penning her next novel, Aubree can be found binge-reading romance novels, borrowing her husband’s power tools for some over the top project, or spending quality time with her family and their fur babies.
Connect with Aubree Valentine on social media, through her website, or sign up for her newsletter to stay up-to-date on new releases, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her writing
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