Wild With You (Independence Falls 4)

The hope withered and died before it grew roots. What if Brody changed his mind? What if the very real obstacles proved to be too much? “It won’t work, Brody. Your life and your family are here. And mine are waiting for me in New York.”

“It’s only a plane flight,” Brody said. “We can find a way to make it work.”

“No, we can’t,” she said, biting back the words, I’m too afraid you’ll hurt me if I let you in.

“Good-­bye, Brody.”

Chapter 19

“PLEASE TELL ME you have a good reason for dragging us out of bed in the middle of the night,” Chad said, sinking into a chair beside Lena. The golden retriever at her feet glanced up at Brody with a look that echoed Chad’s words.

“It’s seven in the morning,” Brody said. “You’re scheduled to take the helicopter out to a logging site in a ­couple of hours. Katie has work. And this couldn’t wait.” He scanned the tired faces seated at his kitchen table.

“If it is about my ring,” his sister said, “I sh

owed it to everyone.”

“If this is a family meeting, shouldn’t Liam be here too?” Chad said. “Based on that rock, he’s one of us now.”

“I’m here. Without a ring on my finger,” Lena added with a pointed look at Chad.

His brother flashed a charming smile. “But you know it’s coming. I’m just waiting for the perfect moment.”

Brody jumped in before the conversation dissolved to weddings. “Josh has something he wants to share.” He nodded to his little brother seated at the opposite end of the table.

“That’s why you pulled me out of bed?” Josh demanded. “I could have e-­mailed or sent a text. Instead of leaving Megan asleep in my bed.”

“Josh.” Brody stared down the length of the table.

“Fine,” Josh said, glancing from Chad to Lena to Katie. “My memory is coming back.”

Suddenly awake and alert, Katie and Chad fired off questions, demanding to know how he was feeling, if he recalled everything and whether this was a result of the treatment. Josh patiently explained what he could.

“We will find out soon if he still qualifies for the trial,” Brody added.

“But it doesn’t sound like he needs it,” Chad said.

“Which means your doctor will be heading home,” his sister said, looking at him.

“Kat is Josh’s doctor,” Brody pointed out. “Not mine.”

“Josh isn’t the one who has fallen head over heels for Dr. Katherine Arnold,” Katie said.

“Katie, I distinctly remember you telling me to mind my own business when you started seeing Liam.”

“I did,” his sister agreed, reaching for her coffee mug. “But you hiked out to the cabin where we were staying and busted right in.”

“We were worried about you,” Brody said.

“And now the tables are turned. It’s my turn to worry about you, Brody.” Katie took a sip of coffee and added: “Have you told her how you feel about her?”

“She’s leaving,” Brody said, his voice firm. Hell, as far as he was concerned, she’d already walked away. Sure, he’d followed her into the hall last night pointing out that she couldn’t exactly walk up the gravel drive and hail a cab. Though she’d looked ready to try.

“Do you love her?” his sister challenged.

“Back off, Katie,” he growled.

“That’s a yes,” Chad said. “And I’m betting you told her. So what happened, bro?”