She turned her head away from him so he couldn’t see but it didn’t matter. The stricken look in her eyes was now burned in his brain.

“I have to go after her,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t want her on the curvy roads upset.”

And he didn’t want Bailey upset at all, but this wasn’t Christmas and wishes didn’t come true. “Bailey. Bay, look at me a minute.”

She turned back to him, eyes downcast. He waited and she finally lifted them up to his.

“Don’t let her cheapen what just happened,” he said quietly.

“You can’t cheapen a one-time thing,” she said just as quietly.

“This has never been a one-time thing.”

She shook her head, pulled free, and walked away.

Chapter 21

Bailey followed her mom to the parking lot. “Mom,” she said. “Please don’t leave like this.”

Still wearing the scrubs from her nursing job at Denver Urgent Care, Terri Moore turned back to Bailey, her eyes shimmering. “What was going on up in that office with that man, Bailey?”

“Mom, I love you, you know I do, but that’s none of your business.”

Her mom crossed her arms and inhaled sharply—a sure sign of defense that meant she knew Bailey was right but she wasn’t ready to give up the point. “I wanted you to end up with Aaron,” she said.

“I know you did.”

“He’s so perfect for you, and I thought after you had some time you’d see that and go back to him.”

“Mom.” Bailey reached for her mom’s hands and held them in her own. “I do love Aaron.”

“Well you sure have a funny way of showing that.”

“I love Aaron,” Bailey repeated. “But I’m not in love with Aaron.”

Her mom stilled and then sighed. “Oh, Bailey. He’s always been there for you, always. You’re going to break his heart.”

“We’ve talked,” Bailey said. “We’re okay. And if we’re okay, I need you to be okay. I need you to be happy for me.”

“But you’re alone!”

Bailey let out a breath. Her dad hadn’t exactly been a model husband. Her mother had never forgiven the male race. But for some reason, she’d loved Aaron since day one. “Being alone doesn’t scare me,” Bailey said.

“Well it should!” Her mother looked horrified. “I understand feminism and I can appreciate the sentiment, but that won’t keep you warm in the stormy times.” Her mom’s voice wavered. “And there are stormy times, Bailey. There are always stormy times.”

“Mom.” Bailey stepped in closer and pulled her into a hug. “That’s just life. There’s good and there’s bad. My happiness and safety won’t come from having a man. It comes from me.”

Her mom sniffed and pulled back just enough to meet Bailey’s eyes. She cupped her daughter’s face and sighed. “When did you get so wise?”

“I had a really great mom.”

Her mom’s eyes softened. “As long as you’re okay.”

“I’m okay.”

“And happy.”

“I’m happy,” Bailey said. “I’m so very happy, Mom.”

“Because of that man I saw you with?”

“Because I’m free,” Bailey said. “I get to wake up each day and know I’ve got a bunch more days in front of me now. I get to do the things I’ve always wanted to do, like—”

“Sleep with strangers?”

“Like paint a mural,” Bailey said firmly. “And if a hot stranger comes into my life, I can stop to smell the roses. So to speak.”

Her mother blinked. “Does he have a name?”

“He tried to introduce himself to you. Hudson Kincaid.”

Her mom covered her cheeks with her hands. “I was rude to him.”

“Yes, very. You can make it up to him next time you see him by being nice,” Bailey said.

“There’s going to be a next time?” her mom asked, sounding worried again.

Bailey sighed.

“Right. Minding my own business.” She nodded and then shook her head. “I don’t think I will be very good at that, Bailey.”

“For me, you’re going to try.”

Her mom nodded and then her eyes filled again.

“Mom,” Bailey said, pained.

“Did you hear back from the doctor?” her mom asked. “Is that what this is all about?”

“No,” Bailey said. “You know I’d have told you immediately if I’d heard anything. Results won’t be in until Monday or Tuesday, but I’m still clear. I know it.”

Her mom studied her face for a long beat. “You’re sure?”

“Yes,” Bailey said with a smile. “The doctor said I looked good, remember? She even threw out the R word.” Remission. Not cancer free, that would take longer, maybe even five years longer, but Bailey knew it would come. “These are just tests that I do every three months to make sure,” she said. “You know all this.”

“Yes, I just like to hear it.”

A few flakes began to drift down, reminding Bailey a storm was moving in and they were on borrowed time. “I’ll follow you down the mountain, okay? We need to stay ahead of the storm.”

“I’d like that.” A look of guilt flashed across her mom’s face. “But it means you have to leave a day early.”

Bailey nodded. “I know. It’s okay.”

“The mural is beautiful.” Her mom reached for her hand. “So beautiful it stopped me in my tracks. I’m so proud of you, Bailey. I hope you know that. And how very much I love you.”

Her throat went a little tight and she squeezed her mom’s hand. “I do know it. And I love you too.”

Her mom gave a little smile. “Once we’re out of the storm’s reach, let’s stop and have breakfast for dinner at IHOP, like the old days.”

The old days. When Bailey had been dying. They’d go and have her treatments and then stop at IHOP on the way home, where Bailey would always order the same thing every time. Strawberry pancakes.

She didn’t ever want to see another strawberry pancake again. But she smiled. “Sounds great, Mom.”

After Bailey left, Hud got two consecutive calls, both involving injuries that required his immediate and full attention.

And he’d given it.

But in between, whenever he had even two seconds to breathe, his mind replayed Bailey on her knees in his office, her mouth—

“Hud.”

He was running a training exercise in the dark, stormy evening. Evacuating lifts—never easy in the best of conditions, which these weren’t.

“What are you smiling at?” Gray asked. “I said your name like ten times to get your attention.”

Hud gestured for Mitch to take over the training exercise and moved aside with his brother. “What are you doing up here?”

“Needed to have a meeting with you,” Gray said.

“About?”

“About that smile you’re wearing, seeing as it’s been awhile since anyone saw that look on your face.”