Page 8 of Evergreen Desires (Wildheart Chronicles #1)

JAKE

The sun was peeking into the room around the blinds, casting a warm glow on the walls. Despite being up in the foothills on the west side of the Olympic Mountains in the normally rainy Pacific Northwest, it was surprisingly bright. Hopefully, a sign for how the day was going to go.

I’d slept soundly for being in a strange place.

Beau had been nothing but a gentleman to me, and even his friend Will, seemed to be really nice—talkative and outgoing.

Beau was right, no filter.I was impressed that the two of them did not press me for details last night during the drive home or dinner.

I was pretty wiped out from the events of yesterday, not to mention the cold, uneasy sleep in my car the night before.

I was ready to fall asleep the moment dinner was done.

I only remembered the conversation about getting rest and coming up with a plan in the morning .

Beau did make sure I had the lay of the land before showing me to the guest room.

I knew where the bathroom was, the linen closet if I needed more blankets, and even that his room was at the top of the stairs if I needed anything.

I found myself leaning in to get a deep bear hug from him before turning to retire to my room.

He seemed happy to reciprocate, and I think I even felt him smelling my head.

It was strange, but also oddly comforting.

However, I knew I couldn’t let myself get too attached.

I barely knew him, and I wasn’t about to jump into something when I was still trying to escape my last relationship.

No matter how good Beau looked or how weak in the knees he seemed to make me.

The phone on the nightstand dinged with an alert, jolting me back to the here and now.

Apparently, my low funds alerts from the bank were suddenly kicking in.

Reality hit me hard. What was I going to do with no money, no way to fix my car, and no job prospects?

My ex always kept me at home, and we only used my money from my mom's inheritance for emergencies.

Now it was gone. I wish I had recognized the controlling behavior a little sooner or planned my exit better. Lesson learned... the hard way.

I heard movement outside the room—soft footsteps, the clink of something in the kitchen. Probably Beau.

Skepticism crept in, uninvited but familiar.

Was he really this kind? Or was it just an act?

My brain had been rewired to look for warning signs, and every nice gesture felt like a setup.

I couldn’t help but question his motives.

People didn’t just take you in, no questions asked, unless they wanted something in return. Right ?

Declan had started out kind, too. Thoughtful.

Attentive. He’d made me feel seen, protected.

And then little by little, it shifted—until his concern became control, and his love started to feel like a cage I couldn’t escape.

Compliments became critiques. Affection turned to possessiveness.

By the time I realized how deep I was in, I didn’t even recognize myself anymore.

And now here was Beau—gentle, patient, quiet in a way that didn’t feel calculated. He hadn’t asked for anything. Hadn’t pressed. But that was the thing about being hurt: it made you doubt even kindness.

Was he love bombing me? Or was this just what decent people looked like—something I’d forgotten how to recognize?

There was no way to tell. Not yet.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself to face him, reminding myself that caution was okay—but not everyone deserved my suspicion.

Stepping out of the room, I made my way towards the sounds. Beau stood by the stove, cooking. He looked up, his expression cautious, as if he was unsure how I'd react.

"Good morning. How did you sleep?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"Fine. Thank you again for allowing me to stay here last night," I replied, trying to keep my guard up.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you need or want," he responded confidently, almost matter-of-factly. "I'm making you some French toast. Sorry, I'm not sure what you like for breakfast, but I thought I overheard you mention French toast at some point yesterday. Do you like coffee?"

I nodded, still maintaining my skepticism. Was this all just an act? But as Beau poured a cup of coffee and set it on the breakfast bar, I noticed his genuine effort to make me feel comfortable.

"I have milk in the fridge and sugar over there." Beau pointed towards the kitchen. "Sorry I don't have any special flavors or syrups here. Will has lots of that stuff at the office. I can run over there and grab something for you if you'd like."

"No, I'm good with milk and sugar. No need to go out of your way," I replied, trying to keep him at arm's length. "Thank you anyways."

Beau smiled and set a plate with four pieces of French toast in front of me.

He leaned against the cabinets, taking a sip of his coffee while I took my first bite.

It was delicious, and I couldn’t help but appreciate his cooking skills.

However, my skepticism lingered, and I found myself struggling to fully let my guard down.

"I need to head over to the greenhouse to start the day," Beau said, breaking the silence.

"After you went to bed last night, Will said he was going to look at your car early this afternoon.

He parked it by the barn." He pointed out the kitchen window towards a red barn off in the distance.

"Once he figures out what parts are needed, I figured you and I can run over to Alder Falls, the next major town over, for parts and anything else you might need. "

His words triggered a wave of anxiety within me. "I appreciate the offer, but I have to be honest. I don't have any money. My ex drained my account, and I'm not sure how I'm going to pay for any of that. I’m going to have to figure something out on my own."

Beau's expression softened, and he leaned forward, his eyes filled with sincerity. "Jake, you’re my guest, and you’re in need. I'm happy to get you whatever you need for your car or anything else. You're not alone in this."

I couldn’t help but feel conflicted. Was he being genuine, or was there an ulterior motive?

I wanted to trust him, but I couldn’t deny that his seemingly boundless generosity raised some red flags for me.

"Why would you help me? I'm grateful, but I'm running from a controlling ex, and it feels like you're just being nice to get something from me," I voiced my concerns, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment and tears welling up in my eyes.

Beau straightened up, a determined look in his eyes.

"I'm not sure of the whole story with your ex, but just from what I've gathered, I want nothing more than to kick his ass for what he's done to you. I promise, I’m nothing like that. I just want to help. I’m not expecting anything in return. You can take my word for it.”

I was taken aback by his response. His words held a conviction and genuine concern that I found hard to resist. "Why?" I whispered.

"The way I see it, you’re in need. I have the means to help you, so why shouldn’t I?

You seem like a decent guy that just fell on hard times.

I guess I can't explain it beyond that. Everything in my instincts is telling me to.

You need help. So please, will you let me take care of you?

No strings attached," he pleaded, his voice just as quiet as mine.

I was torn, caught between the desire to accept his offer and the fear of getting hurt again. "I appreciate your honesty, Beau. Honesty is something I haven't had in a long time. But I'm not sure... I need some time to think."

Beau nodded, understanding written across his face.

"You can decide later. I'm going over to the office and greenhouse now.

Please make yourself at home here, feel free to watch television or do whatever you'd like.

In fact, you have permission to snoop around about me, if it will make you feel better or safer.

And remember, if you need anything, just walk over and grab either of us. "

"Thank you for understanding and for the honesty," I said, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.

With that, Beau headed towards the door, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

As he walked away, my mind raced with doubts and uncertainties.

Could I trust him? Did he really mean what he said, or was he just like Declan?

Was it possible for someone to genuinely care about me after everything I'd been through?

Only time would tell, and I would need to navigate this new path cautiously, protecting my heart while being open to the possibility of healing and finding happiness.