Rough Hands, Soft Lips by Layla Valentine

He left town to protect his son and his heart…

But one small-town nurse might be the cure they both need.

HIM

Four years ago, I packed up what was left of my life and vanished into the mountains.

No neighbors. No noise. No risk of losing anyone ever again.

But when my little boy gets sick, hiding isn’t an option.

Summit Falls is the last place I want to be…

And the clinic is the last place I expected to find someone like April.

Kind eyes. Steady hands. A smile that hits me harder than a blizzard.

I should keep my distance. I’ve made that mistake before.

But the way she looks at me…

Maybe it’s time to stop running.

Maybe it’s time to live again.

HER

Cal Nolen isn’t used to kindness, but I can’t stop giving it anyway.

Every time I see him, that quiet, careful man lets me a little further in.

He thinks he’s broken beyond repair,

but all I see is a father fighting to protect his son.

The more time we spend together,

the harder it is to pretend I don’t want more.

Because I’m not just helping him find his way back to town…

I’m helping him find his way back to love.