Bound by Care Series by Rachel A. Brooks

After losing her parents at a young age, Lily Adams was taken in by her father’s best friend, Ethan—a man of few words and unshakable loyalty. In the quiet shelter of his home, she found a sense of safety she never questioned. Years later, now grown and chasing dreams that no longer feel like hers, Lily returns to the place she once called home. But Ethan isn’t the same. Time has weathered his smile, and something unspoken hangs in the air between them... moreAfter losing her parents at a young age, Lily Adams was taken in by her father’s best friend, Ethan—a man of few words and unshakable loyalty. In the quiet shelter of his home, she found a sense of safety she never questioned. Years later, now grown and chasing dreams that no longer feel like hers, Lily returns to the place she once called home. But Ethan isn’t the same. Time has weathered his smile, and something unspoken hangs in the air between them.What begins as a gentle reunion stirs long-buried feelings—ones that neither of them know how to name. Lily finds herself drawn to the one man who has always seen her, even when she tried to disappear. Ethan, torn between the past he promised to protect and the future he never allowed himself to imagine, fights a love he believes he has no right to claim.As old letters surface, boundaries blur, and the town begins to whisper, Lily and Ethan must confront the truth neither dared speak aloud. Is love still love when it crosses the lines we once swore not to cross?Or is it exactly what was meant to be, all along? less

When Marissa aged out of the foster system, she carried only what fit in a bag—and the memory of Gabriel, the quiet, steady guardian who made her feel safe when nothing else did. Years later, she returns to the city for a new job at a nonprofit, determined to start fresh and leave the past behind.She never expected to find Gabriel again. Especially not volunteering at the very same center... moreWhen Marissa aged out of the foster system, she carried only what fit in a bag—and the memory of Gabriel, the quiet, steady guardian who made her feel safe when nothing else did. Years later, she returns to the city for a new job at a nonprofit, determined to start fresh and leave the past behind.She never expected to find Gabriel again. Especially not volunteering at the very same center. Time has changed them both, but the unspoken bond still lingers, pulling them together with every shared glance and every moment too heavy for words.Gabriel has spent years trying to forget the girl who once brought light to his home and grief to his heart when she walked away. Now that she’s back, grown and driven, he finds himself torn between keeping the lines professional… and admitting he never stopped caring.As they work side by side with the youth they once were, old feelings resurface—and so do the fears. Trusting each other again means facing what was left unsaid, and risking the fragile connection they’ve only just rekindled.Can two people who walked away once finally find the courage to stay?Or will silence be the only thing they carry forward once more? less

Norah Bennett has spent the last year trying to rebuild her life after loss, heartbreak, and the quiet unraveling of everything familiar. As the daughter of a high-profile diplomat, she’s learned to keep her guard up and her heart closed. But when a suspicious threat resurfaces and her father hires a private bodyguard, Norah is forced to share her space—and her guarded world—with a stranger who makes her feel anything but safe.Jack Carter lives by protocol... moreNorah Bennett has spent the last year trying to rebuild her life after loss, heartbreak, and the quiet unraveling of everything familiar. As the daughter of a high-profile diplomat, she’s learned to keep her guard up and her heart closed. But when a suspicious threat resurfaces and her father hires a private bodyguard, Norah is forced to share her space—and her guarded world—with a stranger who makes her feel anything but safe.Jack Carter lives by protocol. As an ex-military officer turned elite bodyguard, he’s used to detachment. His latest assignment—protecting Norah—should be simple. But from the moment she challenges him with sharp wit and quiet sorrow, the lines begin to blur.What starts as duty becomes personal. Every shared silence, every midnight conversation, every crack in their emotional armor pulls them closer. But when danger comes too close and trust is tested, Jack must choose between walking away like he always has—or standing still for the one person who refuses to run.Can a man built to disappear learn to stay for love? less

Ivy Maire arrives at the prestigious Arden Conservatory with one goal—perfection. But her passion for piano quickly clashes with the icy silence of her assigned coach, Julian Ashcroft. Once a rising star, Julian now hides behind cold critiques and rigid routines, unwilling to let the past or anyone else touch him.Determined to break through his wall, Ivy resists his emotional distance with quiet strength... moreIvy Maire arrives at the prestigious Arden Conservatory with one goal—perfection. But her passion for piano quickly clashes with the icy silence of her assigned coach, Julian Ashcroft. Once a rising star, Julian now hides behind cold critiques and rigid routines, unwilling to let the past or anyone else touch him.Determined to break through his wall, Ivy resists his emotional distance with quiet strength. As rehearsals turn into conversations, and music transforms into something more personal, an unspoken connection begins to form. Yet the closer Ivy draws him back to the world, the more Julian pulls away—haunted by scandal, silence, and the fear of caring again.Together, they compose a piece that carries more than just notes. But with pressure mounting and the past refusing to stay buried, their bond is tested in a place where vulnerability is risk, and feeling too much can cost everything.Can two people who speak in music—and silence—learn to trust what’s never been said aloud?Or will the most powerful melody be the one that remains unfinished? less

When Tessa Martin's beloved grandmother passes away, her grief is compounded by an unexpected condition in the will—she must live under the roof of her new legal guardian for one year to receive her inheritance. That guardian? Colin Graves, her late uncle’s reserved business partner, a man as emotionally closed-off as the mansion he keeps spotless and silent.Tessa arrives ready to endure. What she doesn't expect is the quiet kindness hiding beneath Colin’s strict routines... moreWhen Tessa Martin's beloved grandmother passes away, her grief is compounded by an unexpected condition in the will—she must live under the roof of her new legal guardian for one year to receive her inheritance. That guardian? Colin Graves, her late uncle’s reserved business partner, a man as emotionally closed-off as the mansion he keeps spotless and silent.Tessa arrives ready to endure. What she doesn't expect is the quiet kindness hiding beneath Colin’s strict routines. As they navigate shared meals, awkward silences, and the ghosts of a woman who meant everything to them both, something begins to shift. The house grows warmer. The air softer.But just as Tessa starts to believe she’s found a new kind of home, old wounds and guarded hearts threaten to unravel the fragile connection between them.Is one year enough to build a future that wasn’t part of the plan?Or will the clause that brought them together be the same one that tears them apart? less

Claire never planned on staying. The job was supposed to be temporary—just a few months as a live-in caretaker and tutor for Sophie, a bright but guarded eight-year-old still mourning her mother. But from the moment Claire steps into the quiet, sea-washed home, she feels the weight of something deeper than silence.James Hart, Sophie’s father, is a man anchored in loss... moreClaire never planned on staying. The job was supposed to be temporary—just a few months as a live-in caretaker and tutor for Sophie, a bright but guarded eight-year-old still mourning her mother. But from the moment Claire steps into the quiet, sea-washed home, she feels the weight of something deeper than silence.James Hart, Sophie’s father, is a man anchored in loss. His days are measured, his words deliberate, and his gaze carries the kind of stillness that can keep people at a distance—or draw them in without warning. He doesn’t ask for help beyond the basics, yet every missed school pickup, every shared breakfast, and every storm-lit evening at the kitchen table pulls Claire further into the life he’s carefully contained.But healing is never simple. Claire’s presence stirs feelings James has kept locked away, and her own heart begins to tie itself to the rhythms of the house, the laughter of the girl upstairs, and the man who seems to notice more than he says.The more they open up, the more fragile the balance becomes. Staying could mean building something neither of them dared to imagine again—but it also means risking the quiet, safe walls they’ve built to protect themselves.In the softest moments, love begins to grow. But will they let it take root, or will the fear of loss keep them apart? less

When tragedy strikes and college senior Naomi loses both her parents, she’s placed in the care of Cal—her father’s oldest friend, a retired professor known for his intellect, his solitude, and his unwavering sense of responsibility.At first, life in Cal’s home is as formal as it is quiet. His routines are precise, his walls—emotional and otherwise—seem unshakable. But grief has a way of breaking patterns... moreWhen tragedy strikes and college senior Naomi loses both her parents, she’s placed in the care of Cal—her father’s oldest friend, a retired professor known for his intellect, his solitude, and his unwavering sense of responsibility.At first, life in Cal’s home is as formal as it is quiet. His routines are precise, his walls—emotional and otherwise—seem unshakable. But grief has a way of breaking patterns. Through late-night conversations, shared memories, and moments neither expected, Naomi begins to see the man behind the reserve. And Cal begins to realize that the promise he made to her parents was never meant to prepare him for the feelings that begin to stir.The small-town whispers are unavoidable. The unspoken tension is impossible to ignore. As Naomi’s world expands with new opportunities, and Cal’s instinct to protect collides with his fear of crossing a line, they both face the question that could change Can honoring the past and keeping a promise mean denying the one connection they never saw coming… or is this the kind of love that’s worth breaking the rules for? less