Healed by My Hyde: A Cozy Monster Romance (Fairhaven Falls) by Honey Phillips

Author:Honey Phillips [Phillips, Honey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

The walks had become routine.

Every other evening, weather permitting, he would finish his last appointment and drive to her cabin. They’d walk the forest path behind her house, talking about everything and nothing while the sun set through the trees.

He told himself it was practical. Exercise was good for pregnant women and fresh air promoted healthy sleep. As her physician, he had a vested interest in her wellness. But the truth was simpler and more complicated: he needed to see her.

“Tell me about medical school.” Her hand was tucked into the crook of his elbow, her steps slower now as the baby grew. “What made you want to be a doctor?”

“Family tradition.” He adjusted his pace to match hers. “Jacksons have been physicians since the town was founded. It seemed inevitable I’d follow the same path.”

“But did you want to?”

The question made him pause. No one had ever asked that before.

“I wanted to understand Hyde,” he admitted. “I thought if I could understand the biology and chemistry, maybe I could control him better. So I studied medicine, specializing in endocrinology. Spent years researching hereditary conditions and genetic expression.”

“And?”

“And I developed a suppressant that works reasonably well. I learned to identify Hyde’s triggers. I built a life around managing him.” He smiled wryly. “Not exactly the noble calling most doctors aspire to.”

“I think it’s noble.” She squeezed his arm. “You’ve helped people. Made a difference. That matters.”

“I’ve helped people not be afraid of me,” he corrected. “There’s a difference.”

“Is there?” She stopped walking, turning to face him. “Because from where I’m standing, you’ve built an entire practice around caring for this community. You’ve earned their trust. And yeah, maybe part of that is managing Hyde. But it’s also just you being a good doctor.”

The observation sat uncomfortably. Because she was right—he did care about his patients. Did find satisfaction in diagnosing difficult cases and helping people heal. But he’d never separated his desire to help from his need to prove himself safe.

“You’re thinking too hard again.” She poked his chest. “I can practically hear the gears turning.”

“Just processing.”

“Process later. Walk now.” She tugged him forward. “Tell me about Petal. How did you end up with a brownie receptionist?”

He allowed the subject change, grateful for her instinct to lighten the mood. “She applied for the position six years ago. Showed up with impeccable references and a plate of cookies.”

“You hired her for the cookies?”

“I hired her because she’s terrifyingly competent. The cookies were a bonus.” He smiled at the memory. “She took one look at my filing system—or lack thereof—and informed me she’d have it sorted within a week. Then she organized my entire practice, implemented a new scheduling system, and somehow convinced Mrs. Henderson that her chronic complaints required a second opinion from a specialist three towns over.”

She laughed. “Diplomatic.”

“Ruthlessly so. I’d be lost without her.” He navigated them around a fallen log. “I found out later that she’d worked for my father as well. I couldn’t imagine why she’d want to work for me.

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