Cole Alston swore he’d never return to his childhood home in rural North Carolina, but when his mother dies, he inherits her hoarded property. He hopes to sell everything and use the money to start over in Canada, far away from his abusive ex-boyfriend. It’s a daunting task, and Cole has no idea where to start. Luckily for him, the local antique store owner, Jeremy Collins, volunteers his services in sorting the hoard. Their professional relationship soon evolves into a personal one, but Cole must overcome his past and his anxiety before he can accept a new man in his life or the possibility of a happy future.

No one in Jeremy Collins' life ever stays. His parents, sister, and wife are all dead. Now he has taken Cole Alston into his home to help him recover from years of abuse at the hands of his ex. Jeremy hopes Cole, who he loves, will stick around, but after eight years of Cole not being allowed to make his own choices, Jeremy doesn't think he has the right to ask. As Jeremy keeps his concerns and desires to himself, his best friend Bethann calls on him for a huge favor—claim he's the father of her baby so she isn't ostracized in their small town for sleeping with a married man. However doing so would be tantamount to denying his relationship with Cole. Rumors fly before Jeremy can explain to Cole that he said no, and suddenly the whole town is in his business. Rather than reassure Cole, Jeremy's explanations have the opposite effect. Something is going on in Cole's mind that Jeremy doesn't know about, and in order to get Cole to talk, Jeremy will need to confront his own deepest fear.

Can their hard-won romance survive a new test of love and devotion? Cole Alston’s only goal when he returned to his rural hometown was to offload his inherited property and leave. Now, he’s very much in love with Jeremy, and he’s determined to make his own career goals mesh with the life he wants to build here. But an unexpected announcement from Jeremy throws Cole’s carefully ordered life completely off track. Adjusting to their new normal isn’t easy, but Jeremy Collins is determined to make things work. To build the life he’s always wanted with Cole by his side. Reality doesn’t always place nice with dreams, though, and it will take both men’s strength and love to truly unite as a family. This is a brand-new conclusion to the Discovering Me trilogy.