For six months, I hated Asher Hammond. And then I slept with him. What started as one night turned into something neither of us expected—something real. Despite Ash’s aversion to romance and my diehard belief in happily-ever-afters, we found our rhythm: my heart, his hands, and a passion that could burn down Sparkwood. Between late nights at my bookstore, restoring my crumbling Victorian mansion, and falling for a man who swore love wasn’t in his DNA, I let myself believe we were building something lasting. Even if Ash never said those three words, his actions spoke volumes. Until she showed up. The first—and only—woman Asher ever loved. The one who wrecked him, shattered his heart, and left scars deeper than any ink. And she’s not here alone. Ash swears it’s over between them, but their shared history—and one too many secrets—make it impossible to ignore the cracks in the fragile foundation of our love story. I’ve been second best before, and I refuse to play that role again. Walking away from the man I love is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But just when I think I’ve found my footing, life throws me a twist I never saw coming. Now, I have a secret, too—one that could bring us back together … or tear us apart forever.

I came in for coffee and left with a fiancée. Let me back up. First, I got coffee. Then Mina kissed me. And damn—turns out the woman kisses like she means it. Then she drops a bigger bomb—she needs me to act the part of her doting fiancé. Something about inheriting her aunt’s beloved dance studio. It’s a temporary gig for a few weeks. Only trouble? I’m not at all what her upper crust family has in mind. Yeah, this should be interesting. Still, the more her family protests, the more I lean into this whole fake engagement arrangement. I’ve always liked proving people wrong—and besides, how can I say no to Mina? By the time I leave One More Page with my brew, I’m fake engaged and shacking up with the one woman I should absolutely not want. A roommate who steals my hoodies and struts around in the shortest shorts ever created. A roommate with knockout legs and big, innocent eyes that ask for trouble. A roommate who wants me to teach her everything she’s never experienced. She’s twelve years younger. She’s off-limits. She’s making this way too damn hard. And worst of all? I want to be the one she learns with. The one she chooses. But Mina has dreams bigger than Sparkwood, bigger than us. And the worst part? I already know how this story ends. I just don’t know how to let her go.