Allison Parker needs a reason to come home—a believable excuse that won't reveal the real one. Her mother's hiding a painful truth, and Allison refuses to let her suffer alone. Pretending to be engaged to an old friend seems like the perfect solution, especially when that friend is Gabe Coleman.Gabe's got his hands full keeping his family ranch afloat and butting heads with his stubborn father. The last thing he needs is more chaos, but when Allison offers to help in exchange for a fake engagement, he can't say no. Not to her.What starts as a favor soon turns into something real. Late nights, stolen kisses, and the kind of quiet understanding neither of them expected. But to move forward, they'll have to let go of the pain that's been holding them both back.A small-town, friends-to-lovers, fake-fiancé romance with family secrets, slow-burn passion, and a tortured cowboy who finally learns that love isn't weakness—it's home.