Whitney knows all about hard choices and bad decisions-her latest being a one-night stand with the broody cowboy she should've stayed far away from.

When the next morning brings two pink lines that change everything, she does what she thinks is best-cuts him off and pretends he doesn't exist. It was easier that way. Easier than remembering his gentle touch, his rough laugh, or the way he bit back at her sass with a smirk that made her knees weak.

Now, as a single mom, her only priority is giving her daughter the kind of quiet, stable life she never had. Even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. When tragedy strikes and leaves her with nowhere to turn, she's forced to move in with the last man she ever wanted to see again.

It's temporary. A safety net.

At least, that's what she keeps telling herself.

***

Wyatt tries to hate her. But hating her doesn't come as easy as wanting her does.

No matter how hard he tries, she's always there-under his skin, in his head. Her sharp tongue. Her hazel-green eyes. Her closed-off heart that he hasn't stopped wanting since the night she left him.

Now she's living under his roof-and she's not alone. The little girl with her mother's bright smile and dark curls is everything Wyatt doesn't know he's missing.

What's supposed to be temporary starts to feel like home. With every late-night whisper and every stolen glance, the lines between pretend and reality begin to blur. And when danger threatens the quiet life they've built, he'll stop at nothing to protect them.

Playing house with the woman he can't stop himself from loving? It might just be what breaks them both.