First published 2026
Hayes Wilder returns to Honey Hollow just before his grandfather dies, only to discover the family estate comes with strings attached. The will demands marriage to secure his inheritance, and his half brother circles like a predator waiting for Hayes to fail. Enter Catherine Foster, the former Miss Virginia drowning in medical bills from her mother's treatment. At the grandfather's funeral, Hayes and Catherine strike their bargain. He will clear her debts if she becomes his wife. The arrangement seems straightforward until the whole town starts watching their every move. His half brother scrutinizes their relationship for cracks that might invalidate the marriage. Catherine and Hayes planned to learn about each other after the wedding, but external pressure makes intimacy nearly impossible. The cowboy discovers that their childhood connection runs deeper than either expected, transforming a business transaction into something that threatens his guarded heart.
Genres: romance, contemporary, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: emotional, heartfelt, intimate, slow-burn, tension-filled
Tropes: fake-dating, forced-proximity, marriage-of-convenience, second-chance-romance
Setting: Honey Hollow, Virginia
448 pages · Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: medical-trauma