From USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa comes a deeply emotional small-town romance about a runaway heiress, a tattooed protector, and the marriage that was never supposed to be realâuntil love found them anyway.
He was never supposed to love herâespecially not her baby.
I didnât plan on ending up in Birchwood Springs.
But after escaping a brutal marriage and discovering Iâm pregnant, this townâand the broody tattoo artist who swore to protect meâmight be the only shot I have at starting over.Atlas Timberbridge is nothing like the world I left behind.
Heâs all inked arms, gruff silence, and an unexpected gentleness that makes my heart ache.
Pretending we were married was for my protection.
A temporary arrangement meant to keep me hidden from my vicious husband.
We agree to keep it strictly business. No feelings. No future.
But the longer I stay, the more this small townâand this manâstart to feel like home.
Now Iâm falling for my fake husband... and terrified heâll never be able to love me back.
Because small towns have long memories.
And secrets donât stay buried forever.