Solace

Coming back to Willow Creek was never part of my grand plan. But when my dad's health took a turn, I swapped city skylines and cold brew coffee for the scent of hay and the hum of crickets. I told myself it was temporary-just until he was back on his feet. Then Nate Weston showed up with a fawn tucked in his arms, looking every bit like the rugged forest guardian he's grown into, and suddenly, "temporary" started feeling a lot more complicated. Nate has this infuriating ability to pull me into his world-whether it's a stormy night chasing down a wild horse or a Ferris wheel ride that feels just like our teenage summers. But as much as I want to lean into the warmth of his laugh and the spark in his eyes, the past has a funny way of tangling itself with the present. Now, with a town full of memories, a wild horse with a will to match my own, and a man who's become the calm in my storm, I have to figure out where I belong. Is Willow Creek my home, or just a stop along the way? One thing's for sure: nothing about this summer is going to be simple.