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 real—until love found them anyway.

He was never supposed to love her—especially not her baby.

I didn't plan on ending up in Birchwood Springs.

But after escaping a brutal marriage and discovering I'm pregnant, this town—and the broody tattoo artist who swore to protect me—might be the only shot I have at starting over.Atlas Timberbridge is nothing like the world I left behind.

He's 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 town—and this man—start to feel like home.

Now I'm falling for my fake husband... and terrified he'll never be able to love me back.
Because small towns have long memories.
And secrets don't stay buried forever.