From USA Today bestselling author Laura Pavlov comes a searingly warm and witty romance between an NFL player looking for a second chance and the innkeeper who gives him one.

With a championship loss under his belt and an ex-girlfriend’s bad press on his heels, quarterback Maverick Storm just needs to lie low. He escapes to Peachtree to lick his wounds and reevaluate his life. But the owner of the local inn soon puts his heart in a twist.

Hazel Adams isn’t one to make rash decisions—with her inn or her emotions. Seeing your ex-boyfriend and former best friend together does something to a person, though. And kissing a sexy stranger turns out to be Hazel’s something.

That kiss inspires Hazel and Maverick to try fake dating as a temporary fix for all their problems. But when the paparazzi catches wind of the unexpected romance, they’re in for a more long-term arrangement.

As they grow closer, their guards begin to come down. But with their lifestyles at odds and their hearts at stake, they’ll have to decide whether to make their connection real—or keep pretending it’s not.

© 2026 by Laura Pavlov, all rights reserved.

Laura Pavlov is best known for writing swoony, emotional stories with a side of angst and a dash of humor. A hopeless romantic at heart, she likes to take her characters on a journey that always leads to happily ever after. Laura is happily married to her college sweetheart and devoted to her two amazing kids who are now adulting. She’s also a dog whisperer to one temperamental Yorkie and one wild Bernedoodle. She resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she is currently living her own happily ever after.