**PREVIEW ONLY** Dr. Indiana "Indie" Miller never believed in fairy tales. How could she? Everything she ever accomplished was paid for in blood, sweat, and will. Emancipated at sixteen, she put herself through medical school while juggling three jobs, and built a life around one simple truth - that no one was coming to save her. Then her favorite patient introduces Indie to her grandson. And Teddy Williams is everything Indie never dared to dream of. Kind, steadfast, and completely devoted to her. He's the kind of man who notices the little things and looks at her like she's the only woman in the world. There's only one problem. Teddy's overbearing mother hates her. Thankfully, Nana Ellie is there to shield Indie from the worst of it, and despite the tension, Teddy and Indie fall deeper and deeper in love. Two years later, they're on the verge of forever and preparing to move to New Jersey for Indie's dream job at Bluewater Cancer Center. But when Nana Ellie dies, the woman who loved Indie like family is gone. Teddy's mother, Dawn, has spent his entire life making herself the center of it, and she has no intention of letting Indie take her place. Every mispronounced name, every crossed boundary, every cruel little comment is designed to prove one thing - Indie does not belong with him. As the pressure builds and the disrespect becomes impossible to ignore, Teddy finds himself caught between the family he was raised to put first and the woman he loves more than anything. He chooses wrong. And he loses Indie. Without her, Teddy is forced to face the truth of his choices. That his mother's love was never love at all, it was guilt, control, and enmeshment. And if he wants any chance of winning Indie back, he'll have to do more than apologize - he'll have to become the man she deserved all along. Because Indie Miller is done waiting for a fairy tale. This time, she's going to make one for herself.

Sam needed a wife. I needed a stable for my horses. We agreed to a marriage of convenience, but it seemed to be more. For a while. Until my distant cousin, who was Sam's ex, showed up on our doorstep. And I was no longer convenient.

I've dreamed of the perfect marriage ever since I was a little girl: a marriage complete with a hardworking husband while I tended to the home and our children, preferably four little rugrats to call my own. I dreamed of a life filled with laughter, joy, and success, a life we built together. I dreamed of growing old next to my husband, creating a great love story to tell our grandchildren someday. It all seemed so possible. I was raised to be the perfect wife, after all. From the outside, it seemed I had exactly what I dreamed of with the rich, determined husband; the brilliant, gaudy diamond ring; and the beautiful home filled with the hope of future children. Yes, it was all a dream come true. I should have felt grateful, really. The problem is, I also wanted a marriage based on love, passion, and affection, but those are the only things my husband cannot give me . . . . . . because they're reserved for her. For readers: * I do my best to proofread before publishing, but some typos and errors will slip through. Feel free to point them out! * Comments, active engagement, and helpful critiques are welcomed. * Mean, unnecessary comments that attack me, personally, or other commenters will be ignored and deleted. It takes a lot of courage to publish your work and for others to actively engage in a community. I'd like to keep this a safe and fun place to rage at imperfect heroes and cheer for darling heroines! * I'm not a spicy writer. I rather use my word count for plot, character development, and GROVEL!!! * Most importantly, I hope you enjoy the little world I'm creating. Happy reading, everyone! ADS/Imaginationgirl35