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Tessa Bennett only wants to thank the man who helped her grandmother get to the hospital. She does not expect that man to be Evan Hayes-the ex she left years ago, the man she never really forgot, and now her brother's captain.
The reunion is bad enough. Then a storm, a damaged condo, and a too-convenient lease leave Tessa with nowhere to go except Evan's villa at Blackstone Grove. Suddenly, the man she has spent years avoiding is across the hall, cooking in the kitchen, remembering her favorite snacks, walking the dog they once raised together, and looking at her like the past is still unfinished.
Under one roof, distance becomes impossible. Family pressure pushes Tessa toward a blind date. Jealousy cracks Evan's careful control. And every ordinary moment-grocery runs, late-night talks, shared concern, the quiet intimacy of being cared for-pulls them closer to the truth they have both tried not to touch.
But history still stands between them. Tessa was the one who left. Evan is the one who was left behind. And wanting each other again is the easy part compared to risking the same heartbreak twice.
Because this time, love is not just about falling back together. It's about choosing to stay when staying is the hardest thing of all.