She inherited half an apple orchard. He wishes she hadn't.
Jessica Davis arrives in Ashwood with a leather planner, a bruised ego, and a desperate plan to turn a failing orchard into a profit. One problem: Matthew Clark. The grumpy, flannel-clad farmer who co-owns the land wants nothing to do with her marketing schemes, her city optimism, or the way she fills his quiet farmhouse with noise and warmth. But when a predatory developer holding a balloon note threatens to seize his generational home, forced proximity becomes mandatory. Crammed into a shared cottage with a crackling fireplace and no escape from each other's sharp edges, their professional friction ignites something far more dangerous. Matthew's gruff exterior begins to crack in the steam of the cider press, revealing a tender, fiercely protective man beneath. But Jessica's been burned by promises before, and Matthew's terrified she'll leave when the leaves fall. With the harvest festival deadline looming, they'll have to risk everything—the orchard, their pride, and hearts neither of them can afford to break.
A cozy-spicy small-town romance where autumn magic meets open-door heat. Welcome to Ashwood.
