The Birchwood Inn: A Sweet Enemies-to-Lovers Holiday Small Town Romance (Maplewood Ridge Romance #3)

The last person Nate Callahan expected to see when he returned to Maplewood Ridge was Harper Quinn. The woman who publicly rejected him at senior prom ten years ago. The woman who called him "not serious about anything" and "going nowhere" in front of half their class. The woman he's spent a decade trying to forget.

Now she's standing in his late aunt's inn, looking at him like he's ruined her life. Again.

Harper has been managing the Birchwood Inn for a year, rebuilding after her perfect Manhattan life imploded. Her career as a high-end wedding planner? Destroyed by a cheating ex-fiancé. Her reputation? Shattered. Coming to Vermont was supposed to be her fresh start. Aunt Judith promised her the inn. It was supposed to finally be hers.

Until the will reading reveals Judith left the inn to both of them. Fifty-fifty ownership. With one impossible condition.

They must co-manage the Birchwood Inn together for four weeks through the Christmas and New Year's season. If either leaves before January first, they forfeit everything. If they both stay, they maintain joint ownership and must figure out a permanent partnership.

Nate doesn't want the inn. He's built a successful career as a travel photographer, never staying anywhere long enough to get attached. The last thing he needs is to be trapped in his hometown with a woman who broke his seventeen-year-old heart and confirmed his worst that he'd never be good enough.

Harper doesn't want a partner. Especially not Nate Callahan, who represents every impulsive decision she's spent her life avoiding. She plans everything. Controls everything. Trusts no one. And she certainly doesn't need a commitment-phobic photographer who'll leave the second things get difficult.

But the inn is fully booked. Guests are expecting a magical Christmas experience. And neither of them is willing to back down and hand the other person a victory.

Four weeks of forced proximity during the most romantic season of the year. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything, as it turns out. Because Harper's rigid control clashes with Nate's spontaneous creativity. Because working together means late nights by the fireplace and early mornings over coffee. Because decorating for Christmas requires standing close on ladders and sharing small spaces. Because a massive snowstorm traps them together, forcing honest conversations they've avoided for a decade.

And because underneath the resentment and old wounds, there's an undeniable attraction neither can ignore.

Harper is brilliant and broken, hiding vulnerability behind perfect planning. Nate is talented and terrified, running from anything that feels like home. They hurt each other once out of fear. Now they're getting a second chance to heal those wounds. If they're brave enough to try.

But as Christmas Eve approaches and feelings deepen, reality intervenes. Nate receives his dream three months photographing New Zealand for National Geographic. The career opportunity he's worked toward for years. Leaving January fifth.

Harper knows this was always temporary. That Nate would eventually do what everyone leave. She can protect herself by ending things first. Push him away before he can hurt her again.

Except Nate's not running this time. He's choosing to stay. Choosing her. Choosing them. And Harper has to decide if she's brave enough to believe him. To trust that this man who's spent ten years leaving is finally ready to build a home.

This wholesome holiday romance features enemies-to-lovers tension, forced proximity, a grumpy photographer hero, a sunshine planner heroine, Christmas magic, and a guaranteed happily ever after.