He never promised me forever. But I gave him everything anyway.Jake Ashford was the boy I could never have—blue eyes, cocky grin, every girl’s fantasy. To him, I was just a friend. Sometimes not even that.Nine years later, one look is all it takes. Suddenly, I’m the only thing he wants.The problem? Jake doesn’t do love. He doesn’t do forever. And I knew it when I let him in.I thought I could play his game. Keep my heart locked up until he was the one to break... moreHe never promised me forever. But I gave him everything anyway.Jake Ashford was the boy I could never have—blue eyes, cocky grin, every girl’s fantasy. To him, I was just a friend. Sometimes not even that.Nine years later, one look is all it takes. Suddenly, I’m the only thing he wants.The problem? Jake doesn’t do love. He doesn’t do forever. And I knew it when I let him in.I thought I could play his game. Keep my heart locked up until he was the one to break.But Jake didn’t just set me on fire—he consumed me. And when he left, he didn’t just disappear. He shattered me.Now I’m back in my hometown with a daughter to protect and a secret he can never know. I never planned on seeing him again. But he’s here. And he’s not walking away this time.Letting him close again means risking everything—my heart, my secret, and maybe even my life. less
