midnighhtlover
Emerson never planned to stay.
Inheriting her grandmother's old cabin in the woods was supposed to be temporary, just a quiet summer away from city rent, crumbling dreams, and the kind of loneliness you stop noticing until it's everywhere.
She didn't expect Michael.
The soft-spoken man next door with guarded eyes, a cabin full of rescued animals, and a quiet reputation that makes him more mystery than neighbor. He doesn't talk much. But the way he lives with purpose, with peace...makes her wonder what it would be like to stay.
When old friends from his past return to town, including the ex who broke his heart, Michael shows up on Emerson's porch with an awkward request:
Pretend to be mine. Just for the summer.
But what begins as a harmless favor slowly turns into early mornings feeding chickens, late-night porch talks, stolen glances, and a connection that neither of them planned for.
They were supposed to be pretending.
Just for the summer.
But summer has a way of changing everything.