She’s got a plan. He’s the charming detour.
Holly Winslow has worked hard to rebuild her reputation, and she’s determined to prove herself as Gooseberry Flats State Park’s newest temporary ranger. This is her shot to secure the position she’s always dreamed of. So she’s sworn off anything that might lead her astray—including the town’s most distracting resident.
Matt Pagosa has spent years keeping his distance from love, but something about Holly makes him want to show up differently. Their connection is undeniable, as clear as the mountain ranges etched into the morning sky. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to pretend he doesn’t want more. But when a letter reopens a wound he’s spent years trying to heal, Matt is forced to confront his past.
With reputations closing in and old ghosts refusing to stay buried, Holly and Matt have to decide whether they’ll keep running from the past… or fight for the kind of love that could give them both the stability they’ve been secretly chasing.
Escape to Gooseberry Flats in Across the Water. A cozy, small town, chemistry‑filled romance complete with a candy-loving ranger, a soft‑hearted playboy, and a raven who thinks “bullshit” is the town’s official greeting.
Tropes:
Small Town
Only One Bed
Golden Retriever MMC
Dual 1st Person POV
Open Door Spice