A Temporary Experiment

Seventeen years ago, Emma called Grant dorky.

He called her a little strange.

They've been inseparable ever since.

Now, Grant is heading back home to Michigan for the holidays, where his mom is on a quest to find him a wife. Emma offers the only solution that makes sense.

They'll fake date.

A simple, temporary fix under the guise of a friendly experiment. Or so Emma thinks.

Emma has built her life around safety, and Grant is the one relationship she's never had to question. Acting like they're in love was supposed to be easy. But the thin line between fake and real is blurring. And suddenly, Emma wants more.

For Grant, it's never been pretend.

He's spent years hiding what he feels, knowing one wrong move could shatter everything the two best friends built. Now, he gets to hold Emma's hand, call her his girlfriend, and feel her lean into him like she belongs there. It's everything he's ever dreamed of, and every stolen moment leaves him aching for more.

Which is exactly why he knows it's going to destroy him when it ends.

Because fake dating is simple-until one kiss makes everything a lot more complicated.