
Willow Shepherds keeps her head down and her past close—until her best friend Nora, manager of the local coffee shop, flips heartbreak into an Anti-Valentine’s Day stunt. Enter Rowan Preston, founder of the cafe chain and Nora’s fiercely protective brother. He’s there to shut the plan down. Then he sees Willow. The collision is instant. What follows is a rush: a bold pitch, a charged kiss, a dinner that turns into something deeper, and a confession that changes everything. When Willow’s dangerous family connection shows up after hours, Rowan has to decide who he is when it counts—an operator who keeps feelings out of business, or a man who claims and protects what he loves. Over one wild Valentine’s week and beyond, this story blends steamy chemistry, found family, and the sweet relief of finally being safe to love.