I came to Seattle to settle my late aunt’s estate. Not to uncover a family secret that rewrites my entire life. Definitely not to fall for the grumpy neighbor across the hall.

Alec Hovarth is broody, intense, and completely incapable of minding his own business. He acts like my daughter and I are temporary inconveniences in his carefully controlled life.

Unfortunately for him, Mila decides he belongs to us almost immediately.

What starts as hallway arguments and reluctant favors turns into shared dinners, late-night conversations, and a man who somehow begins showing up for us in ways nobody else ever has.

The problem? I’m still grieving. Still untangling decades of lies buried inside my family. Still trying to understand why the woman I thought was my aunt was actually my mother.

Falling in love was never part of the plan. Neither was Alec. Because the more he lets us into his life, the more terrifying it becomes to imagine losing him. My daughter already looks at him like he’s permanent. And maybe the scariest part is this: I’m starting to want forever with him too.

But love requires trust. And trust feels impossible when your entire life has been built around people leaving.

Alec keeps promising he’ll stay. But can my heart believe that’s possible?