Making It Real

<p><strong>Coming home was never part of the plan.</strong></p><p>Twelve years ago I left my hometown-and Deacon Langford-behind. I had my reasons and I told myself they were good ones. But now? Let's just say life didn't exactly go the way I thought it would. My shiny New York career crashed and burned and now I'm back at Kensington House my family's crumbling estate trying to figure out what comes next.</p><p>Spoiler alert: I have no idea.</p><p>What I do know is that Deacon who lives next door still has every reason to hate me. He's built a life here-his farm his friends everything I left behind. But then my mother ever the schemer starts dropping not-so-subtle hints about reconnecting. And when my nosy uncle mistakes us for a couple the next thing I know I'm begging Deacon to fake it with me.</p><p>It's just a way to help Mom. A few shared smiles and a little PDA and we both get what we want. That's the plan.</p><p>Except being near Deacon again feels like coming home in a way I wasn't ready for. And the more time we spend together the more I realize this might be my last chance to fix what I broke.</p><p>I just have to convince Deacon to take a second chance on me-and hope I don't screw it up all over again.</p><p><em>Making It Real</em> is part of the <em>Making It</em> series and can be read as a standalone story.</p>