She left him brokenhearted. Now, she’s the one thing standing between him and a fortune…

When Michael’s grandfather offered to help June open her dream café—on one condition—she made the hardest decision of her life: raise her son alone and never tell Michael the truth. Now, the man she was trying to protect has returned.

Michael Bainbridge never got over June Cowan. Six years ago, she ghosted him, taking a piece of his heart with her. Now his grandfather’s death has brought him back to Missouri—with a high-stakes deadline: secure a long-term lease on a prime commercial property or lose his inheritance. The problem? The tenant is June.

June has worked hard to build a stable life for herself and her son. Her café, The Hoof & Woof, is more than a business—it’s a gathering place for locals and their dogs, a launchpad for rescue efforts, and a haven for animal lovers. Her Golden Retrievers are trained therapy dogs who help children learn to read. Her food truck travels to horse shows. And the rescued animals she’s cared for—horses, ponies, and dogs—are woven into the life she’s created.

The last thing she needs is Michael returning with paperwork, pressure, and unresolved history. But old sparks still burn. And as buried feelings rise to the surface, June finds herself torn between guarding what she’s built… and remembering what they once had.

Michael thought he came back to help his newly widowed grandmother. But the more time he spends with June—and their son—the more he realizes… he’s still fighting to win her heart.

📖 Perfect for fans of:

✔️ Second chance romance with deep emotional layers
✔️ Dog lovers, animal rescue, and cozy pet culture
✔️ Equestrian fiction with a clean and heartwarming tone
✔️ Single mom stories with real-life grit and grace
✔️ Small-town charm, food trucks, and sweet redemption arcs

💖 A clean, uplifting romance filled with dogs, horses, Golden Retrievers, therapy animals, and second chances.