Years ago, Levi Cooper broke Dani Davis's heart to protect her from secrets he couldn't share. Now, they're both back in their small hometown of Gladewater, Texas-Levi to take care of the struggling family farm, and Dani to nurse her beloved aunt through an illness. The last thing she expected was to come face to face with the man who once shattered her world. But Levi has changed. Grown. And the fiery chemistry between them never really faded. As old feelings rekindle, Dani has to decide if she can forgive the past and trust Levi with her heart again, especially when those same buried secrets start to resurface. Meanwhile, café owner Maggie Wade is everyone's rock-except when it comes to her own heart. After a painful incident from her past, she's given up on romance, until Dr. Zane Savage, a sexy, big-city neurologist, comes to town and turns her world upside down. Zane's smoldering gaze and undeniable charm make it impossible for Maggie to keep her distance, but just when their connection starts to heat up, trouble from Zane's past threatens everything. Will Maggie take a chance on love again, or will old wounds keep her heart locked away? Then there's JT, Maggie's brother, who can't forgive himself for a mistake that nearly cost his sister her life. Guilt has kept him from dating, convinced he'll only cause more harm. But Sofia Benevides, the café's stunning manager, has been silently in love with JT for years. When family pressures mount, JT and Sofia come up with a plan-a fake relationship to keep their loved ones off their backs. But pretending quickly turns real, and JT must face his demons if he's ever going to let love in. In a town where everyone knows everyone, hearts are on the line, and love isn't always easy. Can these three couples overcome their pasts, trust in each other, and find the courage to fight for the love they deserve? Welcome to Gladewater, where second chances are just the beginning.
"Levi, please!" Dani begged from the front seat of his truck. "Talk to me. It can't be that bad. If you'll just tell me what happened, I know we can work it out!"
She was met with stony silence and a hard set to his face that she didn't recognize. She reached up to turn that face to her, to get him to meet her eyes. She gasped when she saw the look in them. Completely dead. No emotion at all. She couldn't imagine what had happened to strip the life from those normally lively blue eyes that she loved. She couldn't conceive of something that bad.
Levi jerked his chin away from her grasp. He stared off into the middle distance, seeing nothing. "No, Dani, I told you, we can't be together anymore," his voice had a rough, raw quality to it that was foreign to her ears. "I'm nothing but trouble. I'll just bring you down."
"No! I love you. You can't mean this – I know something has happened! You can tell me anything and I'll love you just the same. Please, what is it?" Dani cried desperately, begging him to not shut her out.
Levi set his jaw and jerked his head no. He had to be strong. He had to break it off...for her. He knew she couldn't understand why he was doing this. They were supposed to be together forever, but he couldn't embroil her in his mess. He had to protect her. He reached over her lap, through her grasping hands, and opened the truck door without looking her in the face. "Goodbye, Dani."
Dani started to grab the door and pull it shut again but then she looked toward the house. She saw her aunt and uncle on the front porch, Uncle E's arm around her aunt. Aunt Lu looked worried, her eyes round and her hands clasped in front of her but Uncle E looked like he might go get his shotgun. His brows were pulled low and his mouth formed a deep frown. They had apparently heard her crying and yelling. She didn't want to bring them into this. With tears streaming down her face, she finally slid from the truck and closed the door. She stood on the sidewalk, her chest heaving in silent sobs as Levi stepped on the gas and rumbled down the road away from her. He never looked back. He couldn't. His heart was already being ripped from his chest.
Chapter 1 Prologue
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Chapter 2 The Call
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Chapter 3 Return to Gladewater
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Chapter 4 A Thousand Memories
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Chapter 5 Confronting Demons
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Chapter 6 Small but Fierce
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Chapter 7 Opinions
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Chapter 8 Friends and Lovers
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Chapter 9 Interesting Meetings
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Chapter 10 You Can Go Home Again
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Chapter 11 Blow Up
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Chapter 12 The Mighty Warrior Returns
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Chapter 13 A New Plan
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Chapter 14 Exploration
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Chapter 15 Making A Home
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Chapter 16 Dark Memories
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Chapter 17 Back in the Saddle
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Chapter 18 No More Tears
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Chapter 19 No Escape
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Chapter 20 Jesus Take the Wheel
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Chapter 21 Forced Proximity
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Chapter 22 What Could Go Wrong
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Chapter 23 Chemistry
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Chapter 24 Just A Kiss
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Chapter 25 Friends Divided
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Chapter 26 Reunion
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Chapter 27 Feeling Blue
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Chapter 28 Triage
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Chapter 29 Every Lady Needs a Chaise
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Chapter 30 Sunday Dinner
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Chapter 31 A Tale of Two Kitchens
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Chapter 32 You Do Not Eat Like A Rabbit
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Chapter 33 Southern Manners
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Chapter 34 The Invitation
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Chapter 35 Cooking Lessons
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Chapter 36 It's Hot in the Kitchen
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Chapter 37 Emergency
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Chapter 38 Hospital
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Chapter 39 Competition
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Chapter 40 Maggie to the Rescue
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