THE BEST FRIEND BARGAIN

Veterinarian Hazel Ming has three problems: her practice is failing, her parents won’t stop matchmaking, and she’s been in love with her best friend for eight years—since the night before his wedding to someone else.

When Liam Garrison impulsively announces they’re dating to escape his meddling mother, Hazel plays along. Six months of fake dating to get their families off their backs. Simple plan. Except Hazel’s been hiding her feelings since she stood in his wedding as a bridesmaid and cried alone in the bathroom afterward.

They set rules: hand-holding in public, family dinners, couple photos. Nothing private. Nothing real. But morning coffee at her clinic becomes routine. Emergency farm calls mean overnight stays. The first kiss at the Harvest Dance isn’t for show. When they cross the line to “friends with benefits,” Hazel’s living her fantasy with an expiration date.

Liam’s starting to notice things—how she takes her coffee, how right she feels in his space. His ex-wife tells him, “You never looked at me the way you look at her.” The town’s old farmer says, “You don’t perform that kind of comfortable.”

Six months end. Liam suggests they can “find real love now.” Hazel agrees with a smile, goes home, and falls apart.

Then Hazel’s best friend Rachel tells Liam the truth: eight years of secret love, the wedding attended while heartbroken, the fake dating that was real hope from day one. Liam crashes Hazel’s veterinary conference with a public declaration in front of her parents and colleagues. He’s been an idiot. He fell in love during their fake relationship. He chooses her. All in.

TROPES:
• Friends to Lovers 
• Fake Dating
• Small Town Romance
• Forced Proximity
• Only One Bed
• Unrequited Love Becomes Requited
• Dual POV
• He’s Oblivious, She’s Pining
• Grand Gesture
• Veterinarian/Farmer Romance

HEAT LEVEL: Steamy (Open-door love scenes with emotional focus, detailed intimacy beginning mid-book)