Everyone knew Alicia Harrisonβs marriage to Ilya Stern wouldnβt last. Theyβd grown up on a remote stretch of Quarry Street, where there were two houses, two sets of siblings, and eventually, a tangled mess of betrayal, longing, and loss. Tragedy catapulted Allie and Ilya together, but divorceβeven as neighborsβhas been relatively uncomplicated.
Then Ilyaβs brother, Nikolai, comes home for their grandmotherβs last days. Heβs the guy who teased and fought with Allie, infuriated her, then fled town without a good-bye. Now Niko makes her feel something else entirelyβa rush of connection and pure desire that sheβs been trying to quench since one secret kiss years ago. Nikoβs not sticking around. Sheβs not going to leave. And after all thatβs happened between their families, this canβt be anything more than brief pleasure and a bad idea.
But the lies we tell ourselves canβt compete with the truths our hearts refuse to let goβ¦
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