Sagebrush Ranch in Montana

As Andrew is finding his place at the ranch after his time in the military, he's frustrated that his progress isn't faster. He thought he'd retire from the military after a long career, but that wasn't meant to be.Julia values her relationships with the Reese family. During their difficult childhood, she and her brother spent many hours at Sagebrush Ranch. Now that her career is successful and stable, she'd like to have a love life but that doesn't seem to be in the cards.Andrew's long time crush on his best friend's sister, Julia, always leads him to bickering with her so she won't see his true feelings. His confidence is lacking due to the scars he bears-yet another reason to stay just friends.When they're forced together on a road trip, it feels like there might be an opening for Andrew to share how he feels. But when bickering is their ritual, he may not get the chance to tell Julia he fell for her years ago.

Romance author Becca Mason is spending the summer at Sagebrush Ranch, looking forward to her friend's wedding, parties and fun. She also hopes to kick the writer's block plaguing her. Hoping a change of scenery will reignite her creativity, she jumped right in when her friend offered the invitation. Nobody knows what he writes, though, because what credible romance author would have such rotten luck with her own happily ever after? Ethan Boone is a horse trainer at the ranch who's considered a bit of a player. The truth about that is a little more complicated. He's carried a secret for what seems like forever and that secret keeps him from letting anyone get close enough to figure it out. Worries that his secret could take the job he loves away are always in the back of his mind. When an awkward situation puts Ethan in an embarrassing position, on a whim Becca steps up to help him out. And just like that, she becomes his fake girlfriend. Thinking the short-term arrangement will blow over, they can't seem to find a believable way out. As their make-believe love story continues, real feelings start to develop. But the secrets they've kept hidden might make it impossible for true love to take hold.