We were supposed to be playing house for the summer—not forever.

When I move into my late cousin’s house to care for his kids, Zach Fenwick is the obvious solution. My best friend. The island’s steady, quietly protective first responder. The man who’s always been there—whether I was ready to admit it or not.

It’s temporary. Practical. Just help with bedtime routines, shared meals, and keeping life from spinning out of control.

Except Zach has been in love with me for years. And the longer we play house, the harder it is to pretend this is just make-believe.

As break-ins start targeting the house, it’s obvious someone isn’t just causing trouble—they’re searching for something. Zach doesn’t hesitate. He installs security, and when we can’t be home, he enlists his formidable grandmother as backup. Nothing slips past him.

But the closer the danger gets, the harder it is to ignore what we’re building—and what it would cost to walk away when summer ends.

Deep Waters is book 2 in the Evergreen Rescue series and can be read as a standalone.