They were high school best friends—bonding over terrible puns while their fingers froze to their clarinets. So what if she crushed on him while he thought of her as a band friend? It was still a glorious friendship . . . until it all crumbled in a single disastrous night.

Zack Partridge broke his best friend’s heart at senior prom. He was stunned when Laura left for college, vowing never to speak to him again. But now that she’s back in town, he wants nothing more than a second chance to renew their friendship and to explore the spark between them.

Laura Anderson can’t believe her bad luck. After an eight-year hiatus, how did she buy the one house in all of Crystal Creek next door to the man she wanted to avoid for at least a millennium? Even worse, he’s the PR rep assigned to launch her new flower shop. She’s determined to keep their relationship professional. No way is she giving into the temptation named Zack Partridge ever again. Nope. Not gonna happen.

She strives to keep her protective barricade intact, but Zack’s confession notes just might have the power to prune back the wall of sharp thorns and sneak past the sign labeled ‘Keep Out’. Can she find the courage to trust him again? And if she does, will Zack protect her heart or risk breaking it once more?