Deceit & Desire by Lauren Wheeler

When a savvy businesswoman returns to her family ranch in Montana, she’s forced to face her first love and a decade-old murder investigation. With her legacy on the line, a dangerous game of deception unfolds—one that could cost her everything, including her life.

Zoe
Coming home is never simple—especially when Roman York is involved. I left Blackwell, Montana, and the heartbreak that came with it, for a high-powered career in Miami. But when my father collapses and Twisted Creek Ranch teeters on the brink of disaster, I’m dragged back into Roman’s orbit.
The last time we saw each other, I broke both our hearts. Now, he’s cornered me into a fake engagement, claiming it’s the only way to protect the ranch and dodge the sheriff’s sudden interest in a decade-old tragedy. Playing along is risky, but Roman doesn’t do halfway measures. He’s not just trying to save the ranch—he’s trying to save me.
And that might be the most dangerous risk of all.

Roman
The second Zoe Brandt steps off the plane, I know I’m in over my head. She’s still infuriating, gorgeous, and impossible to ignore—but this time, the stakes are higher than ever.
The sheriff is reopening a murder investigation, predators are circling the ranch, and Zoe’s family legacy hangs by a thread. My solution? A fake engagement to keep the wolves at bay. But Zoe isn’t one to play it safe. She ups the ante with a marriage of convenience—and she has no idea how real it feels to me.
We’re tangled in secrets and lies, the past snapping at our heels, and danger lurks around every corner. I’d marry her for real in a heartbeat—if we can clear our names, save the ranch, and survive long enough to make it down the aisle.