Wandering Closer by Etta Lane

Lily:
After leaving everything behind, I thought the quiet of a small mountain town would be the perfect place to start over. As an author, solitude is all I’ve known, and I’m finally starting to feel at home. But then I meet Thoren James—a rugged park ranger with a protective nature and a heart of gold. Along with his loyal dog, Shadow, he offers me a sense of security I didn’t know I needed.
For the first time, I’m starting to believe that I could build a life here. But when ghosts from my past threaten, I realize that healing isn’t as simple as leaving everything behind. Thoren’s strength and the love of this small town are all that stands between me and the chaos I thought I’d escaped. Can I trust that the peace I’ve found is real, or will my past destroy everything I’ve come to love?

Thoren:
The mountains are my home, and my loyal dog, Shadow, has been my best friend since my last relationship. But when I met Lily, something shifted. There’s a softness in her that calls to me, and I want nothing more than to protect her from the world. She’s been through more than I can imagine, and the walls she’s built around herself are so high I wonder if she’ll ever let anyone in.
But I know what it’s like to carry scars—both visible and hidden—and I’m not about to let her face this alone. As we grow closer, I begin to see a future with her, one I didn’t think was possible. Yet, the more I care for her, the more I see I have to help her face the demons in her past.
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means confronting my own fears and letting her see the real me. Because in this small town, I’m not just falling for her—I’m falling for the life we could build together. And nothing is going to take that from me.