Mateo & Nicole by Natalie Dean

She was his secret crush. Now she’s his employee… and a single mom.

Mateo Palmer swore he’d never risk his heart again. The last time he did, he was left waiting at the altar. Now, he keeps things light—never serious, never lasting. But when Nicole Reynolds walks into Winding Creek Ranch looking for a fresh start, everything changes. She was always the one who got away, and fate has just handed him a second chance.
Nikki needs this job to provide for her six-year-old son. She never expected her new boss to be Mateo—the man she secretly adored in high school. He’s charming, flirty, and just as handsome as ever. But she knows better than to believe a man like him would ever want forever with a woman like her.
He’s determined to prove her wrong. She’s convinced he’ll walk away. But love—and a little boy with a shy smile—might just rewrite their story.