Jess Harper finally has the fresh start she was looking for until she needs a fake date to survive her ex’s wedding weekend. Caleb Ward is the reliable, closed-off man who agrees to help, expecting nothing more than a favor. But when their pretend relationship starts to feel real, they’ll have to decide if they’re brave enough to risk everything for something neither of them believed they deserved. Readers who enjoy steamy fake dating romances will devour Fake It Until It’s Real by Tina Gallagher & Cissy Mecca, a small-town, forced proximity romance.
She’s afraid she’s too much. He’s convinced he’ll never be enough.
Maplemoor is Jess Harper’s fresh start. A quiet place to rebuild after a future that never happened. Now she has a book club that feels like family, a coffee shop that knows her order, and a life that finally feels steady again.
What she doesn’t have is a date to her best friend’s wedding—the one where her ex and his brand-new fiancée will also be there.
Enter Caleb Ward. Dependable. Steady. The kind of man who shows up before you even have to ask—for everyone except himself. He’s got a life in Maplemoor that works for him, but when it comes to love, he keeps his walls firmly in place—and exactly where he wants them.
Agreeing to be Jess’s date to the wedding is just a favor. Nothing more.
Until it isn’t.
One weekend together. One very convincing performance.
Turns out the line between pretending and real is thinner than either of them thought. The hard part is knowing which side they’re on.
Excerpt
Copyright 2026, Author Tina Gallagher & Author Cissy Mecca
When he kissed me, it felt deliberate.
Not rushed. Not distracted. Just…there.
Present.
His hands settled at my waist like he had nowhere else he needed to be, no next step he was trying to get to.
And that was new.
Because in my experience, kissing was usually a means to an end. Something you moved through on the way to something else.
But this?
This felt like the point.
When he pulled back, it wasn’t far.
His forehead rested lightly against mine, his breath warm against my lips.
For a second, neither of us moved.
My eyes stayed closed, like opening them would break whatever this was.
My heart was beating too fast—loud enough that I was sure he could hear it.
And maybe he could, because his thumb brushed slowly along my jaw, like he was paying attention to every tiny reaction.
Like he was cataloging it.
Like it mattered.
My eyes opened.
His gaze dropped to my mouth again, like he wasn’t quite done.
And then he kissed me again.
Softer this time.
Slower.
No urgency. No hesitation. Just intention.
My fingers curled lightly into the front of his shirt, not pulling him closer, just…holding on.
He didn’t rush.
Didn’t push.
He just stayed there with me, like this moment—this exact moment—was enough.
And that was what undid me.
Because I wasn’t used to that.
Wasn’t used to someone not trying to get somewhere else.
Wasn’t used to someone who seemed perfectly content to just be here.
With me.
When he finally pulled back, it was gradual, like he wasn’t entirely convinced he should.
His hands stayed at my waist.
Mine stayed where they were.
Neither of us stepped away.
There was something in his expression now that hadn’t been there before.
Not uncertainty.
Not surprise.
Just awareness.
Of me.
Of this.
Of whatever this had just shifted into.
And suddenly, it didn’t feel like pretending anymore.
About Tina Gallagher
Tina Gallagher grew up and continues to live in Northeast Pennsylvania. As a tween, she and her best friend would create happily ever afters for their favorite soap opera couples. Eventually, the soap operas lost their appeal, but the writing never did. Before living her dream as a full-time author, she worked a spectrum of jobs ranging from baking and cake decorating to marketing and project management. In between creating memorable characters, traveling, and taking pole dance lessons, Tina enjoys spending time with her two grown children and Golden Irish named Thea.
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About Cissy Mecca
A “recovering” 8th-grade teacher and curriculum consultant with a PhD in Language & Literacy, Cecelia loves writing high-heat, emotionally charged romance. The Brands (The Mecca Romance Multiverse): Cissy Mecca: Contemporary Romance, Cecelia Mecca: Medieval and Scottish Historical Romance. C.L. Mecca: Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Mecca Romance Signature Style: Heroines: Bold, strong women who fall hard but never lose their identity. Heroes: High-heat, protective, and intense. Vibe: Visceral, sensory-rich escapes… from family-owned vineyards to the war-torn Anglo-Scottish borders. Other Info: Representation: Katie Reed (Katie Reed Literary) Personal: Married, two teens, Disney enthusiast, traveler, and wine lovers Authority: PhD background makes her an excellent guest for craft-focused podcasts or literacy-based panels.
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