The Co-Parenting Contract

About the Book

She needed to save her shelter. He needed to escape his past. Their only solution? A matchmaking ghost, a mischievous cat, and one very outrageous contract. Veterinarian Claudia Morgan has poured her heart and soul into Oakridge Hollow’s Paws & Reflect Animal Shelter. It’s her life, her sanctuary, her tribute to the woman who raised her. But when its eccentric benefactor, Agatha Pembroke, passes away, the shelter’s future—and Claudia’s entire world—is thrown into jeopardy. The land it sits on? Part of Agatha’s estate. The condition for saving it? Utterly, impossibly, Agatha-insane.

Enter Benjamin Carter: acclaimed architect, Claudia’s former childhood best friend, and the man who shattered her heart fifteen years ago when he left town without a backward glance. Now, he’s back, summoned by the same outrageous will. To secure their inheritance—Agatha’s quirky cottage and, crucially, the land Paws & Reflect calls home—they must:

Cohabitate for six months in Agatha’s rambling, slightly rundown cottage. Jointly co-parent Agatha’s imperious, three-legged, one-eyed cat, Captain Flint (a feline overlord with a PhD in escape artistry). Convince the entire gossipy town of Oakridge Hollow that their long-lost friendship has blossomed into a loving, committed relationship. For meticulous, order-obsessed Ben, who traded small-town predictability for sleek city skylines, sharing a chaotic house with the endearingly scatterbrained Claudia—and a cat who views “House Rules” as mere suggestions—is a fresh level of torment. For compassionate, conflict-avoidant Claudia, trusting Ben again feels like an even bigger risk than losing her beloved shelter.

As they navigate comically disastrous public appearances, home repairs that devolve into paint wars, and the eagle-eyed scrutiny of Oakridge Hollow’s most notorious gossip, Mrs. Finch, their carefully constructed charade begins to fray. Old hurts resurface, but so does the undeniable, electric spark that always simmered beneath their childhood camaraderie. Late-night talks on the porch under a canopy of fireflies, shared laughter over Captain Flint’s latest escapade, and the unexpected intimacy of forced teamwork begin to blur the lines between their fake romance and the very real feelings neither can deny.

But a scheming relative is determined to expose their pact and seize Agatha’s property for himself. With the clock ticking and their secrets threatening to unravel, can Claudia and Ben heal the wounds of the past and build a future together? Or will the pressure of their performance, and the ghosts of what might have been, tear them apart for good?

Tropes You’ll Find & Love in The Co-Parenting Contract:

❤️ Fake Dating / Fake Engagement (with a purrfectly meddling twist!)

🏡 Forced Proximity / Cohabitation (thanks, Agatha!)

🐾 Adorable (and Chaotic) Pet (Captain Flint steals the show!)

🕰️ Second Chance Romance (for childhood best friends)

🌲 Small Town Charm (welcome to Oakridge Hollow!)

🫂 Opposites Attract (perfectionist architect vs. compassionate vet)

🐕 Animal Shelter Setting (for all the warm fuzzy feels)

😂 Witty Banter & Laugh-Out-Loud Moments

💖 Heartfelt Emotional Depth (prepare for all the feels!)

🦸 Cinnamon Roll / Beta Hero (Ben Carter will steal your heart)

👻 Meddling Ghost (Agatha’s still matchmaking from beyond!)

🌶️ Spicy Slow Burn (with emotionally resonant intimate scenes)

Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, Ali Hazelwood, and anyone who believes in the magic of a second chance (and the supreme intelligence of cats).

Buy on Amazon