Evans Pemberton has always had a problem saying noāto her overbearing Mississippi Delta family, to her business mentorās push to expand her thriving pie shop, and to her lifelong crush, Jake Champagne. But Jake chose her beauty-queen cousin three years ago and ghosted on their close friendship. When he comes to her small town in Alabama with a new pro-hockey franchise, Evie fears sheāll lose her heart all over again. Of course, she'll forgive him like the good Southern woman she is, but anything more than that is off the table. So why canāt she stop baking for him? Jake is looking forward to a new team, a new town, and a clean slate in Laurel Springs. After a disastrous year, the hockey hotshot is leaving his past behindāeven betting his best friend that he can stay away from women. But heās happy to reconnect with a piece of home when he visits Evie. Between slices of Mississippi mud pie and chicken potpie, heās starting to remember all the good times they had and the man he always intended to beā¦ not to mention what a fool he was to let Evie get away. How will they find a future together when she canāt say no and he canāt say yes? The path to true love isnāt quite easy as pie, but it sure is sweet in the end.