A Valentine's gala could save her business-or break her heart. Ellie has spent years building her event planning company in the charming small town of Maplewood, but when the biggest Valentine's charity gala of the year threatens to make-or break-her, she's forced to work with the one man she swore she'd never trust again. Lucas Mercer returned to Maplewood with a reputation to repair, a town to win back, and a secret that drove him away years ago. He needs this gala to prove he's more than the mistakes of his past. She needs it to save everything she's worked for. Thrown together amid candlelit halls, snowy streets, and late-night planning sessions, old wounds resurface-but so does an undeniable chemistry neither of them can ignore. As whispers of the past collide with the pressure of the present, Ellie must confront the truth: can she forgive the man who broke her heart? And can Lucas prove that love-and trust-can be rebuilt? Filled with heart-stopping tension, small-town charm, and the magic of Valentine's Day, Before the Fourteenth is a contemporary romance about second chances, courage, and discovering that sometimes love is worth the risk. If you love small-town romance, second-chance love stories, and Valentine's Day magic, this book is for you.