Cassian Vale came to Maple Crest searching for quiet. A weathered Victorian cottage, stacks of old books, and a promise of solitude were all he wanted after years of running from a world that never felt like his. But across the street lives the Walker family-once the picture-perfect symbol of small-town stability, now fractured by secrets, gossip, and the slow unraveling of love.Dane Walker is a man caught between duty and desire. A devoted father, a respected mechanic, a man with a past he has never fully faced-until Cassian moves in across the street. Drawn to the quiet, meticulous book restorer who wants nothing to do with town drama, Dane finds himself confronting truths he's buried for far too long.As whispers spread, friendships fracture, and loyalties are tested, Cassian and Dane discover that sometimes the hardest battles are not with others, but with themselves. With a community watching, children caught in the storm, and their own hearts on the line, they must decide if love is worth the risk of being seen.Tender, defiant, and unforgettable, Across the Street is a slow-burn small-town romance about family, forgiveness, and the courage to build a home in the unlikeliest of places.