For Drew Lawson, there isn't anyone else as undeniably off-limits as the addictively sweet, mind-wreckingly beautiful Skylar Sullivan. Hell, she's the very definition of the girl-next-door do-gooder. And while he is officially classified as a white hat hacker by the suit-wearing folks who keep track of that sort of thing, no one would ever say that hat of his is exactly pristine.
So when Skylar's arrival at his doorstep on Christmas eve-the roughest night of the year for him every year-leads to a downright memorable hotel mishap, an impromptu winter road trip, and the discovery of a secret that could change how she sees him forever, Drew is convinced the universe is on some kind of convoluted mission to thaw his cold, jaded heart . . .
Because, lordy, they've certainly sent in a ringer to get the job done right.
Seven years.
Seven damn years of wondering whether the woman was still alive . . . whether she'd spent the last two thousand five hundred fiftyfive days wondering if he was still alive.
Wondering whether that night was as burned into her memory as it was his.
Seven years having his heart tethered to Addisonand now she's back. With even more reasons to run than she'd had then.
Only this time, Caine isn't letting the gorgeous little flight risk out of his sight.
Regardless of how noble her reasons may be.
Before that night, Addison Milan had been just a college dropout secretly raising her two young siblings in a beat-up minivan she'd bought with her first semester's tuition refund-the only money her addict mother hadn't taken off with when she'd abandoned them nearly two years ago.
Before that night, Caine Spencer had been just a rough, gruff cop sent to check out the phoned-in claims of suspected child neglect involving the same woman he'd met just months prior when she'd first served him the city's worst diner coffee . . . which he'd been drinking daily ever since.
Before that night, Addison would never have thought the man she'd been fighting hard not to fall for-her only friend in her new shadow of a life-would be in a position to rip her family apart.
Before that night, Caine would never have believed any woman could make him fall head over heels, let alone make him feel so damn compelled to look the other way when it came to his job.
Then that one perfect night changed everything.
Emma Stevens made a fresh start in the small town of Juniper Hills, but she still lives with the guilt of an impossible choice from her past: saving her sister-but leaving her stepbrother behind-in a fire that destroyed their home. The boy next door may have dragged them to safety, but he also caused the fire that devastated her family. She swore she'd never forgive him, so she's stunned when he shows up on her doorstep.
Jake Rowan has never been able to escape the worst day of his life, when he took the fall for his older brother, who started a tragic fire. Years later, he's carved out a life as a carpenter, but when he runs into Emma again, he's reminded of everything he's lost-and everything he still longs for.
Jake has never forgotten Emma, the dream girl whose life he destroyed. And she's never stopped thinking about her first crush. As they grow closer- and old secrets are unearthed-will they be able to help each other heal, or will their hearts remain broken and burdened by the past?
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Violet Duke debuts an emotional series about letting go, starting over, and trusting in the redemptive power of love
