Having been made the laughing stock of her hometown by her cheating ex-fiancé, Investigator Markie Pearson has sworn off overly-confident, good-looking men. When Bryce Hawk strolls into town, Markie quickly realizes he's the classic example of a man she needs to keep at a distance. Ex-Marine Bryce Hawk moves to small-town Wisconsin after his military career-ending injury. All he wants to do is hide in his mundane job as the city's code enforcer while he sorts out his life. What Bryce doesn't account for is Markie, that emerald eyed beauty, walking through his office door on day one. Too bad it's too, late. Women are not in his plans, nor will they ever be...especially Markie, the one who gets his dormant juices flowing while irritating him at the same time. When the municipal code violators that Bryce is investigating are murdered, Bryce becomes Markie's number one suspect. Or, is he another target? Is she?

To prove his undying love and loyalty, he'll risk sacrificing her trust. Ben Deprez has been secretly in love with Cori for years and knowing of her wounded heart has him waiting impatiently for the right time to make his move. Now is the time, and Cori seems receptive, but Ben's past still haunts him. He's never been that guy who can say or do the right thing when it comes to women. His divorce is proof. Cori Pierre-Simon has had about all she can take working two jobs to support her family since her ex left without a trace ten years earlier. The last thing she needs is to get involved with another man who would surely disappoint her. Just when Cori decides to open her heart to Ben, women he holds key information about turn up dead. Then, when she uncovers an unusual connection between Ben and another woman, she realizes she should have never trusted him and his womanizing ways. When Cori's son finds himself in an illegal predicament, he turns to Ben for help. Ben answers the call for aid full-well knowing that in helping the teenager he will risk losing Cori's trust, the very thing he's worked hard to earn. Ben is left hoping she loves him enough to forgive him for the decisions he's made to right the wrongs of her son and himself.