She sailed into the room like an angel from heaven and sat beside me. I just wish I could remember what happened next. I’ve never been the sort of man to meet a woman in a bar and take her home for the night. But this time I’ll make an exception. I’d really like to see her again. The problem is I just can’t remember more than a first name and the city she lives in. But I’m not worried, I’ve taken on bigger problems than this. Never, not even once, have I had a one-night stand. But, something about the sweet, sexy stranger had me following him up to his room. I also never drink so much that I can’t remember the night. Until now. Well, live and learn I guess. Except it was a huge lesson. One I’ll have for the rest of my life. One that made that little stick turn blue. What do you do when the dad is no more than a blurry image? You move back to your hometown. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine living with my parents, working in a small shop, and waiting for the next months to pass quietly. I can do this on my own. Except, he just walked into my small store, in my small town, in the middle of nowhere. If it’s a surprise he wants, then it’s a surprise he’s going to get. The surprise of a lifetime.

She was a phoenix rising from the ashes. I was drawn to her in a way I had never felt before. And then she shot me. What type of woman chooses to reenact every right of passage in this small town? This woman, that’s who. I might as well. It’s not like I’m getting any younger. Besides, I never got around to any of this in high school. I’m past due. I just didn’t plan on becoming the gorgeous, new sheriff deputy’s main focus. Turns out being chased by the sheriff is exhilarating. Eliot Caraway is going to be the death of me. She’s mischievous and reckless. She’s also the most beautiful and brilliant woman I’ve ever crossed paths with. I don’t know why she’s on this destructive path, but she’s dragging me along for the ride. If I can’t get to the bottom of this soon, we may both wind up paying the price. I’d just really like to give her something else to focus on before it goes that far.