Cole Shepherd’s quiet demeanor and imposing height made people think of him as a gentle giant. But there was a fire simmering beneath his serene surface. Working the ranch that he and his brothers owned was a dream come true—especially after the childhood they’d each had and the almost debilitating rodeo injury that had left him with a slight limp. The life he had should be enough, except there was still one thing missing. Grace Holden had suffered some hard knocks in life. The death of her parents and the loss of her family ranch had left her with limited expectations. So when Cole bought her basket at the Fourth of July picnic, she tried not to let her hopes rise. However, the more time she spent with the shy cowboy, she couldn’t help but secretly hope that he would see past her big girl exterior to the true heart beneath. A heart that beat with love just for him.