Mia Parker needs to reassess her wild lifestyle, get back to her lost passion for writing and drawing. At a quiet beach, she gathers inspiration, finding it in a stranger with mischievous dark chocolate eyes and a quirky passion for marine life. But the more time they spend together the more stoic and mysterious he becomes. FBI agent Ryan Thorne shut everyone out of his life after a devastating loss six years ago. Safeguarding his emotions and feelings, limiting his interaction with people is the only way he can keep those around him safe. Being unreachable, unlikeable is his MO until Mia gets under his skin. Her snark, her sass, and her persistent nature have Ryan doing things he swore he’d never do again. Like laugh... and open his heart. He finds he likes it, and her, a little too much. But loving her will put her in danger. It’s a cost too high. A risk he’s not willing to take. The only way to keep her safe is to walk away...but his heart marches to a beat of its own.