Dr. Blake Donovan couldn't keep his eyes from straying to the ravishing brunette working in the garden. With her straw bonnet sitting slightly askew on her head, allowing her long, shining curls to fall gracefully around her shoulders, he found her to be totally captivating. The young woman was tall and slender, with feminine curves in all the right places-and he knew she wasn't the least bit interested in him or any other man. Miss Emily Louise Falkenrath was 23 years old, and carried a very large chip on her delicate shoulders. She knew how cruel and dangerous men could be . . .even men that were supposed to protect little girls and their mamas. She had been forced to grow up fast, and she learned to hide from her secret past. There was no time for men or romance in her life, but she still dreamed. Since the time she left home, she had yearned to have her own farm and she swore to let nothing prevent her from getting it. Not even the man she most feared in the world would stop her. Unfortunately, handsome Dr. Blake Donovan would just have to look elsewhere for romance. Not a man to give up, Dr. Donovan vows to keep Emily happy and safe-even if, in order to protect her, he has to revisit his violent past-and kill again. Perhaps he'll succeed in winning her heart, but for now, everyone was in danger and some would die, but Blake vowed they would see it through together.