To keep her safe . . . Her once-promising future in flux, Arizona reporter Reece Bowen returns home to the magnificent stretch of white-sand beaches and pristine sapphire waters along North Carolina’s Crystal Coast for one last shot at getting her career back on an investigation into a high-profile corporate negotiation with unconventional, highly suspect strategies. Aware of potential threats, Reece’s sister, attorney Dana Bowen, insists on a bodyguard-for-hire. As resistant as Reece is at first, if anyone is going to watch over her, she couldn’t want for a more charismatic protector than Holden Geller. But falling for him and risking her heart could pose a threat all its own. He must keep her close . . . Holden is a pragmatic, no-nonsense, former military man. In his experience, his line of work simply doesn’t mix with romance. But his attraction to Reece is immediate, rendering his defenses suddenly useless. For all his experience with risk and danger, this is one occupational hazard he never expected. When Reece’s investigation uncovers secrets that a team of power players will go to any lengths to keep hidden, Holden is more dedicated than ever to protecting her. But can he balance duty and desire, or will one destroy the other, and take Reece with it? The connection between them is becoming stronger with every beat of their hearts . . . but their greatest test is yet to come.