She’s not a damsel. She’s a survivor. And she’s about to collide with a storm she never saw coming.

Arden Rivers has fought hard to build a life away from the shadows of her past. She works late nights in a small-town bar, keeps her world carefully controlled, and trusts no one with the truth. Safety means distance until a chance encounter brings her face-to-face with Gideon Blackwell, a man who has the power to unravel her walls one glance at a time.

Gideon’s life is a legacy of privilege, wealth, and the ruthless family empire he never asked to inherit. But when he sees Arden’s strength and the flicker of vulnerability she tries to hide, he can’t walk away. Protecting her means stepping into her world… and discovering that someone else is watching her far too closely.

The line between protection and obsession is razor-thin. As desire tangles with danger, Arden must decide if she can risk trusting someone who refuses to stand by and watch her fight alone.