She's a survivor. Former Air Force pilot Tara Nightwalker survived wartime flying only to come home to a civilian life that was anything but safe. Two years after surviving a brutal kidnapping, it's time to get on with her life. She finds a job in Idaho as a park ranger and wildland firefighting instructor. After what she's been through, men aren't appealing at all. Not until she meets SSI operative Price Teague. He's strong. Honorable. A warrior. And she knows in her gut ... he's the one. The only problem is-he doesn't seem interested. He's a patient warrior. Price Teague envies his fellow SSI operatives who've found women to love, because he sure hasn't been as lucky. Not until the tough, beautiful firefighting instructor comes into his life. The day that some bastard in the woods shoots at them, Tara is cool, calm, and courageous in the face of danger. He recognizes instantly this is the woman he wants. He's usually a direct-action sort of guy, but he can see Tara is wary about men. Maybe she's been hurt in the past. He'll take it slow ... even if it kills him. But when her kidnapper escapes prison, bent on revenge, Price throws out the slow-and-steady approach. Time is not on his side, and there's no way he'll let anyone hurt her. Danger is all around. Then fire season kicks into gear.