A second chance to set the record straight, and rekindle a lost love.

Wisconsin, 1931—Buck Wilson refuses to accept failure as his reward for all he has sacrificed, but he’s kept secrets for too long to be believed. With his freedom on the line, there’s only one person he trusts to mine for the true story: the woman he left one month before their wedding.

All investigative journalist Caroline Wagoneer wants is to shine a light on the truth wherever darkness threatens to obscure it. Which is the only reason she agrees to help her ex-fiance when he begs for her to go undercover in Crow’s Nest. What she discovers paints Buck in a whole new light.

With lies and rumor hemming them in, Buck and Caroline realize their love may be doomed on the altar of altruism. Unless love can truly conquer all.

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

Buck struggled to school his expression, to relax his jaw, but his muscles only coiled tighter. Ali and Mindy were in Detective O’Connor’s hands now. The rest was up to Carrie. Would Alistar connect with her? Would she be able to hook the man into letting her help him? This put her in the lion’s den. Not that she couldn’t handle it—she’d faced dangerous mafiosos and powerful politicians without blinking an eye.

But if something happened to her because Buck begged for her help? He’d left her to keep her safe, and here he’d dragged her right back into the middle of his mess. What was he thinking? He needed to call off the whole charade. No undercover work for her. Ali needed to take Carrie back to Chicago. They needed to forget about him. He’d figure this out on his own.

Before he could take a step to disrupt their carefully laid plans, the happy squeal of children met his ears. Usually, Marian Ward Cox’s two girls would be chasing the other children who now dodged through the wedding guests, but Gil had taken his family west to keep them safe. They now lived in Blue Spruce, Montana, near Crooked Tooth Ranch where Silas Ward was foreman.

Quietly standing off to the side, watching the children race by was Nick’s sister Bella who held hands with Mindy’s little sister, Mabel. The poor girl had uncovered a counterfeit ring that had stolen her voice. As far as he knew, she still hadn’t spoken more than a word or two. She should be running after the other children, not watching from the edges.

Buck rubbed the heel of his palm under his left collarbone. This had to end before more children were put in danger. Even if it meant putting Carrie’s life in danger. He had no qualms risking his own, but Carrie? She knew the costs, of course. Still, if something happened to her …

Nick moved to block Buck’s view of her. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” He ground out the word, hauled in a bucket of air only for stars to dance across his vision. He stepped sideways. What was going on?

“You nauseous?” Nick’s voice scattered the darkness. “Light-headed?”

“No.” But his heart might explode if it beat any faster. He staggered again. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” Nick grabbed his wrist, his fingers pressing Buck’s pulse point. Buck tried to pull away. Couldn’t. He needed to get to Carrie. Couldn’t leave her without backup.

“Why are my hands shaking?” And why were his face and hands going numb? Carrie needed him.

“Inside with you. Doctor’s orders.”

“I can’t.” Yet Nick easily pushed him toward the house. “Carrie …”

“Will be fine.” Nick gripped Buck’s biceps as they mounted the back steps. “I’ll send Mindy out. You, sir, are going to sit down.”

Buck wanted to protest. If only he could get enough air in his lungs in order to speak.