Nora Roberts

Knowing that she needs Ryan Piasecki's help to save her business, Natalie Fletcher tolerates the abrasive and arrogant arson investigator, but her annoyance with him soon turns to attraction.

Tory Bodeen grew up in a small, rundown house where her father ruled with an iron fist and a leather belt--and where her dreams and talents had no room to flourish. But she had Hope--who lived in the big house, just a short skip away, and whose friendship allowed Tory to be something she wasn't allowed to be at home: a child.