Royal Gaines would do anything to protect single-mother-on- the-run Elly Malloy. Until he'd met the sexy young woman and her son, he was a disgraced ex-cop who lived alone in a world of despair and self-destruction. Now he had a mission— and a desire—he intended to fulfill.

Elly was desperate to protect her son from her vengeful ex- husband, and to do that, she couldn't trust anyone. Yet despite her wariness, she was forced to put her faith in Royal. But was Elly brave enough to gamble on this renegade's redemption—and forgive his deception—when she learned the truth about her knight in shining armor?