A single night was never supposed to follow him home. As Tidehaven’s police chief and most eligible bachelor, Colt Riggs is the kind of man people trust without question—but he’s lonely too. When an overnight work trip ends in an unexpected night of passion with a beautiful stranger, he assumes it’s nothing more than a fleeting connection. Until human remains are discovered in the dunes back home . . . and the forensic anthropologist sent to assist his investigation is the very woman he left sleeping at sunrise.

Ava Whitmore has spent her life learning how to survive alone. Brilliant, guarded, and shaped by a childhood in foster care, she keeps her walls high and she doesn’t blur lines—especially with colleagues. What happened between her and Colt was a mistake. One she intends to forget. But as a decades-old cold case about a young girl’s death resurfaces, the past refuses to stay buried.

As Colt and Ava dig into the cold case, they discover an unexpected link between the girl’s disappearance and a powerful local figure. And the deeper they dig, the more dangerous things become. Someone doesn’t want the truth uncovered, and they’ll do anything to keep their secret safe.

Forced into close quarters by the investigation, the heat between Colt and Ava ignites. Charged glances, restrained touches, and late nights leave them both aching for more. Steady and protective, Colt is ready to offer Ava the kind of future she never imagined for herself. But letting him in could cost her everything she’s worked so hard to protect.

As secrets surface and threats close in, Colt and Ava must decide how much they’re willing to risk—for justice, for the truth, and for each other.