Ethan Kincaid proposes marriage with the same detachment he gives every decision. Audra Gilliland accepts so that she can stop being a burden to her newly married stepdaughter. But Ethan never expected Audra to affect him so profoundly, and it terrifies him. Someone he loved was once seriously injured on his watch, and he won't let it happen again. If Audra will just do as he says, he can keep her safe on the ranch. But Audra is planning to stand up for herself.