Sam Restons world is dangerous, uncertain, violent . . . with no room in it for the helpless and weak. Then the most beautiful woman in the world moves next door to him . . .Nicole Pearces life is complicated enough. The last thing she needs is to get involved with a secretive, hard-bodied, hard-headed neighbor. Yet Sam leaves her breathlessher body tingling with desireand it takes every ounce of her fabled control to resist offering herself to him, no strings attached. What she doesnt know is that Sam Reston is on an undercover assignment . . . and shes about to step into the crossfire.Never has Sam ached for a woman so badly. Now Nicoles in grave danger and he will become her shield. Because a terrorist plot hatched half a world away is heading to their doorstepand it can be derailed by only one man and one woman.