Rumor's beloved animal doctor, Valerie Fairchild, had always taken care of herself.

She'd survived cancer and a haunting trauma in her youth–alone. And she didn't need a relationship with the town's fire chief, Reed Kingsley–but somehow she couldn't ignore the flames he set off whenever he was near!

Reed was used to getting what he wanted–and he wanted Val, tragic secrets and all.

Because the beautiful spitfire had been on his mind for months, in spite of the icy barrier she kept between herself and the world. Could this town hero melt Val's resistance to the healing fire of their passion?