The Irish Mafia used the Four Art Gallery to launder money. What's good enough for the mob was good enough for us. My organization has sworn to take down the criminal underground. The Greens reigned supreme over my beloved city, and it was time to burn them down. My job is to launder money for our operations, and gather intel. I was never supposed to be noticed. But then I marveled at a painting on the wall... a painting made by a true artist. A master of his craft. It made me gasp, "Who did this?"

He could have been my hero. He saved my life that night, a beautiful dark angel slicing through my fear and the water, dragging me from its deadly clutches. He should have been my hero. I thought maybe he was.

Hughes Farm was the largest racing-horse establishment in the South. The family that owned it was known to be wealthy, powerful, arrogant, and terrifying. My first encounter with them didn’t prepare me for all that was to come. I don’t think anything truly could have. Growing up with only my father and brother hadn’t been easy, but we’d had each other. Losing them was the hardest thing I’d ever faced. It had made the times we went without food, electricity, or even shelter seem insignificant in comparison.

The only thing I want is to fix my car and get the hell away from Little Hope, where I got stuck thanks to a popped tire and ‘helpful’ locals. Unfortunately, fate - apparently - has other plans for me. That’s how I find myself at Alex’s doorstep. A local ex-navy recluse, Alex is rude, obnoxious, and scorching as hell with his grumpiness and f-off attitude. I just want to run from this little town and from this growly man people constantly warn me about. But why does he suddenly feel like home?

Do I have a sign on my back that says, ‘Love her and leave her’? Because that’s what it feels like these days. I thought I’d never see Justin again when he ghosted me after the best night of my life. But guess who shows up at the company Christmas party months later wanting to talk? I don’t think so Mr. Burns. Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me. That’s sober Lucy talking. Drunk Lucy has a different idea—she asks him to stand in as my fake fiancé this Christmas.