Although Tara's marriage to Rand McCain had been filled with turbulence, the union had produced one glimmer of sunshine; an adorable child named Mindi. But tragic circumstances had torn Rand and Tara apart while she was just a toddler, and Rand had forbidden Tara any contact with their child.

Now, Tara is back on his Oklahoma ranch; strong, wiser and fiercely determined to get to know her small daughter. She hadn't imagined it would be easy. She'd anticipated Rand's hostility and mistrust, yet she hadn't expected to be so unnerved by his closeness, by the familiar scent of him, by the heat radiating from his big body every time he was near. She'd thought she could live on his ranch without wanting him. She'd thought wrong.