For years, I've shut off my emotions, too scared to bare my heart to someone else. Because the last female I trusted, broke it into pieces and scattered it around for me to pick it up. Work is the only thing that kept my head sane. That is until she walked in. She was no longer a shy teenager, but a beautiful and confident woman. I should've known resisting her was impossible. But, it happened too quickly for me to comprehend. Arianna Swanson lights my dark world with a simple smile. I see her and I see hope. My heart doesn't hurt when I'm around her. But she was off limits. My cousin's best friend. I should've stayed away because she deserved better. I tried and succeeded until one day, her lips whispered my name. I'm not the man she needed while nursing a broken heart. But my helpless self is drawn to her like a moth to the flame. Then, I see the web of deception around her and that brings out my protective instincts at full force. And I realize I'm exactly the man she needs now. This is a standalone HEA romance novel with no cliff-hangers.