She isn't looking for love, but can love break through her walled-off heart?

Beautiful and independent, Shelly Scott is always looking over her shoulder, wondering if she'll have to run again. Her new position as manager at Dessert First Bakery shines more light on her than she likes, but Jake, her golden retriever, the handsome male in her life—loyal and attentive—is always there when anxiety immobilizes her.

Max Bailey, bestselling author, thinks he has everything. Until he realizes the one thing that's lacking is someone to share his life with. When talented Shelly catches his attention, he wants to know more about this woman with a dazzling smile, a heart-melting laugh, and walls around her heart.

Then Shelly's past crashes into her present, paralyzing fear takes over, and shocking information is revealed. The scandalous truth that is uncovered about her unhappy childhood is the very last reality she could have imagined.

Can Max and Shelly's friendship survive . . . or will the answers discovered destroy their budding romance?