As the reigning country-pop princess, I've had everything this life has to offer, especially fame and fortune. But not what really matters. A minute to catch my breath and reevaluate my life. So when my world comes crashing down, I run to a place where no one knows me. A small mountain town where I can hide from my past. Only I don't get far. My first day in town, I'm assigned a babysitter. Ford Montgomery. A man who drives me crazy with his rude, broody attitude and his backward baseball caps. A man who's my new boss for the summer. A wild, rugged cowboy straight out of one of my songs. Hard body and gorgeous face included. But beneath the dirty mouth and the sexy smirk, there's a pain in his eyes that matches my own.

As the summer heats up, passion sparks and we connect—on the ranch and in the bedroom. Ford shows me friendship, makes me laugh, but most importantly, we see each other's scars and want one another anyway. For the first time in my life, I know where I belong. In his arms. The stage might be calling me, but my heart says it's with Ford. But there's a price to pay for wanting this new life of mine. My past is watching. Ready and waiting to take my newfound freedom and love and snuff it out . . . for good.



Contains mature themes.