Firefighter Pax Anderson has a job he loves, a family he cherishes, and a code of conduct he lives by. He should be on top of the world, but he's not. The one thing that would make his life perfect-the woman of his dreams-is his brother's best friend...and off limits. Susan Hayes has had a crush on Pax for years, but after her mother's death, the Andersons became her surrogate family and she won't risk her relationship with them. Her thriving animal shelter helps keep her thoughts off Pax, but when he chooses her shelter for a fundraising event, her resolve goes up in smoke. When a dangerous force threatens to drive them apart, Susan and Pax are put to the ultimate test.