The memory of why I jumped out of my ex-fiancé's car in a wedding dress is a bit hazy. Or maybe I was pushed. Disoriented, I stumble through the trees until exhaustion forces me to rest. Time passes in a feverish blur, but eventually, I'm discovered by a friendly dog and her unfriendly owner, Jude Powell. The gorgeous grump isn't too pleased with my disheveled appearance. That doesn't stop him from ripping my ruined dress to create a makeshift sling for my arm and taking me to the emergency room. To thank him for his reluctant hospitality, I take off without a backward glance . . . after borrowing his van and his watch. He tracks me to the local pawn shop with a proposition—work at his dog sanctuary, and he'll provide me with room and board. He's used to taking in strays, after all.
Considering that I can't remember my recent past, and what I can recall isn't worth returning to, it's an offer I can't refuse. We bicker over breakfast, but soon enough we're stealing soft touches, and I realize Jude is revealing a side of himself that he rarely shows. He becomes a protective force in my life, especially once my ex tracks me down. But Jude's keeping a secret of his own. One he believes makes him unworthy of my affection. And while he's preoccupied trying to keep me safe, it's up to me to prove he's wanted.