Single mother Bridgette Dalton rarely has a moment to stop and smell the roses, even in her own flower shop. A widow who has already loved and lost, she is not ready to hand over her heart, but she has definitely noticed Bodhi Booker, her ruggedly handsome next-door neighbor, and a no-strings distraction sounds like exactly what she needs. Bodhi lives by one rule: never leave anyone behind. As a special operative whose missions grow more dangerous each time out, he has never promised forever to anyone, not even the beautiful widow who has him tied in knots. If any woman could tempt him to finally put down roots, though, it would be Bridgette and her adorable young son. Set on the shores of Sugar Lake, this tender, heartwarming romance follows two guarded people who tell themselves they only want something casual. As neighbors become something more, the fling they each intended to keep simple starts asking for far more than either is ready to give. Bridgette and Bodhi must weigh the safety of their carefully protected hearts against the possibility that love, and a real family, might be worth the risk.