Neither of them is looking for love when a mysterious stranger walks through the door and into Madigan Wicked's life. He is Tobias Riggs, an ex-con who has already lost more than enough for one lifetime; the only family member left in his corner does not remember him, and the people he once counted on have walked away. Madigan has been hurt before and guards her heart accordingly. Yet the connection between them is undeniable, and love has a way of bullying its way into even the most resistant hearts. Set on the sandy shores of Bayside, where the Wickeds are fiercely protective and their Dark Knights family stands together against anything, the story follows two wary people circling a bond neither will admit they want. But Tobias carries a dark past, and when the wicked truth of it finally comes to light, they must decide whether what they have built is strong enough to survive it. Balancing scorching heat, sharp humor, and real emotional weight, this standalone is a redemption-tinged romance about trust, second chances, and the courage it takes to let someone in.