She's never at a loss for words. He's determined to have the last one. Kara Hawthorne doesn't have time for romance. Between college classes, multiple jobs, and her family's failing auto shop, survival comes first. Then she meets Cameron Saint Laurent. Cameron is quiet, intense, and impossible to read. His presence is steady. His gaze lingers. And no matter how hard Kara fights it, the chemistry between them burns hot and relentless. She's drawn to his control, his darkness-and the way he makes her feel seen in a life that never slows down. Cameron sees Kara's fire and refuses to look away. But the past he's buried and the family he ran from threaten to pull him under before he can claim what he wants. As pressure mounts and a dangerous presence begins stalking Kara's neighborhood, Cameron disappears without explanation. When he returns, he asks for the one thing Kara has never been taught to give. Trust. Because some love is worth the risk-and some second chances burn even hotter than the first.