Haunted by grief and guilt, Cassie plays it safe in both life and love, until Phalen Maddox opens a tattoo shop next door. The former Army Ranger turned PI is anything but vanilla, and the larger-than-life hero Cassie craves. While Phalen's away on business, Cassie receives a mysterious gift from her sister and realizes what she could lose if she doesn't take a chance pursuing her own naughtily ever after.

Phalen returns to Salem determined to make things right with sweet Cassie, whose shy flushes and curious glances have him longing to prove his mettle. He never imagined she's ready for his kind of scorching love, both in bed and at play.

Then Cassie hires him to learn the truth behind the murder-suicide of her sister and brother-in-law. He vows to give her closure, but the clues point to a psychopath in Cassie's orbit. She's caught in a dangerous web of lies and it'll take all of Phalen's skills to unravel the clues—and save her life.