Lara, thirty-nine and widowed, always thought she was good at assessing people's motivations. Growing up with an alcoholic and abusive mother taught her to be alert to signs of trouble coming her way, but now she begins to doubt her own judgement.

When she finds herself in a relationship with a man who slowly becomes controlling and passive aggressive, and who sometimes frightens her, she needs to be stronger and more strategic than at any time since she was a child.

After having had nobody in her life since her husband died, she unexpectedly finds herself involved with three men. One is planning to use her, one she decides to use for her own ends, and one becomes a "friend-with-benefits" with surprising results.