Fast-paced story with plenty of action and romance. This book picks up where the previous book, Colton's Dangerous Liaison, left off. In that story, Everleigh was on trial for a murder she didn't commit, thanks to falsified evidence by a GGPD forensics worker. Everleigh's grandmother went to extreme measures to get the case reopened, and once it was, the truth came out. At the start of this book, Everleigh has just been freed and finished some grocery shopping. On the way to her car, she is almost run down by a speeding car. Clarke Colton pushes her out of the way.

Clarke is a PI who frequently works with the Grave Gulch Police Department. He spotted the inconsistencies in the evidence that imprisoned Everleigh and suspects that this attack has something to do with her husband's murder. That feeling intensifies when he takes her home, and they discover that her house was ransacked. Feeling unexpectedly protective, Clarke insists that Everleigh stays with him until they unravel the mystery.

I liked both Clarke and Everleigh. Clarke is a good man who, thanks to the past he shares with his family, is a stickler for law and order. He's also very independent, which is why he is a PI rather than a cop like most of his family members. At forty years old, Clarke is also pretty set in his ways, believing that he isn't cut out for commitment. The one time he tried, it didn't end well. Everleigh wants to rebuild her life. She spent eighteen years married to a man who constantly cheated on her, though she had no idea until he decided to divorce her. He loudly accused her of cheating on him, which made her a prime suspect in his murder. Everleigh is pragmatic and practical and just wants to move on with her life.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Everleigh and Clarke. Sparks of attraction flew between them from the beginning, which made neither of them happy. Clarke won't get involved with someone he's protecting, plus he refuses to do something that will only hurt Everleigh in the long run. Everleigh feels the attraction but doesn't trust her judgment after the mess with her late husband. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist temptation.

I loved watching Everleigh wiggle her way past Clarke's walls. Unlike the clingy, whiny women he dated in the past, Everleigh's easy acceptance of his long hours and frequent distraction speak to the loneliness he hadn't realized he felt. He worked hard to resist the pull, but it was a losing battle. For her part, being around Clarke was an eye-opening experience for Everleigh. His support and belief in her help her see that she is stronger than she knew and can take charge of what she wants her life to be now. The biggest thing holding her back is her reluctance to trust herself. I wanted to shake Clarke when he got scared and ran and cheered at the lecture he got from his little sister (the police chief). I loved seeing the light go on in his head and his heart. I ached for Everleigh and her feelings of rejection and loved her conversation with her grandmother. I loved the ending, with the sweet and unexpected way Clarke showed Everleigh how he felt. I laughed out loud at her response and thought how perfect they were for each other.

The suspense of the story kept me engrossed from beginning to end. It started with a bang thanks to the attempted hit and run and never really let up. Everleigh and Clarke's determination to get to the truth grew with each attack on her. I liked how they theorized that it had something to do with her husband's murder and their suspicion that it might be one of the women he slept with. The final confrontation was intense, with the killer determined to succeed. I loved Everleigh's calmness and attempt to talk her attacker down while Clarke looked for a way to end it. I loved how it ended.

There were a few mentions of the AWOL forensics guy and the GGPD's investigation and search. Questioning the man's wife provided a little insight into what drove him, but nothing else helpful. The book ended with a lead-in to the next book. ( )