Two images kept Mitch McCluskey fighting for life on the secret mission he'd sworn would be his last: reuniting with his sons...and seeing sweet Melissa Carroll. Without hesitation, his childhood friend had made her home his boys', but Mitch sensed that some man had made Lissa doubt her desirability...just as someone was making her fear the last person who would ever hurt her. Him. Lissa wanted to believe that Mitch was one of the good guys, just as she wanted to believe that the feral look in his eyes was for a passion fifteen years postponed. But despite his beloved familiarity, Mitch was a stranger she'd been warned not to trust. Problem was, her heart wasn't responding to the warning.