A former Marine is captivated by an alluring widow until a sniper's bullet shatters the illusion his covert past is behind him. Culinary herb gardener Ada Blaine lost her husband at a tender age. To survive she channeled a family tradition into a successful business. Former Marine Rich McConnell left behind a nasty divorce and traded a promising military career for a hardware store with no complications. After Ada shows up at a Christmas Eve bash looking drop dead gorgeous, Rich finds his can't keep his hands off the elusive gardener, and his subtle charm weakens the wall around Ada's heart. Then a sniper's bullet shatters a quiet spring morning. Rich fears his covert past has come back to haunt him, and Ada fights paralyzing fear to salvage their love amidst life threatening danger.