Good book. This one is a little different than most Conard County books in that our hero and heroine didn't start there. Allie is an accountant in California, working for a large international company. When she found a mistake, she brought it to the attention of CEO Jasper Ellis; he told her not to tell anyone about it, and that "bad things can happen." She thinks nothing of it until she tells her dad's old friend Max about it. Max is a detective whose department has been investigating Ellis for years, and he immediately tells Allie she is in danger and needs a bodyguard. Allie takes a lot of convincing, but she eventually agrees.

Hale is a former Marine who now owns his own security company. He and Max are good friends, so he comes immediately when Max calls him. Hale is a tall man with an intimidating air. As soon as he knows who Allie is up against, he knows he has his work cut out. He's adamant about taking Allie and going on the run until he "can take care of the threat." Allie is horrified by Hale's rules but knows she has no choice.

I ached for Allie, who was way out of her depth. Hale is the only thing standing between her and an assassin's bullet. While she's afraid, it doesn't stop her from trying to stand up to Hale and his demands. I felt bad for Hale because he kept having to remind her of the trouble she was in.

The suspense built over the next few days as Hale and Allie stayed on the move. He has a second-in-command who works with him, keeping Hale informed via coded conversations. Hale's frustration grows when he can't seem to shake some of their followers. He worries about a mole in his company, undiscovered tracking devices, and where the assassin is. Meanwhile, sparks of attraction grow between Hale and Allie. They do their best to resist, not needing the distraction, and there's no future in it. Max's life hasn't lent itself to believing in love, and Allie isn't the type for a fling. There are several emotional scenes when they talk about their pasts.

It isn't long before Allie starts getting under Hale's skin. Besides his care to keep her safe, there are some sweet scenes where he does little things to make her more comfortable. When Hale decides it's time to change tactics, they hole up in a small Wyoming town for a few extra hours. Allie decides she's reached her limit and tells Hale she isn't leaving. It's almost Christmas, and the small town's celebrations call to her. I loved this look at Conard City from an outsider's perspective. I liked seeing past characters as Allie made friends and her joy in approaching something normal. On the other hand, Hale's frustration with her stubbornness was understandable, and his fears for her safety were more than job-related.

The tension ramped up as the bad guys closed in. A not-so-chance encounter with Sheriff Gage Dalton eventually led to a closer conversation. I loved Allie's determination to take a stand and how she dragged Hale along with her. I could feel Hale's pride in her strength and his fear for her safety. The final confrontation was terrific. I loved seeing some familiar faces lend a hand and stayed glued to the pages until it was all over. The epilogue was excellent, with a wrap-up of the suspense. I also loved the Christmas present Hale gave Allie and the declaration that went with it. ( )