I learned at a young age to trust no one, protect myself, and guard my heart—all lessons my mother burned into me. She may not have had much to offer in the way of help, but she poured all she had into me and made me the independent woman I am today. So, after laying her to rest, I packed my belongings and moved to the place she talked about often, where she enjoyed the carefree pleasures of childhood. Balsam Ridge, Tennessee is a little slice of paradise and nothing like the busy city I’m accustomed to. With its idyllic setting, friendly strangers, and slower pace, a girl could easily be charmed into letting her walls down. It was only going to be a stop on my journey, a respite while I figured out my next move. Catching feelings for the confident and sexy local Fire Chief, Corbin Tuttle, was not part of the plan. It was supposed to be a game, a hoax, a brief fling to help him break a toxic cycle. But my mother always told me that sometimes you need a little rain to calm the fire.