Ten years ago, Jackson Hardy joined the Marines, abandoning a woman he still longs for. When he’s known as home to look after his ten-year-old nephew, no-one is more surprised than he to run into Emma once again. Or even to still have those same feelings. But Jackson isn’t searching for like, and neither is normally Emma, especially not really with him. His precocious nephew, though, and a retriever called Bandit, are about to change that.

So what if Emma Mercer can be an overachiever? She’s plans to get her doctorate in psychology and create a no-kill shelter for the EST dogs she trains. Which leaves absolutely no time for romance. She’s fine having a furry family—dogs don’t teach you to love and then rip your heart to shreds. But young Matty’s circumstance tugs at her heartstrings and there’s no method she can’t help him…and Jackson.

She may have hotter-than-ever chemistry using the soldier, but forgetting days gone by isn’t easy.