"Whitewater--I want you."

There. She'd uttered the words she'd sworn Aaron Whitewater would never have the satisfaction of hearing from her--and she braced herself for a dose of his infuriating sense of humor.

But once he registered her desperation, Whitewater did what few men in Josie's life had ever been able to do. He made her feel ... protected.

She knew unshakably that if anyone could help her comb the Kali Yins off Hawaii and rescue the priceless panda that had been stolen from her care, this man could. So she set aside any danger to her heart.