Major Joseph Cortez had ordered the retaliatory gunfire that raked several enemy soldiers . . . and one misplaced American, a civilian with a wedding band. Nearly a year later, Joseph was still haunted. He needed to be sure widowed Emily Anderson and her young son were surviving. His sense of honor led him to Minnesota, to Emily's house, but it was blatant desire that made him stay--and damnable fear that made him conceal his true identity.

He didn't want to hurt her--again--but his campaign to stay just friends was doomed. She despised the military for having killed her husband, so how could he tell her about his past? Yet, without a past, could they ever share a future?