When her injured knee failed to heal,' Olympic, figure skater Allison Josey sought refuge in the Georgia home of her happiest childhood memories. Instead, she found Joker Vandergriff, a red-haired giant of a man who insisted on invading every part of her life. Determined to heal the ethereal beauty whose emotional scars ran deep, Joker mesmerized Allison with, gentle persuasion into accepting his massages, but once he'd touched her, he had to kiss her--and then they were no longer strangers. Allison couldn't help but respond to the magical caresses of her Viking protector, who made her feel as if her body had a secret only he knew With scorching embraces hotter than the town's mineral springs, Joker fought her demons, made her burn with shameless need, but it was so hard to believe in the happy ending he promised. When she'd needed hope and strength, Joker had given her them, and more. Now could he learn to take the gift of her enduring love