When single mother Gabriella Stefano arrives home from work, she's shocked to find her ex-husband waiting for her in her kitchen. He's supposed to be in prison. Gaby manages to call 911 and escape, but she's afraid her ex-husband's next stop will be her daughters' school. Calling Alex Jennings is the logical thing to do – the Chicago homicide detective is a family friend. But no matter how hard she tries to hide it, Gaby's feelings for Alex are far more than friendly. And when Alex camps out at her house to make sure the Stefano family is safe, it becomes nearly impossible to hide her attraction from Alex. Alex wants far more from Gaby than friendship. He's been giving her space to recover from her tumultuous marriage, but being forced to spend nearly all their time together is chipping away at the wall he's built around his heart. Alex wants Gaby and her girls in his life – permanently. With Gaby's abusive ex still on the loose, and the danger escalating, Alex and Gaby have to concentrate on the immediate threat. But when Gaby discovers Alex's secrets, will they prove to be more dangerous than her ex-husband?