Judith Kane leaves Boston for a small, obscure town three thousand miles away, and she does it for one reason-safety. Her ex-husband is out on bail, awaiting trial on a kidnapping charge. He'd stolen their youngest child, Sophie--and Judith's afraid of him.

So she moves her family to Mad River, Washington. Right next door to a cop. What could be safer?

But Chief Ben McKinsey doesn't want a family next door. He doesn't want to get involved with an attractive woman like Judith Kane--or with her kids. But they seem to need him. And you have to be able to count on a cop.