Military duty called them away to war zones, but after tours overseas, the group of friends found their way back home as men, seeking the peaceful little seaside town. Now, the band of brothers, together once more, work to provide a place for less fortunate veterans to call home. Mitch Evans left his career as an FBI agent after his father retired as the Baytown Police Chief. Returning home to take up the mantle, he was glad to be back with his family and the Baytown boys. The bonus? Reuniting with his childhood friend and teenage crush.

Riggs “Chappy” Chapman didn’t expect to be disrupted at his remote cabin in the woods. But when a stray dog arrives on his porch, he winds up finding a stray woman, too, trudging through the snowstorm in search of shelter. His military days may be behind him, but Chappy is hardwired to protect her from the storm and whatever it is she’s running from.

Brady Hewitt was all too familiar with the horrors of war. They clung to him, or maybe he clung to them, using the nightmares as an excuse to keep others at bay—especially his boss’ daughter, Hadley Walker. Beautiful, sexy, ambitious, and forbidden. Not just because the former Special Forces soldier respected her father and liked his job, she was too good for him—all sunshine and smiles while he was darkness and filth.

Ryan Coates does it all. Single dad with an ex who needs reminders to spend time with their kids. Chief of the Baytown Station of the Virginia Marine Police. Sergeant at Arms for the American Legion. Son. Brother. Coach. Friend. What he’s not doing is looking for a woman. Then he met her. Again. She’s the new doctor in town. And she remembers Ryan. Two years younger than him, she used to write his name in her notebooks. What she’s not doing is looking for a man. But when their jobs cross paths, they discover that working together might give them a chance at love after all.

I clipped a shiny, new FBI badge to my belt, thinking I could save the world. Four years later, the shield’s got some dents, along with my idealism. And there’s one cold case that’s come back to haunt me.