A blind date. A hidden agenda. And one man determined to keep her safe—whether she wants him to or not.

Olivia Hart didn’t sign up for this. What was meant to be a glamorous weekend getaway with her best friend has turned into something far more unsettling—a mysterious dating event where women are blindfolded and chosen. And now, with a number pinned to her back and dread curling in her chest, Olivia finds herself trapped in a game she never agreed to play.

Ethan Carter is more than just hotel security—he is a former elite operative with a code he won’t break. When he sees Olivia standing alone, anxious and out of place, something about her cuts straight through his practiced distance. She’s not like the others. And someone in this room has already marked her as an easy target.

When the lights go down, Ethan steps in. Not only as her blind date, but as her bodyguard.

And what starts as protection quickly becomes personal. Because the deeper Ethan pulls Olivia into his world, the closer she gets to the shadows he’s spent years outrunning—shadows he never meant to expose her to. His past threats are no longer his alone, and Olivia, the one woman who makes him feel again, has become the perfect leverage against him.

In a world built on masks and misdirection, trust is the only thing more dangerous than desire—and loving her might be the costliest mistake he’s ever made.

Author note: This story is a slow-burn, with a substantial page count, rich detail, developing relationships, & plenty of time to disappear into Olivia & Ethan's world. This story grew into a much bigger novel than originally anticipated, & I had planned to publish it as two books. Ultimately, I decided I wanted readers to experience Olivia & Ethan's complete journey in one volume, rather than reach the end on a cliffhanger & discover they needed to purchase a 2nd book!