Ten years ago, Howard Donald Long II was run out of Bonnet Creek by vicious lies, his practice, family and life nearly destroyed by the dirty allegations of one family–the Rodrigues. Now, Howard Long III, known as Tripp, is back to clear his father's name, and he's got the money and the muscles to do it.

Then he runs into Mary Belle Prudhomme. She'd been his closest friend as a kid, until they grew up, developed hormones and she rejected him. For Bear Rodrigue. She's still every fantasy he ever had come to life, yet now she seems vulnerable, alone. Tripp reaches out to her, and they find the easy connection they had when they were kids, as well as something more–forgiveness.

But justice and forgiveness are not the same thing. And in the pursuit of redemption, Tripp may lose the tenuous peace he's made with his past…and Mary Belle.