I learned the hard way that relationships aren’t worth the trouble.

That was a hard lesson I learned after winding up pregnant and alone at nineteen. Facing an uncertain future, I dropped out of college and moved home to take care of my baby.

Ten years later, I wouldn’t change a thing. My ex might be a deadbeat, but I have my daughter. I have a job I enjoy. I have well-meaning friends who try to fix me up, insisting they know “just the right guy” this time.

But I don’t want a relationship. I don’t need one. At least I didn’t think so until Ronan. He’s different. He likes me and my daughter. He puts cracks in the walls I’ve erected around my heart. And when I’m in danger, he’s the one I trust to protect me.

Falling for a single mom and her daughter was the last thing I expected.

But there’s just something about Angel that calls to me. She’s beautiful. Kind. Funny. And when I’m with Angel and her daughter, the dreams I gave up on years ago don’t seem so unreachable anymore.

Still, I’m hesitant. For all the danger I faced fearlessly on the battlefield, I’m scared of being hurt by a woman again.

Then someone tries to hurt Angel. My Angel. Determined to protect her, I’ll use everything I learned in the Special Forces, along with the help from my teammates at Green Mountain Guardians, to make sure no one ever hurts her again.