Words would never be enough. He had to prove it.

From a young age, Erin McKinney has been taught that there's only one man she can rely on?her older brother. The rest just aren't worth the trouble. The one time she opened her heart and took a chance, the man reaffirmed her belief that it's safer to be alone. It's lonely, though, and living vicariously through her brother's happiness isn't doing the trick anymore.

Gideon St. Cloud might be the man to show her that good men still exist. He certainly made quite an impression the last time he was in town.

Returning to Sea Glass Cove to cool off in the middle of a heated custody battle for his son, Gideon knows he should ignore his curiosity about Erin, but he can't get her out of his head. Quiet and reserved, she is a world away from his flaky ex-girlfriend and could be exactly what he wants in a woman. But she's wary.

In the shelter of her driftwood forts, he'll find out why she distrusts men... and discover how he can prove he isn't like the men who hurt her.