Elise Highland is a small town painter in Colorado. She fills trapped, and bored as if her life is going nowhere, until she meets William. William Valliere is a mysterious, handsome young man with a passion for independence. Elise takes an instant disliking to William who at a glance seems like a very callous, unemotional detective from England. However, when a mad man tries to kidnap Elise, William springs to the rescue. Elise begins to notice that William is actually rather down to earth at heart. But, the pressures of Williams job as a detective leave him blind to Elise affections. Elise takes up riding and more work to try and distract herself. Finally, when an arrogant salesman named Marcus Barnwell threatens to come between them, Elise has to act fast. Will she find the tender love she has dreamed of or will fear tear them apart?