HANNAH HORNE LARKIN lived most of her adult life believing she knew what love was, but she suddenly learns the difficult lesson that love is not always real. Hannah thought her husband loved her right up until he was murdered. During the investigation, certain secrets were revealed that destroyed Hannah's once- conceived image of a perfect life. The most shattering information is revealed in the testimony of Sabrina Draper, her husband's young assistant. Now Hannah has no faith in herself or the people around her. Even Sergeant Keith McCauley, who had acted so kind an courteous, had further destroyed her trust in people by arresting her son on suspicion of his own father's murder. Alone and now wary of all men, Hannah doesn't know where to turn as the investigation continues. As the story further unfolds Sergeant McCauley finally reveals the long-held love he has for Hannah, but she fears to trust him. She had been hurt too badly to leave herself vulnerable to a second chance at love.