The Hope Chest - Kimberly Cates

A former wild child...

Deirdre McDaniel will never forgive herself for leaving her daughter on her brother's doorstep, believing it would give Emma a better life. Determined to make up for lost time with Emma, while struggling to overcome the demons of her own past, Deirdre discovers a letter that could destroy her entire family. With no other choice, she turns to the last person she wants to deal with: the rugged private investigator who brought grim news on the eve of her brother's wedding...

A cynical PI...

Jake Stone still carries the weight of guilt over what happened to the McDaniels. As much as he wants to forget, he's haunted by his memories of the fiercely protective Deirdre and the vulnerable side she fought to hide. Now the woman who still inhabits his dreams has unexpectedly shown up at his office, wanting to hire him.

As past and present collide...

Jake faces an impossible choice: help Deirdre uncover mysteries from the past, or convince the headstrong beauty that some secrets are better left buried...