Love at First Rescue - Rough & Ready Country, #3

Cricket has been the burning, blazing love of my life for as long as I can remember-my North Star. My former high school sweetheart and current employee, the curvy dispatcher tests my professionalism to the breaking point. She's my everything, but I can't let her know it. Instead, I play the part of the uncaring bosshole, pulling it off so convincingly she quits. I can't blame her, and I try to let her go.
I've worked hard to bury my feelings over the years, believing it's for the best. Then, an unguarded kiss leaves me dangerously close to surrendering everything to love. As much as I yearn to claim her, though, unspeakable secrets from my past won't allow it. I'm convinced she can do better than me and resigned to a life without the only woman I've ever loved . until I get a punch-in-the-face wake-up call I can't ignore.
And when fate threatens to take her from me? I ride through hell and back to save her. I'll kill the man who lays a hand on her. Problem is, how will I ever follow my own rule?