Life can often be awkward when you are a child genius. For Louisa Ward, that came in the form of meeting her one true love at age 12.

TJ Taggart was perfect. But being a year younger and a full year ahead of him in school always made things weird.

Working in the CIA has made her into a strong and capable woman. Until she sees TJ.

Fifteen years later, she still gets butterflies every time she sees the gorgeous soldier, but she’s tired of waiting and ready to find love, even if it can’t be with him. Not everyone knows what they want out of life when they are a teenager, but TJ Taggart could always see exactly where he wanted to go.

But joining the Army would require a sacrifice. Since meeting Louisa, TJ knew his cousin’s brilliant, oddball friend was the woman he wanted to spend his life with.

He couldn’t ask her to live that life with him. She was meant to change the world at some prestigious research job or maybe teach a new generation of geniuses like herself at an Ivy League school.

There would be a chance to sweep her off her feet when his time in this dangerous life was done, and their happily ever after could begin. Before he can make it home on his latest leave, TJ is kidnapped by an unknown adversary.

As he waits to die, all he can think of is the time he wasted and how badly he wants to be with Lou. He’s more than a little surprised when his sweet, quiet girl shows up leading a CIA special ops squad to bust him out.

Back in Dallas, it’s time to claim the woman of his dreams. He has a plan to win her over, until the adversary who almost killed him returns to finish the job.

. .