Can a loner be the hero they need? Being a grumpy ex-soldier means I like being alone. What better place for solitude, far from home and bad memories, than a remote chalet in Italy? Peace and quiet, just what I need to write my next book. You know what they say about best laid plans, right? Somehow I end sheltering a single mom on the run with her kid--and a talking lizard. How the hell did that happen? Guess being ornery doesn't mean I lack a heart because I end up offering them refuge. Nicky and her toddler, escaping an abusive situation and looking for a fresh start. Percy, the reptile who turns out to be a dragon and needs constant feeding and protection. For some reason, they trust me. Me, the man who can't even sleep through the night. Then again, who else better to safeguard than a man who's not afraid to act? I might have retired from action, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten how to track down the enemy and make them pay. If you dare to threaten those I care about, I promise, it will be the last thing you do. Contains mature themes.