Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television profile based on her book, Carly's thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for. Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he's ever wanted anything or anyone else. And, as he tells her, he's a patient man and can wait until she's ready to be involved with a man again. But the more they're together, Mike realizes it isn't simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it - and him - may just be the toughest assignment he's ever taken on.