Third-grade teacher Maddie McCormick was thrilled when the greenhouse classroom actually came to fruition-but she hadn't counted on angering the local street thugs, or their threats.Police officer Ben Belliston hadn't planned on fatherhood-ever-but gaining custody of his orphaned niece had him rearranging all of his priorities. She and Maddie, her new teacher, bonded right away, so he was happy to provide a little off-duty security in the greenhouse-it was more than a fair exchange for the way Maddie helped his niece from her shell. He hadn't expected to begin seeing his best friend's little sister in a new light, or the way it would make him question all of his future plans.
