Dumped via email three days before Christmas, I made a margarita-fueled mistake that landed me in Alaska instead of Iowa. Now I'm stranded at my college roommate's remote retreat with an assignment to write, a broken ankle situation that isn't mine, and absolutely zero interest in the brooding ex-MMA fighter who's apparently my reluctant guide. Ryder makes his irritation crystal clear. I'm an unwanted guest disrupting his carefully constructed wilderness existence. Then I nearly drown in frozen water, he hauls me to his cabin for the night, and everything shifts. Under the ice, there's fire—and secrets about why he's chosen exile over the world. One wild weekend becomes something neither of us anticipated. As the Northern Lights paint the sky and his walls come down, I wonder if staying through New Year's is possible. If he'll let me stay. This is what happens when an inconvenient travel writer and a guarded mountain man get snowed in together. Opposites collide, chemistry ignites, and standalone romance takes an unpredictable turn. * * Perfect for readers craving fast-burn alpha protectors, forced proximity, and steamy adventure with real connection. This isn't a billionaire fantasy—it's grounded, primal, and unapologetically hot. Warning: Explicit R-18 content including raw language and scenes designed to disrupt your sleep schedule and test your composure.