Part of The Cage Family, book 4
First published 2026
Scarlett runs the Cage Resort and wants to prove her worth to the family that owns it. A year has passed since she made a terrible decision that changed everything. Now she focuses on bringing the business into a new era and showing everyone she's more valuable than her father and ex-boyfriend claimed. The problem is Hudson Cage. She can't stop thinking about him even though they argue constantly. He lives nearby in their small town and his protective nature draws her in despite her better judgment. Hudson asked her "Who hurt you?" once, but she shut him out like she does everyone who tries to get close. He keeps secrets behind his intense eyes, and part of her wants to uncover them even though she knows it's dangerous. When they lose control and give in to their attraction, there's no going back. But darkness threatens both their lives. Scarlett doesn't want to fall for Hudson, yet if they can't learn to trust each other, they might lose everything before they get a real chance together.
Genres: fiction, romance, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance, romantic-suspense
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, passionate, suspenseful, tension-filled
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, second-chance, slow-burn
Setting: Cage Resort, small town
410 pages · Paperback · Carrie Ann Ryan
Content warnings: abuse, emotional-abuse