A heroic act results in a million-dollar reward for Dean Kettering. He despises the notoriety that follows in the wake of saving lives, preferring a life of quiet and solitude. Further, while Dean could use the money himself to keep his boat afloat and food in his belly, he prefers to give it away. Dean hopes to use the money to make amends to Laura Sweeney, the widow of his best friend. When Laura's husband died in his arms, Dean had sworn a vow to see that Laura lacked nothing. But a night of passion, followed by intense guilt, forced Dean to leave her for six long years..During the many years Dean and Laura had known one another, only an occasional glance acknowledged the link between them. She had truly loved her husband, and when Dean was the best man, the closest he ever came to revealing his feelings was when he whispered that he was trying to be happy for her. When her husband died, it was Dean who returned the personal effects to Laura. That was the only time control slipped and they made love. But Dean left in the night, and when Laura learned of her pregnancy, she couldn't locate him. Eventually she gave up trying..Now Dean is back in her life, and Laura dares not accept his unexpected gift. If she does accept his money then she feel honor bound to tell him the secret she's kept for so long. She prefers not to tell this unreliable, wandering soul because she doesn't believe he'll stay; rather, he'll break both her and her daughter's hearts.