Not everyone wants to fall in love. For Christina Ryan it is simply a refuge for the weak, lonely and needy. Once she was like that herself - but not now. Following a tormented, turbulent childhood, she has reinvented herself to become strong, self-reliant and in control. She is everything she ever wanted to be and nothing, not even a man, will ever be allowed to threaten that. But she is also human. When love does enter her life, as unexpectedly as a mugging, it threatens this new personality she has worked so hard to create. And nothing can ever be allowed to do that. Control must be maintained and love must be on her terms. No matter how dreadful those terms might be...