He survived the accident that shattered his family. But he’s never forgiven himself for walking away.

Cowboy Zach Gamble has spent years blaming himself for the accident that killed his brother and left his father paralyzed. His own injuries left him with chronic pain he refuses to acknowledge, much less treat. Instead, he’s thrown himself into saving Twinridge Ranch, convinced that sacrificing his own happiness is the least he owes his family.

Physical therapist Desiree “Des” Burke knows what it’s like to have your life shattered. After a false accusation of elder abuse destroys her professional reputation and confidence, she’s desperate for a fresh start. So when her friend Rory asks her to come to Montana to help a stubborn rancher learn to walk again, Des agrees.

But the Gamble men are more than she bargained for.

Zach’s father has given up on recovery. Zach refuses to acknowledge the pain she recognizes in his every movement. And Des, a former foster child who’s always longed for family, finds herself drawn to the very people she knows she shouldn’t get attached to.

Zach doesn’t want Des’s compassion. He doesn’t deserve it. But her determination, her warmth, and her refusal to give up on his father begin to break through the walls he’s built around his heart.

As Des becomes part of the ranch and the family, Zach faces a choice he’s spent years avoiding: keep punishing himself for a tragedy he can’t undo, or find the courage to forgive himself and fight for a future with the woman he loves.

*Previously published as His Reluctant Rancher. This edition has been slightly modified from the original.