A convict. A firefighter. A chance to slay the past and heal a wounded heart.

Firefighter Jackson Hall is content with his work in search and rescue with the aerial division in California. He also heads up the Cal Fire Inmate Program.

With his faithful golden retriever by his side, and the animal charities he's dedicated to, he needs nothing else to make him happy.

Preferring life with no-strings-attached entanglements, Jax avoids anything more than hook-ups. That is, until one timid prisoner catches his eye and he finds himself doting on the inmate in ways he never expected.

Ayen Gonzalez was convicted of the attempted manslaughter of his husband, despite the brutal circumstances surrounding his marriage. His past is far less than ideal, and now he just wants to do his time and get out.

As a reward for good behavior, he is given the opportunity to work for an inmate program to be trained to fight forest fires. Ayen is more than happy for the opportunity to escape the prison walls.

Then he meets Jackson and his heart stutters whenever the striking older man comes near. Thing is, Ayen can't quite figure out what he has to offer a man like Jax.

When the program ends, will Jackson be able to set things in motion to right the wrongs of the justice system in Ayen's case? Or will he be stuck waiting three more years for the man he's fallen in love with?

Trigger Warnings: Violence, abuse.