The Christmas party.

Gina Smith needs to get through her family's annual Christmas party and back to her own life. But then Ben Richardson walks in-her former high school crush, her sister's ex-and the ultimate reminder of Gina's reckless youth. Now a battle-hardened Marine, Ben's familiar grumpy reserve is as irritating-and irresistible-as ever.

All Ben wants is to do his duty, make his family proud, and someday make a marriage as perfect as his parents' have. He shouldn't find an unpredictable squirrel of a human like Gina so attractive. With her, nothing goes as expected.

Snowed in.

When they're stranded together at the airport on Christmas day, Gina can't resist trying to turn his perma-frown upside down. Especially if it means hooking up. Her life and career are in Delaware. His in San Diego. It should be simple.

Feelings get complicated.

When Ben returns from overseas, he's seen enough to know that life is too short to wait for the things you want. But Gina has reasons for needing her independence. Relying on any man-let alone one whose life is across the country and directed by the military-isn't in the plans, no matter how much she cares.

Wait.

Will it take a Christmas miracle for her to let go of her past and include him in her future? Is Ben willing to wait?

This is a grumpy-sunshine, second chance military holiday romance with steam and heart.