Eleven years ago, Rae Neal saw something horrible in the basement of the Baines building, which stands as a cornerstone of the historic downtown district in the small Florida town where she lives. Now, in the first challenge of her post-college career, she must enter the place that still haunts her nightmares to advise its new owner of the historic preservation responsibilities that he will face as he renovates it.
Right away, however, Paul Elliott sets her on edge. Not only does he inspire intense animal attraction, he also seems determined to keep Rae out of the basement at all costs. As Rae struggles with her desire and suspicions, she learns the details of the decade-old nightmare that binds her to Paul and will soon invade their lives anew.
