Claire is about to take sixteen dogs on the biggest race of her life: 1,049 miles of harsh terrain, extreme weather and sleep deprivation. She doesn't have time for romance. Yes, the musher from Nome is easy on the eyes, but he belongs in Alaska, and she will return to Oregon after the race, to honor a promise. Besides, the man has too many secrets, and secrets always come back to bite her. Dillon shouldn't be attracted to the woman. She embodies everything he walked away from six years ago. But her dark amber eyes remind him of aged whiskey, and that's a problem. Her questions stab at a trauma he thought buried so deep he would never have to face it again. He looks to the upcoming race for solitude, his dogs for salvation, as he plays his strongest card -- denial.