North Ridge

As the man in charge at Ravenswood Ranch, Shane Nelson has never been afraid to get his hands dirty. His sculpted physique isn't the product of a gym, but of years of hard labor under a relentless sun. His straightforward, alpha tendencies come from a man who knows what he wants and goes after it - and what he wants is Rachel Waters. He's never stopped wanting her. They were childhood best friends, then teenage lovers who evolved into soulmates. But on one fateful night, Shane made a grave mistake, breaking both their hearts in the process. Now, after six years, Rachel is back.

Forget playing it safe. John "Maverick" Nelson likes to live his life on the edge - literally. A crucial member of the search and rescue team in the mountainous British Columbian town of North Ridge, Maverick's brash and bold attitude means he's the first one to ascend into danger, no matter the risk. When it comes to women, though, Maverick errs on the side of caution. For all his cocky charm, rugged good looks, and sexual swagger, he remains as unreachable as the surrounding peaks. Hot, wild sex? He'll tell you there's no better way to spend a cold, wintry night.