When Rachel Austin bid goodbye to her hometown of Mirage, Texas, she knew she was leaving behind disappointment, tragic loss, and painful memories. But she was also leaving Houston Bookout, the only man she could ever love. In the frightening bustle of Rachel's new life, her intelligence, poise, and stunning half-Cherokee beauty help rocket her to the top of the modeling world. But money and fame cannot soothe a broken heart or protect Rachel from danger. And only when Rachel stands to lose everything does she learn that her one hope is Houston's love, a passion that cannot be torn apart by distance, glamour, or even a madman's obsession.