Graduate student, Grace Locke moved from the Midwest to New York City to complete her Masters degree in Criminology. She longs to one day be a college professor, but it's a field dominated by men. When she takes a part time secretarial job at a private investigator office, she assumes it will be interesting to watch how the cases unfold. Even more perfect is that the office is run by street wise hardened males. It was time to toughen up or she wouldn't make it in a career she yearned to have. If she succeeds in surrounding herself with alpha males, she can become what she sees as a strong confident woman. She finds power and defiance in her new attitude -- until Vinnie. Former hit man, Vinnie Lewis decides to go straight -- the ultimate ‘bad boy'. After growing up with a prostitute mother on the streets of New York City, he has no patience for nice girls like Grace. He's difficult to work with and he doesn't care what anyone thinks. Grace finds him just plain scary with his six foot four frame, bulging biceps, and a scar from a former knife fight, crossing from his right ear to his chin. She wasn't prepared for Vinnie. She shakes in his presence but then…is shocked when she can't stop thinking about him.