Fetters of the Past — Laurey Bright

Jess Wilder had lost a child and a husband, and as a defense against ever being hurt again, she had adopted a devil-may-care attitude that left her with many acquaintances, but few real friends.

She would never have expected Gareth Seymour to be the one to change her. He was calm, serious--almost settled--yet he got through to her as no one else ever had. He grew to know and love a Jess who was as vulnerable as a child--but very much a woman.