Book excerpt: A secret worth protecting Chelsea Logan has always had a weakness for bad boys, and Ryder Slade is no exception. She’s swept off her feet by the rugged cowboy. But that changes when Chelsea discovers that Ryder is out on parole after being convicted of killing his father. She can’t let an ex-con near her daughter or her reputation. Yet something doesn’t add up. The Ryder she knows is thoughtful, caring and wonderful with her daughter, who is deaf. The lawyer in Chelsea won’t stop digging until she figures out what really happened. But can she ever trust a man who won’t tell her the truth, even if it is to protect someone he loves?