Peter Ellis is a rookie probation officer in interior British Columbia when he gets saddled with a file that goes sideways. He's not in the best headspace to start with, since his marriage broke down last winter. Now it's the middle of summer, the rodeo's coming to town, and the one solid thing left in his life, his job, suddenly bucks him hard.

Former NHL player Todd Nolin is Peter's new "client." Peter's job is all about risk management, and Nolin is a good bet to commit more mayhem. The victim is Todd's wife, Marina Faro, who has been badly beaten and feels her estranged husband is bent on killing her.

Peter grapples with his need to keep Marina safe while maintaining a rein on his own attraction to her. There's no doubt that the local hockey hero is dangerous, but Marina's something of a puzzle herself. All Peter knows is he's drifting outside the line, and what lies beyond may be death.