Winter Heat by Alexa Rivers

A scientist on the edge of a forensic breakthrough. A cop who’ll defend her to his last breath. Their second chance at love.

Dr. Avery Brown is skeptical and forthright. Good traits for a scientist, but most men find her too intimidating to date. Most men, that is, except for her ex, the man who broke her heart, and who—infuriatingly—has only improved with age.
Sergeant Gareth Wayland never got over his high school sweetheart. He always hoped Avery would return to him, but nearly a decade later he’s still waiting while she’s moved on.
When her laboratory is vandalized and her house is burned to the ground, Gareth is determined to protect her. If only he could stop being distracted by her rare smile and nimble mind.
He’s seen how badly things can go wrong when cops blur professional lines, and he won’t let that happen, even if it means keeping Avery at a distance when all he wants is to hold her close.