The mysterious painting tore at Alison carlyle's heart. A canvas layered with emotion--and fraught with madness-it was a work of a man who obviously lived life on the edge. Returning to his hometown in Colorado, Lake McGregor was shocked to see his painting in the window of Alison's gallery. But when he met this captivating--and persuasive--woman face-to-face, he agreed to display the greatest works of his past..and to hide his deepest, darkest secrets.