When Olivia Mason catches her fiancé cheating, her life is turned upside down. Without a family or a place to call home, Olivia heads south to start a new life in Charleston, South Carolina. A girl is determined to achieve her independence and protect her heart, and the last thing she needs is a sexy, tattooed guy who randomly crosses her path and tests her resolve. Just as Olivia begins to get her life in order, she reveals a part of her past that changes everything. Dex Porter has his own demons. A former Marine is haunted by his past and uses whiskey, women and fights to numb the pain and guilt that eats away at him. When Olivia comes to town, the guy finds himself attracted to her and surprised by his desire to get to know her better. The girl is completely different from anyone Dex has met before, but he knows he can't get closer to her without revealing his dark past. A friendship develops between Olivia and Dex. As they resist the attraction and help each other heal their emotional wounds, their walls begin to crumble. However, the past is always somewhere nearby and they soon learn that no matter how fast they run, the past will always catch up with them.