Once upon a time, Jesse was the foster brother she loved to annoy, but it’s been years since he shocked the family by going no-contact. Now he’s back in their small West Texas town, a successful trauma surgeon with a bone to pick, and he’s just as grumpy and thoughtful and fascinating as Clara remembers.

Jesse’s been trying not to notice how very not-annoying the Wilders’ spoiled little princess has become, but it’s an uphill battle. Clara doesn’t know the details of his falling-out with her parents, but he hasn’t forgotten the heartbreaking betrayal, and he can’t afford to get distracted by purple nail polish and cute pajamas.

But something about Clara has him jumping half-naked into an icy lake, picking a fight with an oil rig worker, and pulling off a couple of small miracles. If all he wanted was to get himself a little closure and hightail it back to the big city, why is he dragging his cowboy boots about leaving? (And why is he wearing a Stetson?)

All his doubts about the past and plans for the future are merging into a question only Clara can answer.