Anna Marie Sorenson is a Plain Jane who is used to being overshadowed by her more beautiful, dazzling, highly successful, and overbearing sister. She lives a quiet, unassuming life as a librarian that offers little excitment. Then she meets her sister's husband's brother, Dallas Trenton, who is a Navy SEAL. She is almost horrified to find herself violently attracted to him. She is even more shocked when he takes her to bed that first night they meet, and that she lets him.

Anna Marie thinks the sex that she had with Dallas was just a one night stand. So she is surprised when he comes back into town a few months later and wants to take her to bed again. Thus she begins a secret, passionate affair with the Navy SEAL.

Then when tragedy strikes, Anna Marie takes stock of her life and decides that she must end the affair and accept a life that is without the passion and joy that she experienced with Dallas but one that offers stability for her future.