Ace's Heart

"I don't need a knight in shining armor, I need a warrior clad in the full armor of God"

Melanie Barnett, a woman of unwavering faith, isn't actively seeking a relationship unless it's with someone who shares her beliefs. Her dating pool has remained disappointingly shallow, and her heart has only ever belonged to one man: Acer "Ace" Andreas, who once shattered it by walking away. Now, Ace is back in Havencrest, shedding his mafia ties and preparing to sell his casino.

His return brings with it that familiar cocky grin, tattoos tracing stories on his skin, and a rugged palpable dominance. When their paths intersect, Melanie must remind herself that he's as unsuitable as they come, after all, he's already broken her heart once.

But Ace knows Melanie's caution is a defense mechanism. He's determined to rewrite their history, to let go of his past and prove that he's changed. His faith wavers at times, like a tightrope walker swaying precariously, but he's striving for redemption.

After all, those pangs of remorse he feels when sitting beside her in the church pew, listening to sermons, aren't merely his imagination. The fire in his belly when she speaks of her faith isn't indigestion-it's a zeal to build his own relationship with God as sure as hers. The flutter in his chest when she smiles isn't an allergic reaction-it's a longing for the love he once lost.

Yet, as Ace's past resurfaces, he grapples with a haunting question: Despite his desire to spend the rest of his life with Melanie, pray for her, and provide for her, will it be overshadowed by the need to walk away again so that he can protect her from his dark history?