On a June evening in 1988, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Luke Murphy meets Nurse Jennifer Miller at the scene of her moose-vehicle collision, on the island of Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula. Even as Jennifer is trapped inside a twisted wreck, Luke feels an immediate attraction but maintains a professional distance. On a later visit to Jennifer's home, the young couple realize the attraction is mutual. But Luke Murphy harbors dark secrets, stemming from his upbringing in a St. John's orphanage, forcing him to deny his desire for the attractive, young nurse. They cultivate a friendship, but Jennifer wants more and Luke is unwilling to indulge her. But keeping Jennifer at arm's length proves difficult as her voluptuous body and endearing personality torment him day and night. Then, to make matters worse, they are thrown together when she finds herself the victim of a harrowing ordeal, sending Luke hurtling to her rescue. Although he continues to push Jennifer away, and on two occasions hurts her deeply, she eventually unearths the constable's secrets and sets out on an emotionally charged course to save Luke.