Tessa Young is a good girl and has a relationship with a sweet, reliable boy. She has goals, ambitions, and her mother is determined to keep her on the right path. However, when she moves into the freshman dormitory, she meets Hardin Scott, with his messy brown hair, sophisticated British accent, and tattoos. He is handsome, confident, and probably rude, maybe even a little harsh. Because of his offensive attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin, and she does - but something about his dark mood fascinates her, and it's just a matter of time before a passion ignites that she has never experienced before. He will call her beautiful, then insist that he is not the one for her, he will find excuses and disappear, again and again. At some point, he will distance himself from her, but when she tries to remove him from her life, he will pull her even closer to him. Despite Hardin's careless behavior, Tessa is drawn to his vulnerable character and is determined to uncover the real Hardin hidden behind the lies.