Tessa Young is a good girl and is in a relationship with a sweet, reliable boy. She has goals, ambitions, and her mother is determined to keep her on the right path. But as soon as she moves into the freshman dorm, she meets Hardin Scott, with messy brown hair, an elaborate British accent, and tattoos. He is handsome, confident, and rather rude, maybe even a bit harsh. Due to his offensive attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin, and she does – but something about his dark demeanor intrigues her, and it's only a matter of time before a passion ignites that she has never known before. He will call her beautiful, then insist that he is not the right one for her, 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. Despite the reckless way Hardin treats her, Tessa is drawn to his vulnerable character and is determined to uncover the real Hardin hidden behind the lies.