The world sees Lady Elora Brodie as a rigid, controlling noblewoman, but inside her beats a passionate and rebellious heart. Determined to protect her independence, she will do anything to avoid marriage to her insistent neighbor--and every other man for that matter. She will even venture beyond the comforts of home to traverse the disreputable shipyards of Edinburgh in search of a man reckless enough to set her plan in motion, a plan she hopes will ensure that she never need utter the words "to honor and obey." To all the world, Nathan Campbell is fearless, strong, irresistibly sexy and when not tracking down thieves for a price, he can generally be found in a tavern, too far into his cups and draped by women vying to welcome him into their beds. But if they were to look beyond his devilishly charming smile to his eyes, they would see that he was hollow inside, and no amount of coin, drink, or women could fill the void in his heart. Both Elora and Nathan will see the other as a means to achieve their worldly goals--but what if within their wounded hearts beats more? What if dreams lie in wait? Dreams that can only be realized when unleashed by a passion too powerful to contain and impossible to deny.