Danny Carmody has lived life privileged but lonely. He has always sacrificed his own needs to meet the demands of his family. Now he is faced with an arranged marriage intended to reunite the Carmodys and the Dwyers, the city's two most powerful families. Out of his sense of duty, he agrees. But always a romantic at heart, he secretly nurtures hopes of finding love within this sterile business arrangement. Once he meets his intended groom, Evan -- a talented, attractive architect -- those hopes soar.<br><br>Evan Dwyer has grown up reviled by his family. Before he was even born, his mother was blamed for breaking up a planned marriage between the Carmodys and the Dwyers. As a result, both Evan and his mother have lived their lives in virtual exile. But now he has suddenly been deemed of use to the families, and they are blackmailing him into participating in the arranged marriage.<br><br>Furious, he reaches out to the FBI for help and finds only more complications. Too many people want to use him to advance their own agendas. By the time Evan realizes Danny might just be the safe harbor he's looked for all his life, it may well be too late. Evan has set in motion forces that threaten to destroy any hope they have for a future together.

Family Ties

Evan stared at the phone in his hand for a moment, then flung it onto the bed. Asshole. He stripped off his running clothes and stalked into the bathroom. This was going from bad to worse. 14


Evan arrived at his office, freshly showered and dressed in a light gray suit and pale lavender shirt. When he entered, Lacey looked up from her books and howled, “You’re alive! I was afraid they’d thrown you in the dungeon since I haven’t heard one single word from you.”


“Sorry, Lacey. It’s been quite a ride so far. But you’re right—I should have called.”


She jumped up and dragged the guest chair up next to her desk. “Sit. Talk. I want to know everything.”


Evan obeyed. In the next half hour he related all that had happened, up to and including the kiss that morning.


“Holy crap. So you like him. Of course you do—what’s not to like? He’s handsome, rich, and from what you say, is a nice guy. And he’s into you, too. So grab him and run.”


Chapter 28