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 spun around to retreat up the path only to find it blocked by a grinning Sean Dwyer.


“Well, lookie here! If it isn’t the happy bride to be. And just when I wanted to have a chat with you.”


Evan didn’t answer. Instead he tried to move around Sean, but the oaf lurched back into his path. “No, no, no, little man. You need to hear what I have to say.”


Evan stopped moving. With the reeking pond behind him and this behemoth in front of him, he was trapped. Fighting to stay in control of his emotions, he glared at his cousin and spat out, “Then say it and be done.”


“Oh ho, little Froggie has developed a temper, I see.”


At Evan’s flinch, Sean crowed, “Ha, you didn’t think I’d remember poor little Froggie, hiding in the bushes, hoping for a pat on the head from his daddy. No one wanted you around back then, and no one does now. The Dwyers don’t need any damned queers in our family. That should be clear to you.”


Chapter 40