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

“And that Carmody bitch lied to me as well. Pretending to be outraged that Jamison jilted her. And me working so hard to smooth the way between them. She’s been laughing at her cleverness for years at my expense. Well, damn her soul! And damn the whole bloody Carmody family. You’ll not be marrying into it. The agreement is off!”


Evan shook his head. “Remember me? I’m the same kid you spit on, and now you think you have a say in what I do? No. I will do as I please. And as I understand it, that agreement becomes binding upon my marriage to Danny.”


Chapter 64