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 hesitated, biting his lip. “No, I’m not doing this in the back of a strip club. Come on.” Evan climbed into his car, and Danny had no choice but to follow. Evan was silent as they drove back towards the city, a look of purpose on his face.


Danny couldn’t imagine what Evan was planning, but that was okay. It was so wonderfully soothing to be near him again. Pushing away all the heartache he’d suffered these past days, Danny leaned back and just relaxed in the warmth of Evan’s company.


All too soon, they pulled into the parking lot of what looked like a small chapel. The fa?ade of the building was weathered white stone. The Victorian style lampposts were lit with soft, just barely pink bulbs and showed off the neat flower gardens lining the walkway. They got out of the car, and Danny looked at Evan. “What are we doing here?”


He took a deep breath and faced Danny. “We’re here to be married. Not for the Dwyers. Not for the Carmodys. Just us.”


Chapter 79