Will Marsden is a man on the run from his memories and his past. Steward of Denton Manor was a good position until Captain Dearne, the owner, lost the manor on the turn of a card. When the feckless Dearne is dumped unconscious and near death on his doorstep, Will grudgingly accepts an enormous sum of money to care for him.<br><br>Dearne regains consciousness but has no memories of how he came to be in the bed of a dark-haired, angry, but gorgeous man or how he came to be so badly injured.<br><br>When nightmares drive Dearne into Will’s arms every night, the attraction between them explodes. As Dearne battles with lost memories, he is forced to accept the fact that someone in his family wants him dead, and Will is forced to confront his past head on. Will the revelations uncovered manage to tear them apart?

Memories

“There,” Dearne said. His voice was thready, but firm. “That’s better.” He swayed, but righted himself before Will could move. “Where are my clothes?”


“Kitchen. I’ve cleaned your boots and jacket as best I could, but the rest is ruined,” Will said looking the man in the eye. Upright, Dearne was taller than he had thought he might be, they stood nose to nose. The air crackled between them.


“I can lend you some of my things if you like?”


“Thank you; most kind,” Dearne said. He looked to be holding onto his composure and his stance with every last vestige of willpower in his body and Will was torn between continuing to stand there and watch him struggle, or leave the man to his pride.


Chapter 12