An unlikely couple is paired at a summer house party. Their budding friendship is cut short by a horrid accident. Will they be able to find love through tragedy?

Charlie Bittlesworth is invited to a summer idyll and hopes to use the time to sell some of his premium livestock. He thinks it a small matter to pay some kind attention to the cousin of his hostess, but the damndest things come out of his mouth when he is around the woman.

Charlotte Ayres has been cloistered in her father's academic circles at Cambridge all of her life. She feels out of her element at her cousin's estate, but has never met a man quite like the one she is paired her with for her stay. Could she have an unexpected life with this handsome stranger?

Excerpt:

He rolled onto his side and propped his head on a hand, mirroring her pose. "How would you like to spend the rest of the day?"

If she were to be completely honest, it would be exactly like this. Other than her worry over his hands, something he didn't seem concerned about, this quiet retreat was the perfect expression of the friendship that had grown between them. It didn't feel necessary to talk or do anything in particular. She was, she thought, more at ease with him than anyone else of her acquaintance. As though she could tell him anything. It made her mull what she hadn't ever told anyone. Would she be able to tell him? Further, did he feel the same about her? She thought he did. He complained, even from that first day, that he told her things that he didn't expect to tell anyone.

"Why don't we play a game of secrets?" she asked.

His eyebrows went up. "You mean like Questions and Commands?"

"Yes, I suppose. Like Questions and Commands."

"Intriguing. Who goes first?"

She laughed. "As you seem so enthusiastic, why don't you go first?"

"Very well. Who was your first kiss?"

She bit her lip. This was certainly proving to be a quick test of her ability to tell him things. She could forfeit the question and accept his command. Or she could just be honest. "I haven't kissed anyone."

"You- That is the saddest thing I've ever heard. The boys at Cambridge are idiots."

Smiling, she said, "My father takes some pains to keep me away from the boys at Cambridge."

"Smart man, I suppose. But still, any man of sufficient imagination would find some way to accomplish it."

She shook her head. "My turn. Who was your first kiss?"

Sue London