Connor MacEgan is a fighter; it's in his blood. But when his hands are crushed in a brutal attack, he finds he may never wield a sword, or touch a woman, ever again. He becomes reliant on Aileen O Duinne, whose determination matches his, for Aileen can no more ignore a person in pain than Connor can stop being a warrior. But she also holds a secret, one of passion and deception that could break their hearts, long after she has mended his hands...