He was going back home—

Drawn back to his roots, to the very heart of the small town that both nurtured and suffocated him—the place where memories of Gemma St. Clair, would fill his consciousness even more than they did now. Everything about her lingered like the sweet scent of jasmine on a summer breeze. Gemma, her name was like groan on his lips, the captivating daughter of Easton's esteemed Mayor, stood as a testament to everything he yearned for and everything he could never have. Daniel Bard, son of the zealous preacher whose fiery sermons of fire, brimstone and snake oil, ignited controversy, and division in the community. He found himself entangled in a web of desire and regret that spanned years, he never wanted that man's legacy, yet it might be his all the same.

Gemma, once the epitome of small-town allure, had transformed into a vision, drop dead gorgeous, her eyes betraying a guardedness that only added to his need to have her. As he stepped back into the embrace of Easton, it felt more like stepping into a lion's den—a place where long-buried secrets simmered beneath the surface, waiting to erupt. Caught between his longing for Gemma's embrace and the weight of his past mistakes, Daniel knew that her forgiveness was key to his redemption. But as tensions rise and old wounds resurface, he wonders if their love is fated to be nothing than a tantalizing dream that slips through his fingers like grains of sand.

In London, where opulence and privilege had often masked true identities, and the evil men had done, Delilah Le Croix shined like a gem hidden in plain sight. While she hadnt wanted to be there, it was a necessity to grow her distillery settled on the island of Barbados. She had graced the London shores with her impeccable style and wealth, but beneath her elegance laid a dark story none knew but her and one other. As the goddaughter of Grand Duchess Ellington, it hadnt stopped her from facing cruelty from societies elite just because of the color of her skin. She was coveted, hated, lusted after, and all Delilah wanted was to conduct her business and begone. Duke Julian Blackshire was the man she intended to speak to and form a profitable alliance. Little did she know that the Duke would introduce her to boundless passion and protect her from those who would do her harm. Delilah feared trusting any man and the new feelings inside her, but when Julian accepted her offer, it had also meant he would sail with Delilah aboard her beloved ship, The Sun Catcher. Oh, what had she gotten herself into?

Duke Julian Blackshire's curiosity was piqued by the audacious beauty who fearlessly took a seat at the able, undeterred by the scandalized offended gasps of the men who sat with him. Julian valued no opinion but his own, especially from men who would destroy anyone or anything for more wealth. Delilah's practical and direct demeanor captivated him, and he yearned to delve deeper into her world, and their connection had blossomed, defying the conventions of their time. Julian didn't give a damn, Delilah ignited a fire within him he long thought extinguished. The world outside faded away when she was near, and they became entangled in a passionate dance of intellect and desire. Delilah was a force of nature, a fiery spirit that stole his love with her innocence and logic, yet there were those who would see her a captive or dead to suit their whims. They would die before they'd have the chance to hurt the woman he loved ever again. Their love promised a future as intriguing as the uncharted horizons that was set out before them. Julian had no intention of ever losing his once chance at happiness and to be loved by a woman like Delilah.