One look. That's all it takes. Heir to the laird McKenna, Cole McKenna recognizes his mate, the beguiling Phoebe MacAuliffe. Once called a wild child, she runs free through the village of Carnoch and the surrounding countryside. A beguiling mix of sass and shyness, naivete and maturity, she shares his passion for justice, has a fun sense of humor and can light up the room with her beautiful smile. She is absolutely perfect?in every way but one...

Phoebe has been in love with Cole for what seems forever. Once described as a misfit, not good for anything, Phoebe McAuliffe has too many strikes against her to hope someone would ever come into her world, especially the handsome Cole McKenna. She fell in love with him the first time she saw him, realizes he will never look twice at her. The man is far too old, almost ten years her senior, for her to ever believe he would look at her in any way other than as a child.