Laura Munro, a twenty-one-year-old lass, has been hurt before and finds it hard to trust men. Yet, deep down, she still longs for a man who loves her for who she is, not out of convenience.

Her hopes dim when her family arranges her marriage to Laird Roy Halkerston, a man notorious for his lust for gold. But when she meets him, it's not the Laird who captures her attention—it's Bruce Duncan, the towering black-haired Highlander by his side. As the Laird's guard, Bruce is as tall and imposing as Laura's future husband is insignificant and small.

Determined to avoid Bruce, she can't deny the magnetic pull between them. At her betrothal ball, they come dangerously close to sharing a forbidden kiss. Bruce embodies everything she's ever dreamed of, while Laird Roy seems less likely to make her happy with each passing day.

But whispers of betrayal emerge. Rumors swirl that Bruce's interest is a ruse—a wager to steal a kiss from her in exchange for money. Heartbroken, Laura must decide: Can she trust Bruce, who fervently denies the allegations, or should she abandon her feelings and marry the Laird?

In the enchanting Scottish Highlands, Laura's heart hangs in the balance. Will she risk everything for a chance at true love, or resign herself to a loveless union?