An arranged marriage. An illicit affair. An unforgettable passion. A forbidden love. Known as the pretty little heir to a lavish hotel empire, socialite Kennedy Nichols is used to the limelight, admiration, and most of all, having her way. Except when it comes to love and her future. Forced into an engagement to a man she fears for the good of her family's business, Kennedy is desperate to find a way out of the nuptials, so she does the next best thing: runs away. Jaded but hopeful, Keith Avery is doing his best to keep his head above water after a lifetime of screw-ups and letting down those he loves. Depended upon by those in his community and the family he has left, he has no time for games. And most of all drama, especially after being betrayed by the last woman he gave his heart to. When Kennedy and Keith meet one fateful night, their differences and their hate is instant. To her, he's a rugged, tattooed smug mechanic, and to him, she's an annoying, spoiled ice queen. But beneath the hate is a simmering attraction neither can resist. Soon the two embark on a torrid affair that could leave everything they stand for in ruins.