The situation is so grave that he is considering an unwanted marriage to Abigail Wilkinson in the hope that her dowry will save the ranch. Grace, who does not lack for determination or spirit, escapes showing up at the party dressed in a bedsheet and her jewelry in what is probably the most entertaining scene in the book. Although Grace is unfamiliar with the responsibilities of ranch life, having suffered from her father's long neglect and the shallowness of European men who desired her only for her beauty, she finds that she enjoys the companionship of the people living on the ranch and struggles to fit in. Inevitably, her beauty and Dillon's hard-working sweat produce a mutual attraction, and they become lovers. Dillon's plans to pay off the back loan are thwarted, however, and he decides that he must reject Grace in order to marry Abigail and save the ranch.
Grace is unwilling to be swept aside over a plot of dirt.
When Renzo shows up at the ranch vowing to live an honest life in order to get the woman of his dreams, Grace embarks on a plan to bring Dillon to his senses. This is one of those books that it's hard to get up any enthusiasm over. The characters were acceptable but not charming. The plot had occasional traces of creativity but, on the whole, was fairly predictable. I appreciated that Grace didn't behave as the spoiled society girl I expected during the opening scenes, but I disliked the way she tended to run away in a fit of pique when things didn't go the way she wanted.