Renowned for her tendency to get into mischief, Miss Patience Bingham flees her home to escape a marriage of convenience. The last thing she expects when she sets out is to find herself thoroughly compromised and engaged to a singularly handsome but conventional Earl! Will her strong physical attraction to this man be enough to overcome her fear of being trapped in a loveless marriage?

Lord Julius Rutherford, Fifth Earl of Hawkridge, thinks he has his future all laid out until he accidentally comes upon the hellion that nearly burned down his house ten years before. Although Patience has grown into a desirable woman who now has the ability to set his blood on fire, Julius soon discovers her mere presence can still spell disaster. But can Julius succumb to his burning need for Patience and marry her, knowing full well it will mean the end of his well-ordered existence?