Returning from the Peninsular war disillusioned both by men's violence and the infidelity of women, Major Anthony Sheridan finds himself engaged in duel. But he's only mildly interested in the tale of the cursed pistols—weapons that will reportedly bring the winner true love. He gave up on romance when his fiancee, Felicity Greystone, married another man while he lay bleeding on a Spanish battlefield. Yet a chance encounter with the now-widowed Felicity Merriwether arouses in Tony a desire he'd vowed never to feel again...

As far as Felicity is concerned, Tony abandoned her and left her pregnant with his child, a child badly treated by the unkind older man who married Felicity in her time of need.

Their son Charles is desperate to know who his real papa is. When Tony shows up again like a bad penny, she finds the flames of her desire were never extinguished. She wishes to be far, far away from his devastating charm, but how can she deny her son a relationship with his father? In fact, she finds she is pleased by Tony's attention to her—despite the bad blood between them. But the rift will never mend unless they learn to trust each other again...