Fleeing the ruins of her life and relationship, Rayann Germaine rents a room from bookstore owner Louisa Thatcher. Decades older, Louisa offers shelter and work—and eventually passion that takes them both by surprise.

Falling in love, and into bed, turns out to be the easy part. Rayann's mother disapproves of a liaison with a woman her own contemporary. Louisa's son blames Rayann for revelations about his mother's past and present that he does not want to accept. Friends universally agree that it can't last.

These doubts would be easier to withstand if Rayann wasn't already worried about sustaining the interest of a fascinating woman with a lifetime of experiences. Louisa isn't sure she has any right to lay claim to the future of a much younger woman. Their only common ground seems to be the searing attraction that they simply can't deny.