Tamsin Palmer—the recently widowed Duchess of Clevesly—has almost anything a woman of common birth could want: wealth, title, estate, and even her adored toddler son. But it's not exactly easy. She's been ostracized by the ton due to her decidedly unblue blood. And worse still, her dearly departed duke has assigned a co-guardian of their son: the handsome (if insufferable) Count of Rauchberg, who seems most insistent on dictating the terms of Tamsin's duchy. But not if she has anything to say about it . . .

Christian August has never been so vexed in his life. He's come to help raise the duchess's son, and in return, she's doing everything she can to destroy his peace of mind. Unleashing goats, secretly shortening the cuffs of his shirts, and—damn the infernal woman—driving him to distraction with her flashing eyes and soft, kissable lips. It's enough to make a man forget his duty . . .

With every argument, the longing grows stronger. With every diabolical prank, the temptation becomes greater. And they'll risk everything to win . . . even if it means surrendering to a passion that will destroy them both.

Contains mature themes.