The Return of Rafe MacKade

Plot Summary
Rafe is the second oldest of the sinfully handsome MacKade brothers who have been entertaining Antietem, Maryland with their antics for decades. He returns home having purchased a haunted and dilapidated mansion bordering his family's farm. He hires the beautiful and tidy antique store owner, Regan Bishop, to help furnish the mansion as authentically as possible. Her tidy, well put together appearance and her ability to handle anything tossed her way with grace and style impress him. He pursues her for a relationship based on more than just business dealings. She resists at first but they give into one another in the middle of a snowstorm at the mansion they are turning into a Bed and Breakfast.

Their mutual friend Cassie Dolin is beaten severely by her husband Joe who nearly chokes the life out of her. She leaves him and gets him arrested. Cassie and her two children move in with Regan. Joe shows up at Regan's and attacks her, planned to beat her and rape her before Cassie gets home. She defends herself, hurts Joe, and gets the sherriff. Rafe and Regan fight because he's hurt she doesn't come to him. They end the relationship for a short time until they agree to have a physical only relationship. That doesn't last but a few hours.

Following a bet earlier in the book, Regan borrows a red leather miniskirt and tanktop from a friend and enters the bar where Rafe and his brothers are playing nine-ball. She saunters in, plays some nineball quite well, and gets dragged out by Rafe who refuses to share Regan (especially dressed like that) with his brothers and the other patrons. This leads to them confessing they love each other and Rafe following through on his end of the bet where he recites Shelley's poetry to her. They decide to get married quickly.