Being a bride is a state of mind, not of body. Evander hit the road to seek adventure after a conventional and boring upbringing. He wanted no ties and the liberty to wander wherever his fancy took him. The misery he found among people too powerless to defend themselves, however, has led him to create a band of brigands. They waylay rich travelers, taking their money to help the poor, who are being robbed through taxation by their baron. With the situation growing more desperate, he reluctantly decides to kidnap someone from a rich family and hold them for ransom. Luck is with him when the baron's youngest son comes his way. Destiny delivers a stunning blow when he finds the boy beguiling and irresistible. Rory has cultivated a reputation as a spoiled brat. Deep in his heart, nothing could be farther from the truth. His father's cruelty caused him to erect emotional barriers and pretend he cares for nothing and no one. When he falls into the hands of a brigand, he puts his studied arrogance on display. His act becomes harder to maintain under the watchful and captivating eye of his captor and his growing understanding of how great his father's viciousness truly is. Evander and Rory are two men with a similar enemy. Together they can give their people a brighter future-if they can learn to trust each other.

*Previously entitled A Hint of Rapture.

Dominik MacFie seeks one thing, and one thing alone. Revenge on the man who cost him his life. Lady luck was on Dominik’s side when she put him in the vicinity of the man who’d stolen his heritage, his honor, his pride, and most of all his life. Lady luck had nothing to do with Dominik’s sneaking into the man’s castle to attain vengeance. And he would have, had a comely lass with a bruised face not screamed at the sight of him. Dominik cannot get the bonnie lass from his mind, he has to see her again. Has to find out why her face is bruised. And he has to seek that retribution against his mortal enemy. Mairi McAllister’s a prisoner in a castle. She’s scheduled to be wed to the laird who’s holding her hostage by using her brother as collateral. She rues the night she screamed at the sight of the brigand with the dagger who could have put an end to her misery and her captivity. So why does she want to see the mercenary assassin again? Fate has thrown these two together but a mutual hatred will keep them together. Until fickle fate puts her life in imminent danger again. Now, Dominik has to make a choice.

Reproduction of the original: The Young Dodge Club Among the Brigands by Mille James De