Lady Patience Lane, daughter of the earl of Desmond and legendary boxer Ivory Bess, grew up learning to fight, not how to mind her manners. She always expected she’d become a trainer like her mother until injuries from the ring led to her mother’s untimely death. Now, she’s determined to save other families from the same heartache by teaching others about the dangers of boxing. Nothing could bring her back to the world she left - until she meets a mysterious stranger who sets her pulse racing.

Sinclair Chambers, the earl of St. Seville, known as “Sin” to his cohorts, inherited an insolvent estate. He has to make money, and fast, or his tenants will starve. The prize purses from the bare-knuckle mills will go a long way to solving his problems, if he can win them. To be a success in the ring, he needs the best trainer, and Patience Lane is the best there is - all he has to do is convince her that he’ll only fight once.

The more time Sin and Patience spend together, the closer they become. Soon, Sin’s thoughts are less about winning in the ring and more about winning Patience’s heart. But can a relationship born out of wicked deception stand the test of time?