What's a lady to do when she thinks her days are numbered?Step one: take a lover...After being told she won't live to see the end of the year, prim and charming Marguerite Laurent is determined to make the most of life. Although she will never know love, she will know passion - so she agrees to a whirlwind romance with a longtime admirer. But an hour before the start of her great adventure, an unscrupulous scoundrel kidnaps Marguerite, boldly declaring that he will drag her into bed and marry her before the end of the week! Step two: live without regrets... Ash Cortland, having risen from the slums, became a successful business man, and now wants to take revenge on his ex-partner for betrayal. However, the charming daughter of his enemy certainly had no intention of surrendering her innocence to the furious - albeit stunningly attractive - scoundrel who had taken her prisoner. But Ash's mere touch makes her tremble with desire... and resisting the heat of his passion may cost Marguerite her last, best chance at ecstasy.