Grace McAllister hasn't heard from her father in twenty years. When she receives word that he has died and she's expected to be present for the reading of his will, she's inclined to ignore it. Eventually, curiosity sends her back to McAllister, Georgia. She's in for more than the culture shock of a small Southern town, however, for her father's will not only leaves her nothing but also denies his paternity. Shocked and humiliated, Graces turns to the least likely person for help. Mayfield Donovan was the bully of her childhood years. As an adult he gladly joins Grace in her search for her real father. As they question her mother's friends, Grace and May yield to their mutual attraction. The facts they uncover could destroy their love when they find a secret so closely guarded not even the town of McAllister-where everyone knows everybody's business-knows it exists.