Meredith Worthington was damaged goods. After years of mental and physical abuse at the hands of her megalomaniac father, she finally reached out for one night of freedom in the arms of a mysterious Dark Knight. That night came to a screeching end when her beloved brother dragged her from her lover's arms, calling her a whore and breaking her heart. Less than twenty-four hours later, Meredith's father was dead, and her brother had been outed as a "perverted" sexual Dom. Hurt and confused, Meredith retreated behind a wall of ice, determined not to let anyone ever have the power to hurt her again.Tony Renatto knew the moment he saw her that he wanted Meredith Worthington. The moment he touched her, he realized she was the woman who would own his soul. But she seemed totally out of his reach. What did he, a struggling construction worker, have to offer the Worthington Princess? For five years Tony worked to make himself worthy, to build an empire to offer her, waiting patiently for the day he could lay his heart at her feet. He knew his Princess had been hurt, but until he faced the demons of her past, he didn't realize just how much.What does a woman who doesn't believe in love, do with the heart of a good man? And how can a man who's only known love and acceptance, reach a woman who's only known pain?Can Meredith over come her fear and believe that she deserves true love, that trusting the right person can lead to happiness and melt her icy existence?