Her reputation ruined by one impetuous mistake, Lady Kyra Sterling lives as a recluse, determined never to make herself vulnerable to love again. She has her art and her flowers for solace. And that is enough-until a dashing wounded war hero come to stay at the neighboring estate. Hoping to heal his guilt over the battlefield death of his cousin Jack, Rafael de Villafranca has come to visit his English uncle. He's also looking for some peace and solitude in order to turn his Spanish grandmother's historical notes and recipes for Theobroma cacao into a book. He doesn't expect to strike up an acquaintance with his shy neighbor, but when he meets Kyra sketching in woods and sees her marvelous botanical watercolors, they begin to bond over art . . . and chocolate! But their budding friendship is soon challenged when the man who ruined Kyra returns, desperate for her dowry, and threatens to stir up fresh scandal if she doesn't marry him. Now she must make a difficult decision-does she make herself vulnerable again and seek Rafael's help? Or does she allow the past to destroy all hope of future happiness?