Claire Elliot offers two weeks to gain the center of Jules MacIntyre-and then break it. To save her wards from a vicious blackmailer, she dares to get into the laird’s castle, claiming to end up being the wife he’d lately wed. But no such wife is present! The brooding Jules invented a bride-to-be to silence his well-meaning, matchmaking close friends, so he by no means expected her to arrive on his doorstep. He is suspicious of this gorgeous stranger, but he’s also steadfast, courageous, and very easily seductive. Actually, he’s the man Claire would choose to love…if she weren’t forced to betray him. She actually is an intruder at best, and a liar at worst, but still Claire enthralls Jules like no woman before. He agrees to allow her stay-at least until he uncovers the truth-and quickly she is filling his manor and scarred center with the heat they have both been missing. While an unfamiliar enemy has chosen Claire like a tool to kill the laird, Jules vows to combat for the interest he has discovered with his illusion bride produced flesh.