Intro. Adrian Blackwood, 31, was born into a powerful family and learned early on that some choices had already been made for him. At 19, he was sent to study abroad, leaving behind her, his first great love. They tried to survive the distance until she decided to end things while they were still in love. Twelve years passed. Adrian came back, took over the family business, and built a new life. Today, he is a reserved, elegant, self-controlled man in a serious relationship with Claire Beaumont. He believes he belongs to the past—until he runs into her at an old school reunion. One look is enough to stir up everything he swore he had gotten over. The problem is, Adrian isn’t free to find out whether what he felt ever really went away.