At the age of twelve, Cassandra Madden fell in love with Jefferson Ames, a young man she met at one of her mother's business conferences. Over the years, during periods of loneliness and struggle, Cassandra holds on to this unrequited love in order to cope with her isolated heart and the pain of a cold mother. Even when she grew up, went off to college, and met a man she thought she'd marry, her heart still yearned for Jeff. In a decisive moment, she breaks off her pending engagement and travels to Williamsburg, Virginia, where the now-widowed Jeff lives with his young daughter. Cassandra becomes the child's nanny but, even though she sees the object of her desire every day, Jeff does not seem to even notice her. Then, one day, she hears gunshots coming from a nearby house belonging to a leading actress, and, in an instant, her safe little life is turned upside down. The people around her aren't who they claim to be. Everyone has secrets -- and until Cassie unravels those secrets, she and Jeff will never have a chance to be happy together.