Gillian Grey knows all about men and their desire for money. Aidan Baird is just a rougher version of her ex-fiance—a man willing to put up with her dubious ancestry and red hair for a share of her money. The only man outside her family to offer her true friendship has been dead for over 500 years. Dead but not at peace. A rash of brutal murders has him begging her to put an end to the slayings.
Aidan Baird's dream requires a down payment in gold. Gold he's willing to earn escorting his boss's daughter around the desert on a "botanical expedition" provided he's in charge.
To Gilly, Aidan's curt dismissal of her "servant" and his subsequent ingratiating behavior confirm his mercenary and deceitful nature. She decides to allow Aidan to keep his illusions about the true nature of their expedition and begins her investigation without him.
Aidan is torn by the tenderness Gilly brings out in him. He knows that the only way to have her would be to relinquish his fee. Once on the road, his desire takes control. His heart convinces his head that Gilly is worth setting aside his old dreams.
Then, they encounter another murder. This time an innocent man has paid the ultimate price. While fighting the desire to tell Aidan of their true mission, she searches for the prostitute that her dead friend believes was slated to be last night's victim. The woman's praise of her doctor leads Gilly to suspect the man selling patent medicines is actually...Jack the Ripper.
