Gertrude Barkley, unmarried and unapologetic, had already caused a lot of talk in Venice, Missouri, with her independent ways and her book-writing career. But when she bobbed her waist-length hair, the town gossips had a field day. Mikolai Stefanski didn't know what all the fuss was about. In fact, he rather liked Gertrude's daring new look. A proud Polish immigrant who had managed to become Venice's most successful businessman, Mikolai had always admired Gertrude's rebellious spunk—if only from afar. After all, he believed in doing things his own way, too—though he wasn't quite as flamboyant about it. They had lived in the same sleepy town for a long time. But it would take a scandalous discovery—and a wild misunderstanding—to make them appreciate each other in a whole new way.