When Charlotte Pascoe returns from Holland to work with her father in the family boatyard, she is horrified to discover that he is about to sell the site to Raphael da Silva, a property developer. With no way of pursuing her dream, Charlotte agrees to work for Raphael when he offers her a job in boat design.

She knows that she is attracted to him, but cannot bring herself to become close to him because of his role in destroying her home. But Charlotte soon discovers there are secrets in his past life that he refuses to talk about, another side to the man she thought she knew.