After fifty wearisome years of searching for his fated mate, vampire Cordon Shaw, Viscount Grayson, compiles a list of activities to complete before the lack of a mating bond kills him. In his pursuit of some sense of satisfaction, he stumbles upon a gorgeous woman who rebuffs his advances—and so he can't resist relieving her of the box containing a beautiful scarf tucked in her pocket. Then he receives an invitation to visit the shop of the same woman whose name is carved on the lid of the item he stole.

Respectable dressmaker Kitty Carter is determined to make her business prosper, even if it means making sacrifices, such as not chasing after the handsome thief who harassed her in the market. When she learns the mistress of a viscount had a public fight with her modiste, she writes to the viscount directly to petition his patronage. Then he arrives with her stolen scarf wrapped around his neck.

She holds her tongue despite his teasing, only for him to cancel the entire order and instead offer to pay her for each scandalous task she helps him complete. It's an absurd proposition, but she cannot refuse. But as steamy encounters turn into awkward afternoon tea with her family and meeting his unusual siblings, Kitty must decide what to prioritize: the allure of short-term pleasure, or the chance for enduring happiness.