Love, Louisa — Barbara Metzger

Louisa wrecks her fiance's car on the night of their engagement party and he stands her up at the wedding. She goes on the honeymoon, and ends up in a hospital, sunburned. Back home, she has no lover, no job, no apartment, and no money. She retreats to her mother's seaside summer cottage, where she mistakes a wealthy landowner for a handyman. The last thing Dante needs in his life is another weak woman, despite the physical attraction. He is already burdened with an aging aunt, a needy cousin, and an ex-wife. Still, he has to come to Louisa's defense when a bully and later a drunken date threaten her. They become closer, and she proves her strength by helping to rescue his cousin from her jerk of an ex-husband, by siccing him on her own ex-fiance, Howard. Dante thinks Louisa is using him to make Howard jealous, so backs off. Then a hurricane threatens the village and they find themselves in the dark, making love. In love, which is, of course, the best revenge.