The Panther and the Rose — Mary Burkhardt

Sheltered by a seemingly over protective family, Amy Stockwell nevertheless ran her import empire with all the skill and efficiency of her late father. Her confinement to a wheelchair and her constant poor health did not diminish her prowess in the business world, but it had a devastating effect on her private life. Toshiro Valerius was no stranger to prejudice and distrust amongst the people he encountered through his travels as a shipping mogul. His Japanese/Swedish heritage left little for the English family of Amy Stockwell to like. Though Toshiro's ties with the family go back to their youth, Amy has no recollection of Toshiro and the friendship they once shared. Determined to gain Amy's trust and someday her love, Toshiro must summon all his knowledge of his Ninja skills to overcome the power Amy's family has over her and to unlock the terrible secret of her parents horrible death which is the root of her illness. Toshiro's task becomes even more dangerous, however, when an old enemy of his own family makes attempts on his life, forcing Toshiro to return to Japan to face his enemy, with Amy in tow.