Declan, Gavin's Irish cousin, is fun loving, rakish, flirtatious, handsome, and every bit as broken as his American cousin.

Where Gavin hides his pain under a mask of aloof, emotionless, reserve, Declan hides his under charm and a brilliant smile.

But Declan's character is rooted in unspeakable tragedy.

At 36, he's never been in love, not even with the mother of his child. He believes himself incapable of a real relationship; break-ups had always been something he celebrated.

Children make him uncomfortable. He likes them well enough...at a distance. He's honestly afraid he'll break them.

He is a lonely man.

He throws himself into his work to help fill the emptiness he feels...and ultimately to keep others from suffering his same fate...though I won't delve deeper to avoid spoilers.

Once his heart is claimed, he discovers everything he thought about himself above is completely wrong.

Despite his outwardly shallow character, he, in fact, is fiercely loyal, and desperately longs for that deeper connection.