Isabelle Forrester is a product of an estranged relationship with her husband Gordon. Living in the same house in Paris, they do not share real love. Her emotional relationship is confined to her ailing son Teddy and daughter Sophie before she meets Bill, a wealthy power broker from America at a party in Paris. Bill too is caught in an empty marriage and together he and Isabelle create a distant relationship. They begin with phone friendship and eventually establish a strong and close relationship with Bill visiting Isabelle in a few meetings and dinners in France.
This secret pleasure Isabelle keeps away from her husband. After 4 years of distant friendship Bill invites Isabelle to London and she agrees to take a vacation to meet him. In London Bill and Isabelle confess their love. But Bill cannot divorce his wife for his political image would get tarred. Isabelle fears separation from her handicapped son Teddy who may be taken away by Gordon. She is afraid cruel Gordon may even deny medical aid to Teddy. Bill and Isabelle agree to part their ways and indulge in a last bittersweet kiss.
While they’re kissing their limousine gets crushed under a bus. Recovering in a London hospital they struggle to remake their lives. Bill loses the strength of his legs and has to go to a rehabilitation center to regain walking. Isabelle has to go back to Paris. So where does the kiss lead them? Will destiny unite them? Though a bit slow and repetitive the story is easy to read. The reader sure will be restless to know the end. The writing style of Steel is quite monotonous and that is why the novel gets boring at times.. but the story could be summed up as ’sweet’!