Vacationing in Italy from her job in Stowe, Vermont, Laura Kincaid meets Trista Serrano (Trista using her mother's last name). They exchange addresses. Trista, unwell, is unwed and pregnant. To hide her shame, she steals Laura's identity and has her daughter use Laura's name as mother and for her daughter's protection names her brother, Dominic, as father.

Trista shows up at Laura's with her baby. She admits her shame and that she is dying and pleads with Laura to take her baby, revealing Laura's name is on her baby's birth certificate. Softhearted Laura agrees. Trista returned to Rome, and just before dying, she whispered to Dominic she had a daughter she named Cella.

Dominic vows for find his niece. He hires investigators, but they find nothing. Still, Dominic will not give up.

Dominic goes to ski in Vermont at a posh resort where Laura works. Laura is taken with the handsome Italian and is thrilled when he invites her to dinner. Dominic's interest in Laura takes because she is so unlike the usual women he meets until he discovers she has a daughter and never married. He becomes incensed and rude, not allowing her to explain. Neither knowing they have Trista's daughter in common.

Their personalities clash with accusations, anger, and meanness. When Dominic and Laura discover they have Trista's baby, Laura tries to run with Cella, but powerful Dominic has his own plans.