THE EMPTY CHAIR AT HER SISTER’S WEDDING WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVE HER FIANCÉ HAD LEFT HER—BUT WHEN A QUIET STRANGER SAT BESIDE HER, KORA NEVER IMAGINED HE OWNED THE HOTEL, OR THAT HIS FAMILY WAS ALREADY PLANNING THE MARRIAGE THAT COULD DESTROY THEM BOTH

dancing to a piece of music that had traveled through them both—through Kora’s father, through Liam’s father, through weddings, funerals, old tapes, hotel lobbies, boardrooms, and quiet letters.

This time, Kora did not sit out.

She danced the whole piece.

And when she finally stopped humming, she set her cheek against Liam’s collarbone and stood there continue reading …