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

door, Kora turned.

“Liam.”

“Yes.”

“Stay.”

“All right.”

Inside her small Beacon Hill flat, streetlamp light fell across the kitchen floor.

Kora placed Cordelia’s envelope on the table.

Then the cassette.

Then the velvet pouch with the watch.

For a moment, the table looked like a small altar of things two people had been carrying too long and had finally decided continue reading …