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

was the first thing she noticed.

He was tall, but he did not carry his height like something he expected the room to admire. He wore a dark suit cut exactly for him, good shoes, a white pocket square, and an expression that gave almost nothing away.

He did not look at her until he was already close enough to her table to stop.

Then he rested one hand continue reading …