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

men might have reacted. He simply caught her elbow with his free hand, steadying her carefully, then released her and stepped back the precise distance needed to make her not feel trapped.

“I beg your pardon,” he said.

“Oh,” Kora said. “Hello.”

“You’re still here.”

“I came back for an earring.”

“Was it found?”

“It was.”

“Good.”

He glanced down at the clipboard,continue reading …