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

box at the foot of Kora’s bookshelves, beside her father’s old wedding band watch.

Cordelia Donovan came, too.

To everyone’s surprise, including her own.

Before the reading, she crossed to Kora, placed one gloved hand briefly on her wrist, and set a cream envelope beside the candle on the lectern.

“Frankly,” Cordelia said quietly, “I owe you a sentence.continue reading …