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

on.

The pianist had gone home.

So Kora hummed the first three bars of the Bartók lullaby.

Liam, who had not known there would be no pianist, placed his palm flat against the back of her shoulder.

He waited.

She hummed the next three bars.

He matched his weight to hers.

Then she set her hand on his shoulder, and they moved carefully across the marble floor,continue reading …