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

The handwriting was small and careful.

The line was exactly right.

Kora placed her hand on the book but did not pick it up.

A dangerous warmth moved through her.

Somebody had paid attention to her work in private.

Somebody had found the one thing only a person who had truly looked would know mattered.

“Why are you giving me a book?” she asked.

“Because I continue reading …