Winnie was the first awake.

That was unusual, but she figured West was exhausted from dealing with his family’s machinations. He was dead asleep on his stomach beside her, his hot skin warming her shoulder.

Rationally speaking, she knew she should have reservations about getting involved with a man whose family was so interfering, so hostile, so clannish . . . but she didn’t. She didn’t have any reservations about West. It felt too right, too good to be with him.

She quietly wiggled out of bed and padded into his bathroom. It was a cool space full of black granite and dark wood, with an imperious window onto the city. She showered, dried off, wrapped a towel around herself, and stepped back out into the bedroom. He was still asleep, so quietly—very quietly—she ducked out and hurried to her guest room.

While she was dressing, pulling up some decadent-feeling tights, her phone buzzed. Reaching for it, she saw it was her sister.

“Lila?” she asked, answering it.

“Winnie! How are you? I haven’t heard from you for days.”

Winnie felt a sting of guilt. She’d promised to keep her sister in the loop, and she hadn’t. Then again, how would she ever explain what was happening here?

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, wriggling the rest of the way into the tights with the phone held between her cheek and shoulder. “I’m fine, I’m safe, I promise. I meant to check in with you.”

“That’s all right, honey.” She could hear a dull roar. Lila must be in a car. “I’m on my way to work, so I can’t talk long, but I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“I’m all right,” Winnie promised.

“How are things going?”

Winnie hesitated, smoothing her dress. “Well.”

“Well?”

“Really well,” Winnie admitted. “Lila, I . . . I really like him. I might stay longer than I planned.”

“Wow. Are things really that good?”

“Yes,” Winnie said truthfully. “I know it seems crazy. I’ve only been here a week, and he’s not like me at all. Not like us at all. But . . . but I feel something for him. And he likes me too.”

“Well . . .” Lila was hesitant to endorse the situation, and Winnie couldn’t blame her. She would feel the same way if things were reversed. She knew what was coming. “I’m glad you’re happy there. Don’t feel like there’s any rush, though. You can take your time with him.”

“I know. I am,” Winnie insisted. “We talk a lot. We’re not hurrying. You’d like him, Lila. He’s like you. He’s got an orderly mind.” She bit her lip to hold in an enamored smile. “And he’s driven. Successful.”

“Well, maybe I’ll meet him sometime,” Lila said. Winnie could hear the car-roar softening. Her sister must have reached the hospital parking lot. “Will you please call me tonight? Or at least text? Me and Nan worry about you, Sweet Tea. Cass misses you, too.”

“I miss you all sooo much.” Winnie sighed. So much, in fact, that she tried not to think about home at all. It would overwhelm her. “I wish you were all here.”

“No, we wish you were here,” Lila said playfully. “Okay, honey, I’m parking. I have to get to my shift. I love you. Don’t forget to call me, all right?”

“I will. I really will.”

“And Winnie?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember, it’s not a race. You don’t have to commit to him as fast as possible. Okay?”

“Okay. I know.” Winnie plucked at her low neckline, glad her sister cared so much. She was lucky and she knew that. “Love you lots and lots.”

“Love you lots and lots, too. Bye-bye.”

Lila hung up, and Winnie felt an instant wave of loneliness. She missed her family. How did West manage to live without his?

A knock at the door made her jump. Annika’s voice came through the expensive wood. “Miss Wednesday, Amy is in! Would you like something to eat? Mr. Croft left me a note last night saying he is going to sleep in this morning and that you should eat without him. Yes?”

“Yes!” Winnie repeated breathlessly. “I’ll be right out. Thank you, Annika!”