her energy filling the room. Her friend's dramatic entrances were nothing

ust met," Kimberly said, her

ow, already bracing herse

ersized handbag on the counter. "No, silly. Her

vaguely familiar. "Isn't s

amily-fashion, luxury, all that. And let me tell you, she is stunning. Like, jaw-dro

rine said, turning back to t

She's actually super nice. We got to talki

"You barely know her, and she's

rich and fabulous work, I guess. An

she already knew where

r families have been close for years. She's known

though she tried to hide it.

dying Catherine's face. "Yo

said quickly. "There's no

hed into a detailed account of her conversation with Alexandra, describing e

xandra and Brandon together made her uneasy, even though she had no reason to f

he thought

*

shop again, this time wearing an outfit

r," she announced, striking a pl

"You look great. Just don'

earn her secrets, not compete with her. B

head, amused despite

o focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting to Alexandra. What kind of person

*

cale restaurant. Alexandra was every bit as glamorous as Kimberly had describ

ooth and confident. "Tell me about

rectness of the question. "Oh, I don't know hi

lifted slightly. "C

tone casual. "Brandon stopped by one day, and the

it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Interesting. I did

eah, it surprised me too. Catherine said he seemed really down-t

ways had a way of charming people. But trust

her head. "Wha

reputation to uphold. Brandon might seem approachable, but there's a lot h

nd Kimberly couldn't tell if

erly said lightly. "She c

I'm sure she can. But still, it's good to know

conversation left her with

*

ly called Catherine to sha

imberly said. "And she definitely has her

e phone pressed to her ear.

ans. It was subtle, but I got the feeling she doesn

htened. "Why would she care? It's

careful, Catherine. Alexandra's not t

mind spinning. "Thanks

ng at the ceiling. She hadn't even met Alexandra, and ye

*

ss of wine as she stared out at the city skyline. Her conversation with Ki

ir social circle, but this felt different. The way Kimberly had spoke

think he could make his own choices, but she knew better. The Hartman

ndra reached for her phone. It was time t

*

over paperwork for one of the family's charitable pro

e was from

k. Call me whe

He put the phone down, deciding to deal with it later. Right

kindness, her authenticity, that drew him in. She was nothing like

knew his family's world was complicated, and bri

f staying away from

ire, he realized one thing for certain: wh