Chapter 1
At a company dinner, someone suggested a game of Categories.
Category: Things you’d find at Mr. Mercer’s place.”
My coworkers laughed as they took turns.
Books.”
Coffee mugs.”
Sloane Whitmore, the heiress who’d just transferred in from
headquarters, considered her answer.
Does a scarf count? I knitted him one when I was nineteen.
It was hideous, but I doubt he’s had the heart to throw it out.”
Everyone at the table turned to Julian Mercer.
He pressed his lips together, but his phone rang before he could answer.
As soon as he stepped away to take the call, our coworkers
leaned toward Sloane.
“Sloane, what’s going on? You and Mr. Mercer have history?”
“I heard he’s stayed single because he’s waiting for his first
love to come back to the States. Don’t tell me that’s you!”
Sloane gave them an innocent smile.
That was ages ago. Julian won’t let me talk about it.”
She rested her chin on her hand and raised an eyebrow at me.
“If you’re that curious, ask Nora Bennett.”
“She used to cover for me back in college when we were
dating She was basically our built–in alibi.”
Everyone looked at me, waiting.
None of them knew Julian and I had been married for three
years. I quietly slipped off my wedding ring.
With just a few words, Sloane had put me, her old roommate, on the spot.
They stared at me, eager to hear all about their storybook college romance.
My throat felt tight and raw as I rubbed my damp palms
against my linen skirt, creasing the fabric.
Just then, Julian came back.
We all have work tomorrow. Let’s call it a night.”
Everyone groaned, disappointed to leave so soon.
I was the only one relieved.
As we left the restaurant, one of Sloane’s friends from work spoke up.
“Mr. Mercer, you’re the only one who hasn’t been drinking.
Could you drive Sloane home?”
“She’s gorgeous, and she’s had a lot to drink. She shouldn’t be going home alone.”
stopped for a moment.
Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Julian glance at me.
Before he could respond, Sloane clutched her stomach and winced.
Julian, my stomach’s acting up again. Could you take me home?”
You know the address. It hasn’t changed.”
Julian nodded. “I’ll get the car. You guys wait here.”
You guys? Who else was he taking besides Sloane?
gave a bitter smile. Whoever he meant, it wouldn’t be me.
I ordered an Uber.
Someone tapped my shoulder while I waited.
“Nora, can I give you a ride?”
I turned, puzzled, to find a short man in black–framed glasses.
He was from IT. Tyler Dunn, if I remembered right.
Before I could decline, Sloane gave him an amused look.
Oh? Got a thing for Nora?”
She hadn’t changed. She still liked embarrassing people in
public and passing it off as a joke.
Tyler’s dark cheeks reddened.
The others laughed,
Nice choice, Tyler. Nora’s wife material. Don’t let her get away!”
Hearing about Sloane and Mr. Mercer put you in the mood
for romance, huh?”
The teasing grew louder, and someone put a hand on my
shoulder and pushed me toward Tyler,
Julian’s headlights swept over us as he pulled up.
Through the windshield, I could see him frowning at us.
I clenched my jaw.
“Thanks, but no.”
My phone rang just then.
“My ride’s here.”
I hurried into the Uber.
As I shut the door, I heard Sloane casually reassuring him
“Don’t give up. I know Nora. In college, a guy only had to chase
her for a few days before she said yes.”
“I’m not saying she’s easy. She’s just naive and a little
desperate to be loved.”
Keep trying. She’s probably enjoying the attention. I doubt
she actually means no.”
At home, I went straight to the storage room and rummaged
through everything until I found a pale yellow scarf tucked
away in a gift box.
The initials J.M. had been embroidered on it in crooked stitches.
Sloane must have put them there to stake her claim on him.
The last shred of hope I’d been clinging to finally died, and
tears spilled down my cheeks.
Even though Julian and I were married. Sloane still stood between us.
I’d fallen for him first, but before I’d worked up the courage to
tell him, Sloane was already going around calling him her
almost–boyfriend.
After graduation, we’d all gone our separate ways. I’d assumed
I’d never see him again.
Then, after finishing my master’s, I ended up at the company
where he worked.
My college crush became my boss.
One day, my family pressured me into a blind date with a
divorced man in his forties.
Partway through the conversation, he mentioned the room
he’d booked at a nearby hotel and started putting his hands on me.
Julian happened to pass by while we were arguing. He
stepped in and got rid of the man.
He studied my red, swollen eyes for a moment before
suddenly speaking.
Nora, my family’s been on my case about getting married too.”
Would you consider marrying me?”
He hadn’t married me for love.
Now that the woman he loved was back, wasn’t it time for
me, the stand–in who’d taken her place, to step aside?
I finally broke down. I hurled the scarf to the floor and burst into sobs.
Just then, the storage room door opened.
Julian looked at the scarf on the floor, and his expression froze.