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little jealous.
    Applying light lip-gloss and brushing her hair, she thought about their time in Vegas. She’d thought about it a lot over the past few weeks, but being so close had intensified the questions over the last twenty-four hours. They’d gotten married.
    More so, she had his grandmother’s ring. At the thought, she twisted it on her finger.
    But the fact that he had it meant Stephen planned to propose. He’d told her as much in his office yesterday but it still made her mind reel. Why marry a woman you don’t even plan to share a life with? Or, at very least, a woman with whom your entire relationship had been built on lies.
    It seemed, well, odd. They’d spent time together—mostly in the bakery—even gone on a few dates. Spent glorious hours wrapped in each other’s arms in bed, but really, what kind of a relationship is that? It wasn’t as if they’d done many relationship things. Alcohol may have erased the actual ceremony sans a few small photograph-like memories, but the way she felt standing next to him she remembered clearly. She fit him perfectly.
    That had been unforgettable.
    The morning she woke up in his arms she felt more relaxed, happier than she’d felt in a long time.
    Until he told her he wanted to keep her a secret.
    So why had they married? Cassie didn’t fit into his lifestyle. She came from a poor family. Happy, but never financially comfortable. He was heir to the Sands family fortune. If he made it his mission to spend every dime of his fortune in his lifetime, it would be a difficult mission to accomplish.
    So why had he wanted her?
    It didn’t make sense.
    Giving her curls one last tug, she stepped away from the mirror and headed downstairs.
    Three stories. And she was on the top. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about a gym membership as long as she lived with Stephen.
    Halfway down she smelled breakfast.
    Which seemed strange, considering how large the house.
    But oh, it smelled delectable. Cassie usually had a hurried cup of coffee and an apple for breakfast. She hadn’t had a real, sit-down breakfast in a long time.
    The smells lead her toward the dining room where she saw a spread so grand it seemed almost ridiculous.
    There sat Stephen.
    Who looked sharp at the head of the table. He wore a slate-gray suit with a reflective royal purple tie and a crisp, white shirt. He sat transfixed by the paper and he took a sip of coffee without seeming to notice her presence. Pushing past the dread, she walked the length of the table and pulled out the chair next to his. “Good morning.”
    “Morning.” He nodded as he lay down his paper. Catching her eye he asked, “Did you sleep well?”
    She smiled. Tensely, but politely. “Thank you, I did. And you?”
    Abigail appeared at her elbow before he had a chance to answer. Probably saving Cassie an earful. “Coffee, Mrs. Sands?”
    “Thank you, I would love a cup.”
    Abigail went about preparing the beverage and Cassie reached for some scrambled eggs, a couple of strawberries and a piece of toast. “Are we expecting company?” she asked. It seemed like an awful lot of food. Cinnamon rolls, pancakes, oatmeal, cut fruit of every variety possible, muffins, scrambled eggs and a few things Cassie didn’t recognize.
    Stephen quirked his brow. “No, should we be?”
    “The food...”
    He looked around the table, then toward Abigail. “It seems Abigail enjoyed cooking for more than just me this morning.”
    Cassie looked at his plate. All he had was a piece of dry toast to go with his coffee. “Not exactly the breakfast of champions,” she quipped.
    “Your coffee.”
    Cassie glanced up at the housekeeper. “Thank you, Abigail. Breakfast looks wonderful. But it seems like a lot.”
    The woman blushed and for a moment Cassie wondered if perhaps she’d embarrassed her.
    “I didn’t know what you would want, and I wanted to make your first day pleasant.”
    Now Cassie felt embarrassed. “Well this is wonderful, thank