Silas Thorne had no idea that Joyce Monroe had overheard his conversation with Rose Wentworth. He was about to go to the backyard to fish with his grandfather when, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted his older brother sipping tea with a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Bro, shouldn't you be napping right now?"
Jonathan Thorne held his insulated travel mug. "A last-minute meeting was added in the city for a little after three. My secretary will be here to pick me up soon."
"That's rough."
"When did it start?"
Silas Thorne froze for a moment before answering, "For her eighteenth birthday. Kian invited you, but you were busy with work and declined."
Jonathan Thorne pushed up the glasses on his nose. "So you schemed against me?"
"You only wanted to marry her out of a sense of duty. But for me... it has to be her."
