Back when Joshua showed up at the g with Ray, even the mayor of Spring Falls—a man who usually acted like he owned the ce-treated Ray with a kind of cautious respect.

    The next time Trayson saw Joshua was three years ago, at a sleek business mixer. His dad had dragged him there towork and talk deals. Joshua was at the center of it all, people practically orbiting around him, hoping for a word or even just a nce.

    Most never got close. Trayson''s father had warned him, "Go do whatever you want outside, but whatever you do, don''t mess with Oak Lake''s crown prince. If you cross Joshua, you''re noting home. We''ll cut ties-you''re on your own."

    Trayson knew his dad meant it. He wasn''t the oldest son, not even close. He was the third, with two older brothers who actually had their act together. And that wasn''t the whole story.

    His dad kept three mistresses on the side. Two of them had given him kids-a boy and a girl. Those siblings, both legitimate and not, were way more capable, and their dad actually seemed to like them. Trayson was the spoiled one nobody expected anything from. If his dad ever had to drop a son, Trayson would be first on the chopping block.

    All this shed through Trayson''s mind in a matter of seconds, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

    Then he saw something that made his blood run cold.

    Joshua turned to the woman who''d once gotten him thrown in jail, his face full of concern. "Allie, are you okay?"

    Wait-what?

    That woman actually knew Joshua? And judging by how worried he looked, they were close. Really close.

    Trayson shivered. His knees nearly gave out.

    Allison just shook her head and told Joshua, "I''m fine."

    Lottie, who''d been so loud and haughty a moment ago, suddenly realized she was in way over her head. She tried to quietly slip away, hoping no one would notice. But someone in the crowd stuck out a foot, and Lottie went sprawling onto the floor, totally humiliated.

    People startedughing and calling her out.

    "Well, well, Lottie, where do you think you''re sneaking off to?"

    "What was it you said a minute ago? Something about Ms. Owens being cheap and vain, wearing knockoffs and fake bags? Cat got your tongue now?"

    "Yeah, we all heard you trashing Ms. Allison in front of everyone. Aren''t you going to apologize?"

    "Ouch, karma hurts, doesn''t it? Bet you had no idea she''s the Owens family heiress from Oak Lake. You love spreading rumors, but now you''re running away?"

    Lottie scrambled up, more embarrassed than she''d ever been in her life.

    Joshua, standing not too far away, shot her a look so cold it made her flinch.

    She trembled and shuffled over to Allison, head down, voice shaky. "I''m sorry, Ms. Allison. I shouldn''t have said those things about you."

    "Said?" Allison wasn''t about to let her off easy. "You didn''t just ''say something. You insulted and ndered me in public, and now you want to make it sound like it was nothing?"

    Lottie''s lips quivered. Her eyes filled with tears. She shot Joshua a pleading look, hoping he''d take pity on her.

    She tried to sound sweet and

    defenseless. "Joshua, it was just a misunderstanding. I already

    apologized to Ms. Allison. Can''t you just let this go?"

    She always thought she knew how to work men, and she had plenty of confidence

    in her looks. No guy could resist her when she turned on the waterworks.

    But Joshua just looked at her with obvious disgust. His answer was ice-cold: "No."