Noah froze in place, his face stiff with embarrassment.

Seeing her fiancé rebuffed, Thea’s mood soured. She stepped forward to block Chelsea’s path. “Hey! My fiancé was talking to you! Are you deaf? Don’t you know what respect is?”

Chelsea raised an eyebrow coolly. “What did you just call me?”

Thea’s bravado lasted all of one second. The moment her eyes met Chelsea’s icy gaze, she wilted. “Big Sister,” she mumbled.

The words had barely left her mouth before she wanted to bite her own tongue.

Why does my mouth betray me like this?

Chelsea gave a faint “Hmm” of acknowledgment, completely ignoring Thea’s earlier outburst. Instead, she asked, “Today’s...