I breathed deeply to calm my frazzled nerves. Slowly, I relaxed my arms as I stared at Cassandra. There was so much I never understood about the woman, yet as I watched her put on a show for Nikolai, I got it. She was just a mom who wanted the best for her son. Who spent years daydreaming about the future her son would have and the person who would be by his side.

“Look,” I said, relaxing a bit. “I’m open to dating, but to sign my life over right this moment isn’t going to happen.”

A methodical laughter filled the room as Cassandra’s face burned. “You’re joking, right?...