Ciara heard the front door being opened and then slammed shut. Not long after, Scott returned to the kitchen. He stood with his hands on his hips and said, “Don’t mind her.”

But that was impossible, of course. Hayley’s position at Silvercrest was stronger than Ciara’s; it had to affect her. “Is she your girlfriend? What does ‘engagement’ mean?” Ciara asked.

Scott furrowed his brow. “You’ve never heard the word ‘engagement’?”

Ciara shook her head. “No,” she said. “I only know about boyfriends and husbands.” She paused for a moment. “Nova told me.”

“I know.”

“Know what?”

“I know Nova is the one who told you.”

This time, Ciara raised...