Paige pulled her phone from her clutch with a confused little laugh. Then she read the subject line, and the laugh died. Notice of Contract Suspension, Summit Ridge Resort. She read the first paragraph aloud before she realized she should stop. Payment for this event has been traced to a trust account currently under investigation for unauthorized withdrawals. All services are suspended effective immediately.

The ballroom erupted in whispers. My father stepped forward, red-faced, and grabbed for the microphone. “You can’t do that,” he snapped. “You lay bricks.” Rowan didn’t move an inch. “I did lay bricks,” he said calmly, “for six years, before my family’s company bought this hotel and put me in charge of it.” He turned to the guests. “My name is Rowan Castellano, and I own Summit Ridge.”