The one who falls in love first always loses.


    Hanna fell first, so she was destined to lose.


    Rowan fell for Anastasia before she ever noticed him-so he lost, too.


    Hanna grumbled as she fixed up Rowan''s wound yet again.


    "Your stitches keep splitting open and healing up, then splitting again. I''m telling you, if it happens one more time, I''m out of tricks. Can''t you try taking better care of yourself?"


    Rowan''s wounds were red and swollen, refusing to heal. Every time the stitches were removed and redone, it just made things worse-more pain for him, and more risk of infection.


    Last night, Rowan came home with a fever from an infection, barely able to keep his eyes open.


    He''d need at least three months of rest to fully recover, the doctor said.


    Hanna''s heart ached for him, but she was secretly a little relieved, too.


    She hated seeing him suffer, but his injury meant he had to stay put. She could watch over him every day.


    Her hands were gentle, doing her best not to hurt him.


    Rowan didn''t make a sound the whole time. His mind was somewhere else, lost in memories of Anastasia''s embrace he could almost feel her scent and warmth still lingering in the air.


    Anastasia finally met up with Herman.


    The second she spotted him, she ran over and jumped into his arms,ughing. Herman caught her easily, smiling as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.


    "So, what do you want for dinner tonight? I''m taking you out-we need to celebrate."


    Anastasia grinned and teased, "What could possibly taste better than you?" She was in such a good mood that she yfully bit his neck.


    "You little minx," Herman said, giving her waist a squeeze, eyes full of affection. "Keep it up and I might just have to punish you right here."


    They were right in the middle of the street, Anastasia wrapped around him like a ko, getting more than a few curious looks from people passing by.


    No matter how open-minded people im to be, there are always some who think affection should be kept behind closed doors.


    Even in an age where corsets are history, some folks are still trapped in old- fashioned thinking.


    Anastasia couldn''t care less. She was happy and wanted to share that joy with Herman.


    She poked his chest and challenged, "Who''s afraid of who, huh?"


    Herman just looked at her, amused and helpless. His little wife was really on fire today.


    "Get in the car," he said, already thinking up a dozen ways to "punish? her.


    He opened the door and helped her inside, then hit the gas and headed out of town, driving until they reached a quiet patch of woods.


    The sun hung low, golden light nting through the trees and scattering shadows over the ground.


    No one else around. Before long, Herman''s car started rocking, soft moans drifting through the evening air.


    By the time the moon was up, nearly two hours had passed before the car was finally quiet again.


    Anastasiay across Herman''s chest, catching her breath, when his phone buzzed.


    It was Flynn.


    Herman answered, putting it on speaker. Flynn''s voice rang out:


    "Herman, you won''t believe this-Joseph actually turned Mr. Walker down! I mean, the guy''s got guts. Who says no to Mr. Walker? The man practically offered him the world, and he just walked away. Unbelievable."


    Flynn had just heard the news and couldn''t wait to share it.


    He''d never thought much of Joseph before, but now... maybe he really did have that Salstrom backbone after all.


    Anastasia looked confused and nced at Herman for an exnation.


    "Mr. Walker wanted Joseph as his godson," Herman told her.


    Then, to Flynn, “I''m a little busy with Anastasia right now-talkter."


    He hung up.


    Anastasia sat up, surprised. “Mr. Walker wants Joseph as his godson? Out of the blue?"


    Sweat glistened on her skin, damp hair sticking to her forehead.


    Herman brushed her hair back,


    quirking up. "I doubt Joseph sam


    that oneing. Guess he''s finally getting his ''prince by association'' moment."


    "Prince by association''?"


    "Mr. Walker''s interest in Joseph is probably all about Daria," Herman said.


    Anastasia caught on. "So Autumn


    likes Daria, and that''s why Mr.


    Walker wants Joseph around? There''s got to be more to it than just a crush. Did you find out what the


    connection is between Julie and Autumn?"