At those words, everyone turned to look at Ste.


    She looked a little startled herself.


    Abby, who understood Foreman''s intentions better than most, quickly tried to smooth things over with a warm smile. "Looks like Mr. Richards is just as tired as the rest of us. Why don''t we all get some rest?"


    Foreman nodded and called over the butler. "Please prepare two rooms for Ms. Cameron and Ms. Murphy."


    The butler gave a respectful nod. "Right away, sir."


    After their rooms were ready, Ste made her way to Abby''s room.


    Frowning slightly, Ste asked, "Abby, do you think it''s really appropriate for us to stay at Foreman''s ce?"


    Abby replied, "It''s certainly better than you getting caught up in trouble. Besides, I''m here with you. What''s there to worry about? And Foreman''s not that kind of guy. I really don''t think he''d try anything."


    Ste shook her head. "It''s not that I''m worried about him doing anything-I just feel like we''re imposing."


    Abby knew Ste well; she''d never beenfortable with even a hint of impropriety around men.


    "I''ll go talk to Foreman," Abby offered.


    Ste nodded in agreement.


    About ten minutester, there was a knock at Ste''s door.


    Abby entered with Foreman.


    "Ste," Foreman began gently, "Abby tells me you''re notfortable staying here. Did something make you uneasy?"


    Ste shook her head. "It''s nothing like that. I''m just not used to staying in someone else''s house."


    After her divorce, Ste had always lived in her own ce-she''d rarely stayed over at anyone else''s home.


    Foreman took this in quietly, then said, "It''s alreadyte tonight. Please, stay here for now. Tomorrow, I''ll have my people check out the hotels in the city to make sure they''re safe. Once we''re sure, you and Abby can move out if you''d like."


    It was a reasonable solution.


    Ste relented. "Thank you, Foreman. I appreciate it."


    He smiled. "Whether it''s because of "Whether our friendship, or for Haynie''s sake, this is the least I can do. But Sandford''s a big city-it might take more than a day to check


    everything. I''ll do my best to hae


    ve


    it


    all sorted within three days. In the meantime, I''m sorry for any inconvenience."


    With that, Ste didn''t feel she could refuse him again.


    The next morning, when Foreman came downstairs, he found Ste already busy


    in the kitchen.


    The doctor had given Foreman a few prescriptions yesterday, mostly for restorative tonics.


    Having spent years working alongside Mr. Burton, Ste was more than capable


    of preparing nourishing soups and remedies.


    She wasn''t the kind to ept favors


    without giving something back. Foreman had been hurt because of her, he''d sheltered both her and Abby, and now was even going out of his way to help them.


    Cooking was the one practical skill she could offer-aside from her music so Ste took charge of breakfast and began simmering the prescribed broth.


    Foreman stood in the doorway, watching her work with quiet focus.


    He wasn''t sure why, but he found himself oddly transfixed.


    In that moment, he suddenly understood why, despite all the meddling from


    Jasper and Rachel, Haynes had been so reluctant to let her go.


    Maybe being cared for like this was a feeling he''d been missing all along.


    "Mr. Richards, you''re up early!" Abby''s cheerful voice rang out from behind him.


    Snapping out of his thoughts, Foreman smiled at her. "Good morning, Abby."


    Ste heard them and nced over her shoulder. "Why don''t you both wait in the dining room? I''ll be finished in just a minute."


    Instead, Foreman stepped into the kitchen. "Let me help."


    Without missing a beat, he started washing vegetables and set about assisting Ste, as if it were second nature.


    Abby watched Foreman move around the kitchen with surprising ease. "Mr. Richards, I didn''t know you could cook!"