I pushed open one of the double doors to my office. I would never get tired of the view that greeted me. Expanses of green forests that met up with craggy mountains capped with snow, even as we moved into summer. The views from my place in San Francisco hadn’t been anything to sneeze at, but this view spoke to me more.

When I arrived in Sutter Lake to interview for the V.P. position, I’d felt a sense of peace I hadn’t experienced since…a much simpler time. Before my childhood had been blown apart. I eased into the chair behind my desk, letting my gaze settle on the two photos. One of my mother and me. In the picture, she held my hands as she helped me to balance while I learned to walk. And one of my sister at her college graduation, her bright smile beaming at the camera.

My phone buzzed in my hand, and I glanced down at the screen. Juliette flashed on the display. I hit accept. “Think of the devil…”

“Careful who you’re calling devil, big brother.”

I grinned, leaning back in my chair. “If the shoe fits…”

“I’m an angel.”

I nearly choked on my cough. Juliette was the reason I had salt and pepper at my temples at the age of thirty-six. “Keep telling yourself that. How are you? How are classes?”

Juliette sighed, and I could picture her curling up in her favorite chair in her apartment off campus. “Killing me. Remind me why I thought it was a good idea to go to Stanford again?”

“Because you’re going to be the most kick-ass lawyer I’ve ever known.”

“I really hope so. But I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have taken a summer class. I need a break.”

I leaned forward in my chair. “Why don’t you come up here for a week? You said this one’s online, right?” I wanted to lay eyes on my baby sister. Make sure she wasn’t pushing herself too hard.

“So you can make sure I’m eating properly and taking my vitamins?”

“Maybe.”

“Don’t be a worrywart. I’m fine. I just wanted to whine.”

I picked up a pen from my desk and twirled it between my fingers. “You know you can always whine to me.”

“And I love you for it.” She was quiet for a moment. “I was actually thinking about heading to Cabo for a long weekend with some girlfriends. Beaches and a few margaritas. What do you say, big brother?”

“Is that an invitation?”

She choked on a laugh. “You might be a bit of a buzzkill…”

“Let me guess, you want me to foot the bill.”

“You love me, right? And you know how hard I’m working.”

I did, and Juliette deserved a break to blow off some steam. “Fine, put it on my credit card. But no presidential suites, Jules.”

I’d learned the hard way that I had to give that disclaimer.

“A suite might be fun…” She let the words dangle.