“Stop.” Cass grabbed at his arm, trying to pull him back up. “Please, don’t do that.”

Brett paused, looking confused. “What’s going on, Cass?”

She allowed her gaze to sweep the room, the beautiful kitchen, the wine, peonies, pasta sauce bubbling on the stove. Her eyes brimmed with tears—but not because she was touched by all his efforts. They were tears of anger.

“You bought this house without even checking with me?”

“I wanted to surprise you,” Brett said, standing again. His fingers worked the ring box, spinning it in his hand. He seemed nervous and unsure, two things Cass was not used to seeing from him.

“But when did you buy it?” Maybe he had purchased it more than a month ago. If he had, it would be easier to accept his poor judgment—at the time, he had likely been certain she was going to say yes! Their marriage feeling as inevitable as the snow that blanketed Starlight Peak each winter.

“Last week,” he said, appearing dejected. “I orchestrated a fast close. I had to do something to convince you.”

“I told you I needed time, Brett.” Cass gestured around wildly. “Not a house!”

“You needed time. I didn’t. I’ve always known what I want when it comes to you.”

Her vision blurring, Cass hastily wiped at her eyes as she took in the sad but determined look on Brett’s face. It was a familiar one. Brett was the type of guy who was quick to apologize when he messed up—when, for example, he sold you a house that at the first heavy spring downpour proved to have a leaky basement. Quick to say things like, We couldn’t have seen that coming, but that’s on me and I sincerely apologize. Let me call my repair guy to help you fix it. I can get you a deal. Brett was used to getting what he wanted first and then putting out the fires later. His clients loved his “get it done” and “I’ll make it right” approach to real estate. But he seemed to not understand that relationships couldn’t be fixed as easily as a leaky basement.

Cass’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Charlie. A month ago, Cass had confided in her twin about the proposal: “I can’t believe I didn’t just say yes. Is there something wrong with me?”

“I can see why you didn’t say yes!” Charlie had said. “You need time to think. This is the rest of your life we’re talking about. And also, Cass—you’ve been with Brett for, like, your entire life so far. Think about that. Are you sure you’re ready to spend the rest of it with him, without experiencing anything else?” Charlie had been against the cooling-off period, suggesting instead that Cass trust her gut and break things off. Brett had once been a great boyfriend for Cass, but their relationship had run its course. However, Cass had found that too difficult. She didn’t want to marry him, but cutting him loose was going to mean a huge change in her life. And Cass wasn’t a fan of change—or of conflict. Now, her fingers itched to pick up her phone. But she needed to see this through.