They were trapped in a room together, so she might as well make use of it. She hadn’t forgotten that he didn’t answer her question earlier. If he wanted to keep it a secret, she could respect that … but would it be her fault if she innocently happened to figure it out on her own? To start, she didn’t know much about him other than he said he didn’t like Jewel (he played the part well so far, but she wasn’t fully convinced), Ethan was his bestie (no doubts there—they had the same flavor of mischievous energy), and he didn’t use Golden Rule. Hmm. No explanation for that one.

“So,” Nicole called, teeth chattering. She’d read somewhere that talking helped stave off hypothermia. Or did it just make it obvious that you had it? “You really don’t use Golden Rule? Ethan does.”

“Why would I?” His voice was deep and clear, carrying across the room. “The last thing I need is for her to have more info about me than necessary again.”

Again? Nicole’s brain zoomed in on that admission but set it aside in favor of focusing on Ethan to keep her true intentions hidden. “Doesn’t it bother him that you don’t like his sister?”

“No, because he understands how she is. He’s required to like her, I guess, plus he works for her company.”

“Required because they’re family?” she asked, assuming it was a joke. “What’s his job?”

“Same as hers. They run BeJewel Industries together.”

“Really?” Nicole stopped shuffling, turning around. “She seems like too much of a control freak to share anything, let alone a company.”

“Oh, it’s definitely hers. I think he can approve and sign for some stuff, but the company itself is only in her name. Ethan’s her right hand, and Olive’s her left,” he said. “She says they’re her kryptonite.”

“‘She says’ meaning you don’t believe her?” When he didn’t respond, Nicole nodded to herself and returned to searching. “Ethan and Olive are dating, right? I think I read that somewhere?”

“Engaged.”

“But they’re so young,” she said, absolutely scandalized.

Francis laughed lightly—a scoff mixed with a grin over his shoulder. “People fall in love. When you know, you know.”

“Sure,” she said skeptically. Finding someone she loved enough to want to marry seemed unfathomable.

Nicole couldn’t remember the last time she’d been on a date or even opened a dating app to try to meet someone. She loathed being approached in person by strangers. No matter who asked, she always turned them down. It felt like an invasion of her space, forcing her into a corner to reckon with their desire, leaving no room to consider her own.