The bright sun glinted off multiple windows in a large three-story building across the north end of the valley.

The sprawling structure butted up against the red sandstone cliffs.

She brought her hand up to shade her eyes from the afternoon sun and squinted at the newer building. Vance Gem’s fitness retreat and spa.

Vance Gem.

Hominy, hominy , as Addie would say while pumping her eyebrows suggestively, to which Daphne would probably reply, If being handsome was a crime, Vance Gem would run the mafia.

Addie would laugh. Some people only gave her patient smiles, but Daphne didn’t care. Her family, friends, and fans adored her. Making the world brighter was more important than what somebody thought of her.

But Vance Gem … What did he think of her?

She smiled to herself. Vance likely only knew that she was Adeline Belle’s younger sister. Addie was a year older than Vance and everybody loved her.

Daphne had always thought Vance was off the charts.

Three years older than her in school, athletic, kind, devastatingly handsome.

Emery and her parents had told her all about his fitness spa.

His gorgeous facility had top of the line equipment and trainers, Vance of course being the very best. He brought in high dollar clients from around the world and was a completely self-made man.

He was the ‘catch of the century’ for someone obsessed with fitness, as she was.

‘Of course’, Daphne had agreed, hiding her smile at their matchmaking.

Her family had taken every opportunity to spout Vance Gem’s virtues and success. Even when she was ‘dating’ Gregory, they didn’t give up on hoping she’d come visit and let them set her up with Vance.

She was ecstatic for Vance Gem’s success but hadn’t taken the time to come stay at his fitness spa, feature it on her social media pages, and ‘most likely fall madly in love with Vance Gem’ as Emery had suggested.

What had been holding her back? Too busy, too bugged with Gregory, too afraid Vance Gem might live up to her girlish memories of him and her family’s inflated praise?

Maybe the sun sparkling off those windows was a sign that his spa could be a retreat and a safe haven from Gregory.

With her long blonde hair dyed a dark reddish brown, her eyebrows dyed dark, and fake eyelashes that surprised her every time she looked in the mirror, she knew she didn’t look like herself.

Would Vance Gem be an ally and help her hide out?

What if she fell in love with him?

She laughed out loud at that. Wouldn’t her family be ecstatic if they were right?

I was right once , she thought of her dad saying.

No, you were always left.

A plan started to formulate as she climbed back into the rented Audi and drove slowly through the valley. Not turning toward her sister or parents’ house was painful, but she could hopefully go see them in a few weeks and, ‘Surprise, I’m not in Cancun!’

She drove through the picturesque downtown, loving the quaint streetlights and flower boxes, wishing she could stop at Spice is Nice and buy a pumpkin spice cupcake with chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting and say hello to her friend Ginger.

Her mouth watered, but she couldn’t risk being recognized.

Ginger had married the famed extreme sports athlete Jude Gem not long ago. What an incredible match that was.

Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot of the Jade Valley Health Spa Retreat framed by the sandstone cliffs to the north.

The spot cried ‘sanctuary’ to her. It was bigger than it had looked from across the valley.

She hadn’t driven out here on previous visits home.

It was beautiful—modern, large, and unique in their simple little valley.

The main building was three sprawling stories, a reddish orange stucco that almost blended into the cliffs behind it. From the parking lot, she caught glimpses of a huge courtyard loaded with trees and the sparkling blue water of a swimming pool shadowed by the main building.

She parked the car and applied some lip gloss and coconut colada body splash, glancing at herself in the rearview mirror. It was weird to see herself with dark hair and brows and thicker eyelashes. Her blue eyes stood out more than usual.

Would Vance recognize her? She’d have to work to enlist his help, give him enough details to want to help her, but nothing about Gregory.

She hadn’t seen more than glimpses of Vance at church when she’d visited home. Thinking of that well-built man with his unique jade-colored eyes in a suit and tie … whew.

I’d tell you I wasn’t staring, but I only lie to myself.

She smiled. Her dad and Addie would appreciate the line.

She also realized she shouldn’t have turned off the car and air conditioning so quick.

Saying a prayer and taking a deep breath, she sprung from the car and hurried through the hot, dry air.

She loved San Francisco with its humid, cool air, moody weather, the ocean, the greenery and massive trees, the bridges and city, but there was nothing like the smell of dry desert air tinged with the sharp twang of creosote.

The red dirt, cliffs, and open valley all equaled home to her.

She made it into the air-conditioned foyer without accumulating too much sweat. Dressed in a fitted T-shirt and flowing cotton pants from Athleta, one of her favorite sponsors, she hoped she looked casual, fit, and maybe a little elegant. Probably more rumpled, tired, and stressed than elegant.

She glanced around, liking all the natural light from the huge windows showcasing the pool and courtyard areas, and the desert motif of the interior.

Everything felt light, clean, new, and airy.

She’d been in some extraordinary health and fitness spas throughout the world and Vance’s was as impressive and high-end as any she’d visited.

A smiley twenty-something blonde sat behind the desk. “Hello. Welcome to Jade Valley Health Spa. Do you have a reservation?”

“I have an appointment with Vance Gem at three,” she lied smoothly, hating herself for it, but speaking with Vance and getting him on her team was key to this operation.

“Oh …” The girl frowned and tapped on some keys. “I don’t have anything on the schedule for him at three. I’m so sorry. We must’ve made a mistake. Your name?”

Daphne couldn’t give her real name. The girl might recognize it. She hated lying but appreciated that her confidence had won the day and the girl assumed the ‘missed’ appointment was their mistake.

“Collette Talon,” she said. Using her own middle name and stealing Emery’s last name would make the lies easier to remember. What would she do when she needed a credit card to book a room and the girl realized she’d lied? She’d meet with Vance first and see if she could Venmo him personally.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Talon. I’m Ava Paulsen. Just one moment.” The girl sprung up and rushed into the office behind her.

Daphne shifted her weight, praying Vance was as kind as her parents and Emery claimed and she’d remembered from high school.

Even to students that were years younger like her, Vance Gem had been considerate.

He’d also been an icon to her—older, athletic, and too good-looking.

She’d never been brave enough to hold a conversation with him in high school.

Her palms got sweaty even with the air conditioning blasting in her face. She was confident and successful. She could talk to Vance Gem without breaking into a cold sweat. She threw back her shoulders and pasted a smile on.

Ava came back out, her smile a bit more nervous. “Mr. Gem doesn’t have the appointment on his schedule or recognize your name …”

The girl paused as if Daphne should fill in. Daphne kept her smile on and simply raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t planned on the owner of a secluded spa in her hometown being harder to speak with than the CEO of Life Fitness Equipment.

“But he has a few moments free,” Ava continued.

“Thank you.” Daphne gave her a gracious smile and swept past her and into the open door of the office. She pushed it shut behind her, not wanting the front desk girl to overhear her request.

The office was large, the rear wall a bank of windows overlooking the pools, landscaped green courtyard, and various sports courts. Low cottages she hadn’t seen from the parking lot were laid out in a semi-circle beyond the pool and outdoor areas.

It was hard to notice any other view as Vance Gem stood up from behind a dark wood desk with a welcoming and questioning smile on his face. “Miss Talon. Pleased to meet you. I’m Vance Gem.”

“Vance,” she breathed out, hurrying forward. Instead of being shy around him, she was drawn to him like a bee to honey.

Vance had only grown more handsome, broad, and appealing in the years since she’d been face to face with him.

He’d been the stud of their high school.

He’d aged very well and was more impressive and attractive as a thirty-three-year-old man.

Dressed in a gray polo and navy golf pants, he was not only physically an icon but fit the image of a man who’d built an exclusive fitness facility in the desert from the ground up.

His brow squiggled and he peered at her, not stepping out from behind the desk. She stopped short five feet away.

“Forgive me,” she said. “You might not remember me. It’s been a few years …” The nerves returned, but she pressed on. “I’m Daphne Belle.”

“Daphne Belle ?” Vance’s eyes widened with recognition. “Of course I remember you. Sorry. The dark hair threw me off, and I believe Ava said your name was Collette Talon.”

“She did. Vance.” She paused. Where should she start? How much should she share? “I’m in a bit of … trouble and hoping I can turn to you for help.”

Vance’s incredible jade green eyes grew determined and his jaw hardened. “Anything you need, Daphne. Anything.”

Her stomach lifted with a happy hop and her pulse picked up. Did he mean it? That declaration was as sincere and alluring as anything she’d heard before. Vance Gem not only remembered her, but he was willing to help her with anything she needed. Her prayers seemed to be coming true.

“Yes,” she cheered, and then she quoted Reba McEntire. “‘To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone.’ I think I am spot on with all three today.”

Vance’s face transformed as he went from serious and intense to grinning. He wore both expressions very well. “How’s that?”

She put up one finger. “I wished that you would help me.” She put up the second finger. “I was brave and got away … I mean, got in here without an appointment.” She put up the third. “And I’m always funny.”

Vance’s smile was appealing, but his gaze was direct.

He would want answers. What owner of a beautiful resort who probably hosted celebrities wanting privacy and wealthy people wanting relaxation would want to bring in trouble?

None that she knew. How could she explain when nobody seemed to believe her but her sisters?

Daphne had hundreds of friends, but she didn’t share secrets with anyone but her sisters.

“You’re always funny?” he asked.

“Oh, yes sir.”

“You’d better tell me a joke before we chat about what kind of trouble you’re in and how I can help.”

Daphne wanted his help. She wanted him to believe her and trust her.

She wanted to make him laugh. But she did not want him to know how gullible she’d been to invite Gregory into her life and get ensnared by his charm and good looks.

Maybe worse would be her telling her side of the story and Vance looking at her like the police did, as if Gregory Astle couldn’t possibly be a threat or stalk a woman and she was being dramatic or trying to draw attention to herself.

Her mind spun trying to think of a really great joke to make Vance laugh and distract them both. The only idea that came was, “Why can’t dinosaurs clap their hands?”

Vance folded his arms across his chest and spread his stance.

Daphne was no stranger to muscle. She spent most hours of her day in her gym.

Vance’s muscular arms, shoulders, and chest weren’t unique, but they added to the total package of kindness, success, and integrity that made up Vance Gem.

He was all-around enticing. Her mouth went dry staring at him, and she felt like that freshman in high school staring at the hot senior.

“Because they’re extinct?” he asked.

“Ah, shoot,” she muttered.

He grinned. “My little brother Lincoln loves jokes too. Though most of his material is based on TikTok and ‘Gen Alpha’ slang.”

“Ha! Okay. I’ll do better and beat out a high school boy.” She winked, racking her brain. “What’s the best thing about Switzerland, besides the gorgeous scenery?”

“I don’t know. What?”

She grinned. “I don’t know either, but the flag is a big plus.”

Vance gave her a small chuckle. It was cute. He was cuter. She wanted to do even better on her next joke.

Then his smile disappeared, and he gestured for her to sit. “Now tell me what kind of trouble you’re in so I can help.”

Daphne swallowed, relieved that he was willing to listen and help her. She sank into the chair. He sat across the desk from her. Should she share all? Would it scare him away or, worse, make him doubt her sanity?

She wanted to stay at the fitness center, but more importantly, she didn’t want to ruin her chances of impressing Vance Gem before they got to know each other.

Maybe her parents and Emery were onto something wanting to matchmake her with a man like him.

The two of them had shared interests. He was a strong Christian, he was caring and would never stalk someone, and nobody could deny how handsome he was.

For the first time in months, she wasn’t thinking about the success of her gym, the next fitness trend and how to back it up or debunk it, or the fact that Gregory Astle wouldn’t leave her alone. She was only concentrated on the mesmerizing man seated across the desk from her.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing me home and bringing me here, she prayed . Now please help me know how to explain everything to Vance without telling him too much and having him turn me away or not believe me.