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CHAPTER ONE

HAILEY WINTERS had never felt so isolated in her life Which was nothat the ballroohties retro band blared out fro while others roups Her table companion chatted away, unaware of her total distraction

She sighed She’d been keeping herself together so well these last few le on New Year’s Eve was not her idea of fun Her sisters, Beth and Rilla, had insisted she attend the hospital ball, insisted it was ti thereed—reluctantly—because she wanted to prove to them she was fine and, of course, she’d also never been able to say no to them

And they meant well, but she just wasn’t the party type Any more She watched Beth and her husband Gabe across the table He was saying soainst her ear, and her sister laughed, looking adoringly up at hi him, a faux scandalised look

Oh, please, get a room!

She turned her attention to Rilla and Luca Her Italian brother-in-law and herolive complexions looked like two peas in a pod She saw Rilla’s eyes widen as Luca’s hand suspiciously disappeared from view and Hailey rolled her eyes Make it two roo their first baby, they were even more lovey-dovey than Beth and Gabe

New Year’s Eve was for lovers and unfortunately she just didn’t fit the bill Not that she wanted to Not that she was looking She’dalone for the rest of her life was infinitely ain Yet, still, she felt…restless tonight Out of place

Hailey realised Ronald Archer, an acquaintance of her father’s, had stopped droning on and was looking at her expectantly for a reply She brought her wandering thoughts back into order and re-entered the conversation

Ato Ronald, Hailey froze as so beneath the table She al as the tiny interloper scratched its way up further under her floor-length ballgown

Hailey shuddered Please, don’t let it be a spider

‘Excuseher chair back, knocking it to the floor and leaping away from the table She sta to shake the unfortunate creature loose