We spent the evening on the back terrace, watching the sun set over the ocean. Alexander had ordered dinner from some exclusive restaurant—they apparently delivered to the Hamptons estate despite being forty minutes away—and we ate in comfortable silence while the sky turned orange and pink and purple.
"Can I ask you something?" I said finally.
"Always."
"Why did you really bring me here?"
Alexander set down his wine glass, considering the question. "Because you were drowning at Ashwick, and no one was throwing you a life preserver."
"That's not an answer."
"Because I'm selfish," he said quietly. "Because I wanted you away from Julian's games and Crown Society manipulation and everyone else who wants to use you. Because for one weekend, I wanted you to be mine and only mine, without
