Description

Anthony drifts lazily down the river, using the quiet of the shaded cove to reveal a surprising confession to his longtime friend Juliet. He’s fallen for Eleanor Langham, a striking young woman from a proud San Francisco family, and is already planning a wedding that will bring him back to New England. Yet before the ceremony, he needs a favor: a two‑week window in July to furnish a house for his future bride, and he hopes Juliet will help him keep the preparations hidden from prying society.

Their banter crackles with the easy familiarity of old companions, but beneath the jokes lies a delicate dance of propriety and desire. Juliet, ever the pragmatic confidante, weighs the risks of being seen shopping with a man who’s about to marry another. As the summer sun warms the riverbank, the pair embark on a scheme that could shape both their futures—if they can navigate the expectations of friends, family, and the ever‑watchful eyes of their social circle.