Heartless

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

The novel opens at Wishing Well Ranch in Chestnut Springs. Thirty-eight-year-old Cade Eaton; his father, Harvey; and his future sister-in-law, Summer Hamilton; are interviewing a woman to be a nanny for Cade’s five-year-old son, Luke, over the summer. After the applicant leaves, Harvey and Summer scold Cade for his bad attitude. Cade needs someone to watch Luke because he is busy with the ranch, but he feels frustrated with the hiring process. He hasn’t liked any of the applicants and doesn’t want Harvey to take on the babysitting responsibilities. Cade suggests that Summer watch Luke, but she is too busy running her own business. Cade promises to be more flexible if she finds him a nanny just like her. Summer agrees.

Later, Cade stands in line at the coffee shop. Watching an attractive woman order in front of him, he tries to remember when he last had sex. He hears the woman laugh and feels aroused. When she drops something, Cade picks it up for her, and they are both embarrassed to realize that the item is a pair of her underwear. The woman winks at him and tells him that he can keep them.