When a serial killer strikes too close to home…

…can forbidden love blossom?

Although the Avalanche Killer has been caught, Remy Colton fears the criminal’s shadow still looms over Roaring Springs. And falling for his brother’s ex, Vanessa Fisher, definitely doesn’t help matters. But when someone begins to target Vanessa, Remy vows to protect her at all costs! Even if that means nailing down a ruthless threat—once and for all.

KAREN WHIDDON started weaving fanciful tales for her younger brothers at the age of eleven. Amid the gorgeous Catskill Mountains, then the majestic Rocky Mountains, she fueled her imagination with the natural beauty surrounding her. Karen now lives in north Texas, writes full-time and volunteers for a boxer dog rescue. She shares her life with her hero of a husband and four to five dogs, depending on if she is fostering. You can email Karen at kwhiddon1@aol.com. Fans can also check out her website, karenwhiddon.com

Also by Karen Whiddon

The CEO’s Secret Baby

The Cop’s Missing Child

The Millionaire Cowboy’s Secret

Texas Secrets, Lovers’ Lies

The Rancher’s Return

The Texan’s Return

Wyoming Undercover

The Texas Soldier’s Son

Texas Ranch Justice

Colton’s Christmas Cop

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Colton’s Rescue Mission

Karen Whiddon

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09462-7

COLTON’S RESCUE MISSION

© 2019 Harlequin Books S.A.

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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To my dog rescue family, Legacy Boxer Rescue.

Because of you, so many dogs have found

new beginnings. You truly are the heart of the

organization and I love you all!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

About the Publisher

Chapter 1

Snowfall—check. Festive music playing on speakers in all the outdoor common areas—check. Ornate and glittery Christmas decorations both inside and out—final check.

Remy Colton stood on the sidewalk of downtown Roaring Springs, Colorado, and surveyed the merry atmosphere. As director of public relations for The Chateau, the premier luxury destination also known as a little piece of France, Remy couldn’t have asked for more perfect holiday weather. With both his family’s ski resorts—The Lodge up on Pine Peak and The Chateau, here in the Roaring Springs valley—booked to capacity for the two weeks leading up to Christmas, any snow was always welcome. And they were definitely getting a lot of the beautiful white stuff.

Remy liked to keep busy during the holidays, especially since he’d never really gotten into the holiday spirit. That was never a problem, even though the PR department pretty much shut down until after the New Year. The Chateau attracted a wealthy clientele—sometimes celebrities—and those patrons could be quite demanding. He never minded pitching in, especially on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, so his employees could spend the holiday with their families.

As for himself, out of necessity, he always made sure to spend a few hours with his own extended family at the elaborate holiday dinner his uncle Russ and aunt Mara hosted at Colton Manor, the 35-million-dollar showpiece of a home they’d constructed up on a hill. While he enjoyed visiting with his cousins and their significant others, he usually hightailed it back to The Chateau as quickly as he could. As far as he could tell, no one ever noticed or minded. If there was one thing his father, Whit, understood, it was the concept that work came before anything else. Clearly, it had never occurred to Whit that Remy might be lonely.

Pushing away the unsettling thought, he forced himself to focus once again on the positives. Nothing like a great snowfall to make the guests happy.

“Excuse me?” A feminine voice, both sultry and with a faintly northeastern accent. Before he could react, she tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned and eyed a tall, blue-eyed woman wearing top-of-the-line ski gear. Not only was she athletic, but she was also strikingly beautiful. He felt a jolt the instant he met her gaze. Probably one of the guests, though he had no idea how he could have possibly missed noticing her. “Yes, can I help you?”

“I asked at the front desk and they sent me out to talk to you. I’m looking for Seth Harris. I believe he’s the hotel manager. I’ve already been up to The Lodge, but they said he wasn’t working today.”

Seth. His gut clenched. What had his brother done now?

Normally he would have directed her to the gondola that ran between The Lodge and The Chateau. But she was correct. Seth was off today. Remy caught himself staring and rapidly checked himself. Something about her eyes…

Whoever she might be, she wasn’t his brother’s usual type. Seth’s taste usually ran to leggy, busty blondes.

Since Remy knew better than to let this woman—whoever she was—drop in on Seth unannounced, he simply shrugged. “I believe he’ll be working tomorrow, so I’d suggest you check back at The Lodge then.”

Instead of nodding and thanking him, she didn’t budge. “I’ve been told you’re his brother. I really need to talk to him.”

Remy made a mental note to find out which employee had seen fit to give out such personal information. “Are you a friend of his, Ms….?”

“Fisher,” she stated. “Vanessa Fisher. And I’m not sure if Seth still considers me a friend or not. We were recently engaged, though we’re not any longer.”

Engaged? This was the woman Seth had wanted to marry? She looked nothing like the shy woman the rest of his family had described. This woman was tall, true. And she did have dark, silky hair. What everyone else must have forgotten to mention was that she was beautiful. Stunning, punch-in-the-gut gorgeous. Her dark blue eyes studied him.

Years of practice had taught Remy how to hide his shock. Nothing Seth did should have surprised him, but when he’d learned his baby brother had gotten engaged, shock hadn’t even begun to describe how he’d felt. Sure, Seth had mentioned dating someone named Vanessa. He’d made several trips down to Boulder to visit her. But first he’d gotten engaged and then, in typical Seth fashion, the engagement had been broken off.

Which meant now Remy was actually meeting his brother’s former fiancée for the first time.

“Remy Colton,” he said automatically, removing his glove and holding out his hand.

She tilted her head before doing the same and slipped her fingers into his. Touching her sent a pleasurable jolt through him, though she appeared completely unaffected. “Remy,” she mused. “Interesting name.”

Entranced by her smile, he froze. But then the rest of what Vanessa Fisher had said dawned on him. It sounded like Seth had dumped her. Which meant what?

He started to ask, but his befuddled thoughts must have shown on his face because she shook her head before he even got the words out.

“It’s not like that.” She touched him again, this time on his jacket arm. Remy normally wasn’t a touchy-feely kind of person, but for whatever reason he didn’t mind her touch. “I’m the one that broke things off,” she continued. “Seth and I haven’t spoken since.”

Cocking his head, he considered her. He’d never once in his life envied his younger brother, but for the first time, he did. Something about this woman knocked him off his feet. While he knew none of this was his damn business, he asked, anyway. “And you’re now here because…?”

She met his gaze directly. “That’s personal. Now can you tell me where to find Seth or not?”

Since he was meeting Seth a few doors down in the trendy faux-Western bar called The Saloon, he shrugged. Hopefully, his brother wouldn’t kill him when he walked in with this woman. “Come with me.”

They walked along the snowy sidewalks, mingling in with the happy tourists. This time of year, everyone in Roaring Springs seemed to be in a celebratory mood. They came, they skied, they shopped and ate and drank. Since the townspeople earned seventy-five percent of their income in the winter, the locals were grateful for the crowds.

When they reached The Saloon, the line that had formed spilled out onto the sidewalk. Despite this, those waiting laughed and chatted without the typical impatience that moneyed people often exhibited.

“Excuse me,” he said, taking Vanessa’s arm as he soldiered through the crowd. “I’m meeting someone inside.”

The harried hostess working the front desk recognized him and smiled. “Hey, Remy. Your brother’s got a booth in the bar,” she murmured. “Go ahead back and join him.”

“Thanks.” Remy glanced at Vanessa, again feeling a strong sense of attraction. She unzipped her parka, then removed her gloves and shoved them into her pocket. As they walked, he leaned in close, taking in her scent, which, unbelievably, seemed to be a holiday mix of peppermint and chocolate—two of his favorite things this time of the year. “Promise me you’re not here to make a scene,” he said, taking hold of her elbow.

One corner of her lush mouth quirked up in the beginning of a smile as she glanced back at him. “I promise. I’m not the scene-making type.”

He spotted Seth in the corner booth, intent on scrolling through his phone. He barely looked up when Remy slid into the seat across from him. “Um, Seth?”

His brother raised his head, his gaze skittering right past Remy to Vanessa. His mouth fell open. Seth had never been good at hiding his emotions, Remy thought. Surprise first, and then anger crossed his face, which finally changed to a sort of sullen resignation. “Vanessa. What are you doing in town? I thought you always skied Winter Park.”

“Do you mind if I sit?” she asked instead of answering the question.

“Go ahead.” Seth waved his hand, finally eying his brother. “I’m guessing you and Remy have already met.”

“We did.” Sliding in next to Remy, Vanessa placed her elegant, long-fingered hand on his arm. “Thank you so much for escorting me here.”

When she pulled her fingers away from him, he exhaled, wondering why he felt like leaning into her touch. Predictably, the skin-to-shirt contact, however brief, made him ache for more. Damn. His brother’s former fiancée.

Remy let out a breath, suddenly feeling like a third wheel. “I’m guessing I should go,” he offered, half-hoping Seth would refuse. “It seems you two have a lot to talk about.”

“We do,” Vanessa replied softly, barely glancing at him. “Thanks for understanding.”

Avoiding looking at anyone, Seth simply nodded, then took a long drink from his beer.

Though Remy hadn’t eaten dinner yet—that being the reason he’d been meeting Seth here—he started to slide back out of the booth. Vanessa stood and stepped aside to let him pass, her cool, direct gaze revealing nothing.

Again, envy shot through him, along with shame at feeling this way. Remy loved his troubled half brother and would never do anything to hurt him. He’d spent the last several years trying to forge a family relationship with a sibling he hadn’t even known he had and wouldn’t jeopardize it for anything, especially not for a woman. He might not be able to explain the strength of his attraction to Vanessa Fisher, but he definitely could refuse to act on it. Staying as far away as possible from her would be a great way to start. Assuming she was even here for long. Knowing Seth, he’d send her packing as quickly as possible.

As he made his way through the crowded pub away from the booth, a stool opened up at the bar just as he reached it. Moving instinctively, Remy took it. After all, he needed to eat. He ordered a draft beer, glad he had his back to his brother’s booth. Watching Seth and Vanessa would be a form of slow torture. Which made zero sense. He barely knew her, after all.

When Gary, the bartender on duty, tried to hand him a menu, Remy waved it away. He knew what he wanted. “I’ll just have the buffalo burger and sweet-potato fries,” he said. “Medium well on the cook.”

Gary grinned. “I almost went ahead and put in the order the second I saw you sit down, but there’s always a chance you might want something different.”

“Not today.” Remy smiled back, then took a long swig of his beer.

“Who’s the babe with Seth?” Gary asked. “I’ve seen her up on the slopes over at Sunlight Mountain a few times, though I haven’t seen her ski here. She’s a real pro.”

“She is?” Unable to keep from glancing back over his shoulder, he observed his brother and Vanessa engaged in what appeared to be an intense conversation. “Maybe that’s how the two of them met. Skiing.”

“You don’t know her?” Gary raised his brow, eying the two in the booth. “She’s not Seth’s usual type.”

Since he’d had the exact same thought himself, Remy simply nodded.

“Be right back,” the bartender said. “Looks like Seth wants another beer. And I need to see if his lady friend needs anything to drink.”

Remy couldn’t help but turn and watch as Gary headed over to his brother’s booth. Seth had his back to him but Vanessa looked up and met his gaze. Again, he felt that undeniable sizzle of awareness and wondered if she did, too. If so, she did nothing to reveal it. Instead, she dipped her chin in a quick nod, before returning her attention to Gary and Seth.

And just like before, he felt that unfamiliar twinge of jealousy, combined with a longing so fierce it stunned him. What the hell? He forced himself to turn around and focus on his beer.

Vanessa hadn’t expected the butterflies in her stomach upon meeting Seth’s charismatic and sexy-as-hell brother. Which made absolutely no sense. She hadn’t come to Roaring Springs looking for a new relationship. Especially not with the half sibling of the man with whom she’d broken things off.

Pushing the thought of Remy from her mind, she focused on Seth. While initially he’d appeared shocked to see her, he’d visibly relaxed the instant his brother had walked away. Still, something seemed off about him, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. Of course, part of her would now always feel uneasy around him, due to the way he’d handled their breakup.

“So, tell me, Vanessa, how long have you been in town? And more importantly, why are you here?” With his sandy blond hair and hazel-green eyes, when he turned on the charm, Seth could make women melt. Once, when she’d been particularly vulnerable after losing her parents, he’d affected her this way, though they’d been friends first.

“I just got in this morning,” she replied, resisting the urge to tell him her trip had been made impulsively. “I’d hoped to stay a night or two and do some skiing while I was here, but it seems every place is completely booked.”

“They are.” He sat back, the slightly smug tone in his voice at odds with his sympathetic smile. “This time of the year is our busiest. A lot of wealthy, important people spend their holidays with us. They book their rooms months in advance.”

“With us?” she echoed, before remembering he was employed as hotel manager at The Lodge.

“But no worries,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “If you want to ski Pine Peak, you should. You’re welcome to stay with me for as long as you want.”

She squirmed, once again remembering his out-of-control anger when she’d broken things off. He’d punched a hole in the wall, and the violence of his reaction had terrified her. She’d cringed away from him, startled and afraid, at which point he’d stormed out. Nope. She didn’t think she’d be staying with him now. “That’s very kind of you, Seth,” she replied, choosing her words carefully. “But I didn’t come here to see about the possibility of us getting back together. I felt bad about the way I broke things off and realized I owed you an explanation.”

“I didn’t think you wanted to get back together.” His expression darkened. “And, no, you don’t owe me an explanation. I get it. I’m over it, Vanessa.”

“Maybe so, but please let me talk.” Swallowing, she hesitated. “I’d feel much better.”

“Fine.” He took another long pull of his beer, then set the empty mug on the table with a thunk and gestured at the bartender for another. “Go ahead and unburden yourself. Even though I basically figured it out when you wouldn’t sleep with me. Not once, the entire time we were together.”

Wincing, Vanessa glanced around, hoping no one had overheard. She told herself she shouldn’t blame Seth for being deliberately cruel. She might have been the same way had their situation been reversed. After all, she’d done him a great disservice. Not only had she ruined their friendship, but she’d also let him think she might be able to love him. “Please don’t be like that,” she began. “You and I were always friends before we were anything else. I hate that we’ve lost that.”

The bartender brought over another beer for Seth and asked what she’d like. She ordered a glass of chardonnay and waited until the man had walked away before continuing. “One of the things I’ll always be grateful for is how you were my rock when I fell apart after my parents were killed. Seth, you saved me. I’ll never be able to repay that. But…”

“But I fell in love with you,” he said, finishing for her. “And you didn’t feel the same way.”

Was it wrong to feel relieved that she didn’t have to spell it out? Sighing softly, she murmured, “Exactly.”

“Then why did you accept my proposal?” He searched her face. “I can understand everything else but that. Why would you agree to marry me if you didn’t love me?”

Her gut twisted. Not so easy after all. “I didn’t want to hurt you,” she explained, aware she might be making a mess of this. “And to be honest, I found myself clinging to…” Aghast at what she’d almost said, she stopped, searching for another way to explain she’d chosen what had seemed safe and familiar, and that she’d been briefly afraid of being on her own.

“I get it,” Seth interjected, once again inadvertently rescuing her. “To tell the truth, I think I knew all along that you didn’t feel the same way I did. I just wanted…” He took a deep breath. “More.”

She nodded, aware that acknowledging the pain in his voice might be worse than pretending not to hear it. “I’m sorry, Seth. That’s what I came up here to say. I don’t think I can love anyone right now with my life in such an uproar. You deserved more. We both do. When you wouldn’t take my calls, I felt like I needed to explain in person. Maybe understanding why will help you move on.”

“I’ve already moved on,” he informed her.

Her wine arrived. Grateful, she smiled at the bartender before taking a sip. “Perfect,” she said. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” The man moved away. When she looked across the booth, she saw that Seth watched her intently, his eyes narrowed into slits. Again, she felt a shiver of unease, which was ridiculous. Emotions had been high that day. Enough time had passed and she knew Seth would be calmer now.

After all, he’d never raised a hand to her.

Still, she suddenly realized she wanted out of there, away from him. She’d done what she’d come to do and now maybe they both could have closure. Digging in her purse, she extracted a ten-dollar bill and laid it on the table next to her still-full glass of wine before rising to her feet. “Thanks for listening,” she said, hoping her smile looked more genuine than it felt. “I’m going to head out now. It was great seeing you.”

“Wait.” He stood as well. “Please don’t run off, Vanessa. I accept your apology.” He pushed out a breath from both cheeks. “I’m really hoping we can still be friends.” He pinned her with his gaze, his hazel-green eyes earnest. “Can we? We have a long history of friendship. I’d hate to lose that.”

How could she resist? After all, that’s what she’d wanted. She’d missed their friendship. Slowly she lowered herself back into her seat. “I’d like that,” she said, wondering if it was really relief she felt, or more gratitude that he truly seemed to be over her.

“Great.” He pushed her wineglass toward her. “Enjoy your wine. It’s been a while since we talked. I’m sure we have a lot to catch up on.”

Instead, they ended up discussing only generalities, like a couple of strangers on a first date. The closing of her favorite Irish bar in Boulder, the skiing up at Sunlight Mountain near Glenwood Springs…

“Have you skied Pine Peak yet?” Seth asked. “I like it a lot better than Sunlight. It’s got some great black-diamond runs. Of course, I’m prejudiced since I live and work here.”

She thought of her skis, still strapped to the roof of her car. “Not yet. I was hoping to do that while I was up here.” Taking a sip of her wine, she shrugged. “Maybe another time.”

“How about tomorrow?” He grinned at her over the rim of his beer mug. “It’s best first thing in the morning, right when the lift opens. I like to go before work. Come with me?”

“I’m tempted,” she admitted. “But like I said, there’s not an available room in this town. Believe me, I’ve checked.”

“I told you, you can stay with me.” He held up a hand as she started to protest. “I have a guest room. You can stay there. Completely platonic. Please, I insist. There’s nothing I’d like better than skiing with you again.”

Maybe because she really, really wanted to ski Pine Peak, or perhaps because she felt like she owed him at least that much, she found herself acquiescing. “Just for one night.”

“Sure.” He raised his nearly empty mug. “I’ll have another to celebrate.”

Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “How about some dinner instead?”

Remy had just climbed into bed and shut off the lights when his cell phone rang, startling him. Sitting up, he glanced at the digital clock on his nightstand—eleven thirty. Damn it. A call at this time of night was never a good thing.

“Hello?”

“Remy, this is Liam Kastor. Did I wake you?”

Instantly alert, Remy explained he’d been awake. Since Liam was a detective with the Roaring Springs Police Department, he suspected this call involved something his younger brother had done. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

“It’s Seth,” Liam continued, confirming Remy’s suspicions. “We got a call earlier from The Saloon. The bartender, Gary, said Seth had been there drinking all evening and got belligerent when they cut him off. I headed down there to check it out, but by the time I arrived, he was gone.”

“Driving?” Remy asked, horrified.

“No, thank goodness. His car is still parked in the lot. Either someone gave him a ride or he left on foot. Since it’s snowing pretty heavily outside, I sent out a couple of patrols looking for him. Being drunk out in freezing temperatures is never a good combination. There’s no sign of him, at least downtown.”

Remy swore. “I’ll go look for him. Thank you for calling me.”

After ending the call, he immediately dialed his brother’s cell. After several rings, it went to voicemail. Remy left a quick, terse message asking Seth to call him.

Now he had no other option than to go out and search.

He threw on warm clothes, then snagged his coat and gloves and headed out into the frigid cold. In the time since he’d been home, several inches of perfect powder had accumulated. The plow would be by in the morning, but this kind of snow was easy to drive on.

He retraced the route Seth might have walked if he’d decided to head home to his condo from The Saloon. Since it was only a few blocks, it was definitely doable, at least when sober.

When Remy reached the trendy apartment building without seeing any trace of his brother, he parked and considered what to do next. First, he punched redial, hoping against hope that Seth would pick up. When he got voicemail again, he sighed and shut off his engine.

Inside, he rode the elevator up to the third floor and trudged down the hall until he reached Seth’s condo. Glancing at his watch and seeing that it was nearly midnight, he winced but rang the doorbell, anyway. While dealing with a drunk Seth was never pleasant, he had to make sure his brother had made it home safely.

When nothing happened, he pressed the doorbell again and again and again. Sooner or later that kind of noise would get through to even a passed-out drunk.

Sure enough, a moment later the door opened a crack. But, instead of Seth, a tousle-haired Vanessa peeked out at him. The sight of her sleepy, sexy blue eyes hit him like a punch in the stomach.

When the implications of her presence registered, he felt like a fool. Swallowing hard, he nodded at her. “Is Seth home?”

Covering her mouth while she yawned, she opened the door a bit wider and stepped aside so he could enter. She wore flannel pajamas in a plaid holiday pattern with some sort of fuzzy slippers. Somehow, she managed to look both cute and alluring at the same time.

“Is Seth here?” he asked again, reminding himself to focus.

“I’m not sure.” Brushing her hair back from her face, she lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug. “He was earlier. We had dinner and then came back here so I could get settled. He wanted to go back out but I was tired, so I went to bed. In the guest bedroom,” she said pointedly. “Anyway, I’ve been asleep. At least until you started ringing the doorbell over and over.”

“My apologies.” He thought about explaining and decided against it. Surely, she knew what kind of trouble her former fiancé could get himself into. “I’m just going to check on him,” he said. “Make sure he’s okay.”

“Knock yourself out.” She wandered into the kitchen, still yawning.

Seth’s bedroom door was closed. Remy knocked—three sharp raps of his knuckles on the wood. No answer. Reluctantly, he turned the knob and squinted into the dark room, hoping he could make out whether or not Seth occupied the bed.

No such luck. Bracing himself, he flicked on the light switch.

An annoyed groan came from Seth, sprawled out, fully dressed, on the bed. “Turn that the hell off.”

Instead of complying, Remy eyed his baby brother, trying to judge how drunk Seth might be. Deciding it didn’t matter—he’d learned long ago how pointless it was trying to talk to someone while they were inebriated—he turned out the light and backed out of the room.

“Is he all right?” Vanessa asked, her fingers curled around a tall glass of ice water.

Remy grimaced. “I think so. I’m sorry to have disturbed you. I’ll come back and talk to Seth in the morning.”

She regarded him, her gaze steady. “He and I are supposed to go ski Pine Peak in the morning before he goes to work. You might want to call him instead.”

Again, the stab of envy. Though Remy wasn’t a skier of Seth’s caliber, he enjoyed a few runs up on the slopes as often as he could, time permitting. Though knowing his brother, he doubted Seth would feel much like skiing tomorrow. He’d be way too hungover.

Saying none of this, he nodded. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. Again, I apologize for waking you.”

She waved him away with a sleepy smile. “No worries. I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”

Damn, he hoped so. And once more, that odd combination of guilt and longing assailed him. Swallowing hard, he gave her a quick nod and left.

All the way home, he called himself every kind of fool. He’d just met the woman, for Pete’s sake. And while he could definitely understand the lure of physical attraction, he wasn’t the kind of man who’d even consider making a move on his brother’s lady, no matter how irresistible he found her.

His brother’s lady. The notion made him shake his head. Seth never stuck with anyone very long, never mind proposed marriage. Despite the fact that Remy helped his brother any way he could, Seth constantly seemed to be barely treading water. Maybe resuming his relationship with Vanessa would be the thing Seth needed to completely turn his life around.

Remy definitely hoped so. But he couldn’t help but think there was something…off in all of this. For one thing, the reconciliation between Seth and Vanessa sure had happened quickly. Especially since she claimed she’d broken off the engagement. Yet they’d had one dinner and Seth had immediately installed her in his condo. Strange. But none of his business.

Except for the insane pull of attraction he felt toward the woman who was once his almost-sister-in-law.

Chapter 2

Back home, Remy shed his clothes and once again climbed in between his sheets, then pulled his comforter up to his chin. He couldn’t shake the image of Vanessa in the soft flannel pajamas, wondering what it would be like to slip his hand under them and caress her warm skin. Guilt immediately followed that thought, because he knew he didn’t have the right.

Despite thinking he wouldn’t, he managed to drift off to sleep. When he opened his eyes again, he saw his alarm was due to go off in five minutes. He shut it off and pushed himself up.

Thirty minutes later, showered and dressed, he drank his black coffee and nuked instant oatmeal for breakfast. When he’d finished eating, he checked his watch. He had a morning meeting with a new advertising firm from Denver, so he wouldn’t have time to stop by Seth’s.

As he drove to work, he couldn’t help but wonder if his brother had felt well enough to ski. He found himself wondering if Vanessa would go by herself, anyway, and wished he had time to head up to Pine Peak.

Wishful thinking. And foolishness, completely unlike him. Remy considered responsibility his middle name and rarely took time off from work.

Though right now, he sorely wanted to. He hadn’t been skiing at all this season. Of course, his sudden desire to go now had way too much to do with the intriguing beauty ensconced in Seth’s condo. Trouble, any way he looked at it.

Shaking his head at his stray thoughts, he parked and reminded himself to concentrate on his job. When he walked into the elegant lobby of The Chateau, he greeted Mary, the redheaded concierge who was married to Johnnie Web, a firefighter and local hero. She smiled and greeted him back, her cheerful words making him smile the entire elevator ride up to his floor.

As he stepped off and entered the bustling office, the uncharacteristic quiet made him pause. Usually, phones were ringing, people were talking and the hum of various printers or copiers made a pleasant cacophony.

Today, more than half of the cubicles were empty—people taking off for the approaching holiday. He ought to know because he’d personally approved everyone’s requested vacation time.

He’d actually been a bit surprised the Denver ad agency had requested a meeting today to pitch their ideas for a new campaign. While Remy had let it be known that he was actively searching for a new company, all the other major players had scheduled meetings for after the New Year.

Since he actually admired this firm for wanting to get a jump on their competition, he’d agreed to the meeting, despite being short several members of his decision-making staff.

Walking into his office, he looked around for his assistant, Heather. She came out of the break room carrying a donut and a cup of coffee, her long, brown hair up in her usual jaunty ponytail. “Well, good morning,” she chirped. “Someone brought donuts, if you’re interested.”

Before he could reply, her phone rang. Heather rushed past him toward her desk, managing to get there without spilling any coffee. “Remy Colton’s desk,” she answered. Listening for a moment, her eyes went wide. “Please hold.” She eyed Remy, her expression carefully blank. “It’s The Lodge. You’d better take it.”

“Okay, thanks.” He strolled into his office and closed the door. He couldn’t imagine why anyone up there would be calling, but picked up his phone and answered.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” Denise, one of the shift managers, said. “But Seth didn’t show up this morning.”

Remy glanced at his watch. “What time was he scheduled to be in?”

Denise hesitated. “Nine. However, when he pulls a time slot that early, he’s always a little late.”

Remy hadn’t known this. “How late?” The question came out a bit sharper than he’d intended.

“He’s usually in by ten,” she said quietly. “But it’s after that and he isn’t answering his phone.”

Remy cursed silently. If he hurried, he could make it to Seth’s condo and back before his meeting, which seemed to be running late. “I’ll run over and check on him,” he promised.

“Thank you.” Again, he sensed her hesitation. “If he’s…sick, just let us know so we don’t expect him.”

“Will do.” He hung up, gritting his teeth. Almost immediately, his assistant buzzed him.

“Your ten o’clock canceled,” she said. “They were driving up from Denver this morning. Since the pass is closed, they have no way to get here.”

He thanked her, actually glad. Now he wouldn’t have to worry about rushing things with Seth. It sounded like his baby brother needed a good talking-to.

Vanessa wondered for the umpteenth time if she’d made a mistake agreeing to stay in Seth’s condo, even if only for one night. When his handsome brother, Remy, had shown up after midnight, worried, she felt a jolt of attraction low in her belly. Again. And she hated drama of any kind. Getting in between two brothers could create chaos of epic proportions.

Still, after Remy left and she’d wandered back to her bedroom, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

When she woke shortly after seven, she hurriedly showered and dressed before heading to the kitchen, where she hoped to get a cup of strong coffee. Seth’s bedroom door remained closed, making her wonder if he’d forgotten their plans to ski. Loath to knock, she texted him instead.

What time are we leaving?

No answer, which might mean he was in the shower. She went ahead and made her coffee, glad Seth stocked milk and sweetener. After a couple of sips, warmth flooding her throat, she felt her original optimism again. There was nothing she loved better than skiing and she could hardly wait to try out the slopes at Pine Peak. She glanced at her gear piled over in a corner near the door. Rather than leaving it in the car and taking a chance on it being stolen, she’d brought it inside Seth’s condo.

Speaking of Seth… She checked her watch. They’d agreed on early morning, before he had to go in to work. While she wasn’t sure what his schedule looked like today, she figured he’d have to start by nine at the latest. Which meant they were running out of time to ski.

She walked over to the window and peered outside. Snow still fell in a steady curtain and judging from the amount piled up on cars, they’d gotten over a foot of fresh white powder overnight. But there didn’t seem to be any wind, which was a good thing.

Perfect for skiing. As long as conditions weren’t whiteout, the slope would be rocking and rolling. She could hardly wait.

Gathering up her nerve, she went ahead and tapped quietly on his door.

Nothing.

With her heart racing, she turned the knob and peeked her head in. Judging by the man-size lump under the covers, Seth was still asleep.

Sleeping it off?

“Seth?” she ventured, staying in the doorway. “Seth, are you going to get up?”

A loud groan was his only answer.

Damned if she would go any farther into the room. She wasn’t sure what Seth thought this was, but she could clearly see what might happen if she stepped over and attempted to shake him awake. He’d pull her down and start kissing her, likely ignoring her protests that they weren’t intimate anymore.

Nope. Not happening. Suppressing a shudder, she called him again. “Seth. We’re supposed to go skiing before you go to work. I’m not sure what time you have to be in, but if we’re going to hit the slopes, I’m thinking we need to head out now.”

“We’ll go later,” he mumbled. “I’m taking the day off from work.”

“Okay,” she replied, backing out and closing the door. Drinking the rest of her coffee, she debated whether or not to head out alone. While she could certainly ski an unfamiliar mountain by herself, it was always much more fun with a friend like Seth, who was a damned skilled skier. And whatever else he might be, she hoped the two of them could remain friends.

She decided to give it a few hours. After all, she had no place she had to be.

Since Seth had told her to make herself at home and to help herself to anything she wanted, she rummaged in the fridge in search of something she could make herself for breakfast.

Surprised to find a wide variety of foods, she settled on scrambled eggs and toast, along with a second cup of coffee.

After she ate, she checked the weather app on her phone. While she personally felt there was no such thing as too much snow, she knew ski resorts didn’t always agree. If visibility got too poor, they’d shut down the slope and send the ski patrol out to bring in any stragglers. Her heart sank as she realized the snowstorm had caused exactly that situation. Though they hoped for perfect conditions tomorrow once the storm had passed, those in charge had decided it was too dangerous at the moment.

Which meant Seth’s refusal to get out of bed had actually been a good thing. With the passion of a thousand purple suns, she hated getting suited up in anticipation of a couple of good runs and being stopped at the base of the mountain as she was about to get on the lift.

Should she go home then, and leave skiing Pine Peak for another time? After all, she’d done what she came to do and hopefully Seth would now have some closure.

Another quick internet search revealed they’d closed Loveland Pass. She could still take the I-70 tunnel, though she wasn’t sure of the road conditions right now.

Her motto when it came to snowstorms had always been Better Safe Than Sorry. Which meant she’d be sticking around Roaring Springs at least one more night, maybe longer.

Glancing once more at the still-closed bedroom door, she knew Seth wouldn’t mind her staying with him an extra day or two. If she could just get past this uneasiness. Since she’d been here, Seth had been nothing but a perfect gentleman. Sure, he’d gone out and had a little too much to drink last night, but he hadn’t come pounding on her door or anything.

A sharp series of knocks on the front door made her jump. Hurrying over, she checked the peephole. Her stomach did a somersault when she saw Remy standing there, all bundled up in a down parka, a light dusting of snow on his broad shoulders.

Hurriedly, she opened the door. “Come inside,” she said. “It’s freezing out there.”

“I know.” As he stepped inside, his solemn expression gave her pause. “They closed down the slopes.”

“Yes, I saw. Ditto on Loveland Pass, which shouldn’t be such a surprise.” She took a deep breath. “Would you like some coffee?”

One side of his mouth quirked up, but he shook his head. “No thanks. This isn’t really a social visit. Is Seth around?”

“In there.” She inclined her head toward the closed door. “Is everything all right?”

“He didn’t show up for work.” Remy removed his parka and hung it on the back of a chair. “He didn’t even call, so they didn’t know if they needed to bring someone else in to cover his shift.”

Seth had said he was taking the day off. Clearly, he’d managed to forget to inform his employer of that.

Again, their gazes met and held for a second too long. Remy looked away first. “Is he still asleep?”

Feeling slightly dazed, she nodded. “I think so. I tried to wake him earlier but he was having none of it. We were supposed to hit the slopes first thing this morning. Though I guess since they closed them down, it was lucky we didn’t.”

“True.” Remy grimaced. “Please excuse me while I go talk to my brother.”

She nodded, trying to decide if she should retreat to her room or not. As he disappeared inside Seth’s room, she elected to remain in the kitchen. She couldn’t help but find how seriously Remy appeared to take his role of elder brother fascinating. Obviously, Seth could use the help.

“Get the hell out of my bedroom,” Seth shouted. “Who let you in here, anyway?”

“Your houseguest,” Remy replied, his tone measured and controlled. “I was here last night, too, after Gary called me all worried about you.”

A string of curse words followed. “I don’t work for you, Remy.” Seth stormed out of the bedroom, briefly stopping short when he saw Vanessa. He’d put on a sweatshirt and a pair of wrinkled jeans and shoved his feet into snow boots. “Sorry about this, Van,” he muttered, before snagging his down parka out of the front closet. He turned to glare at Remy. “I’m just living my life and trying to have some fun, bro. I don’t need you coming in here and giving me a hard time.”

Remy started to speak, but Seth cut him off with a furious command. “Don’t.” He held up his hand. “I’m out of here. Don’t follow me, either of you. I need to be alone.” With that, he bolted out and slammed the front door, knocking down a picture that had been hanging on the wall and shattering the glass.

Not sure what else to do or what to say, Vanessa went in search of a broom and a dustpan. She located them in the laundry room and went to clean up the glass.

“Here, let me.” Remy took them from her and immediately got busy. Surprised, she hung back, wishing she had something to do with her hands. Maybe then she could better resist this unexpected urge to touch him.

Once he’d dumped all the glass shards in the trash, Remy retrieved the vacuum and went back over the area. Vanessa watched him, amazed how he could manage to look so sexy while performing the most mundane task.

Finally, he shut off the vacuum, wound up the cord and put it back in the hall closet. “There,” he said, dusting his hands off on the front of his jeans. “All done.”

She nodded. “Thanks.” Then, because she felt awkward, she checked her watch. Since she’d had such a late breakfast, it seemed a bit too early for lunch. But since cooking was one of the things she loved and did well, she asked Remy if he’d eaten.

“Not for hours.” The grim set of his mouth told her food had been the last thing on his mind.

“How about you let me make you something? I can rustle up breakfast or lunch or brunch, if you want to call it that. Seth told me to help myself to anything I wanted in the kitchen.”

Though his gaze narrowed, he finally nodded. “I’d like that, thank you. But something simple. I don’t want to put you out.”

Relieved, she grinned. “Actually, I love to cook. And right now, I’d feel a lot better if I could keep busy.”

He followed her to the kitchen. “Again, I apologize about all that. You just got here. I’m sure you didn’t sign up for all this family drama.”

Did she hear the hint of a question in his voice? Deciding to ignore that possibility, she began rummaging in the fridge. “So…what are you in the mood for?” she asked.

“Have you had breakfast?”

Slowly, she nodded. “I made myself scrambled eggs earlier. But that doesn’t matter. I can whip you up some breakfast if that’s what you want.”

Watching her, he considered. “It’s still early enough for breakfast to be a respectable option. The Chateau restaurant serves it until ten thirty.”

“Breakfast it is, then. Bacon, eggs and toast? Or…” She took a peek inside the refrigerator again. “There are enough ingredients for eggs Benedict with ham. Would you like that instead?”

“If it’s not too much trouble.” He grimaced and glanced at the front door. “I wonder if Seth will be back to eat.”

Though she privately doubted that, she nodded. “I’ll make extra just in case. As long as I keep the eggs and the English muffins separate, it won’t get too soggy.”

Humming happily, she got busy. Next to skiing, cooking was her favorite pastime. And privately, she considered herself pretty darn talented at it. Her friends back in Boston had always raved about the meals she’d made. And since moving to Boulder, she’d hosted a couple of dinner parties with the same results.

And now she’d be cooking for Remy. Why that felt different, she wasn’t sure.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” he murmured from behind her, his voice so close she knew if she spun around, she could reach out and touch him.

Forcing herself to continuing stirring the hollandaise sauce, she simply glanced over her shoulder. “Not really. Why don’t you make yourself a cup of coffee and sit down and relax? This won’t take too much longer.”

“Would you like a cup, too?” he asked. “You look like you’re about empty.”

Though she rarely had more than two coffees per day, she liked the idea of sharing a cup with this man. Maybe they could talk and get to know each other a little bit better. As long as that’s all they did, that should be safe.

“Sure,” she answered.

“Cream and sugar?”

“Yes, please.” She smiled as he did a double take. “I know, black coffee is better. According to Seth, you can best taste the coffee that way.”

“I agree with my brother on that.” Remy made them both a cup, then carried hers over to her before taking a seat at the table. “You seem to know what you’re doing,” he commented. “Do you cook professionally?”

“No.” She risked another glance over her shoulder. “I’ve thought about it. Though I’m afraid if I started doing it for a living, that would take some of the joy out of it.”

Just then the front door blew open and Seth burst inside. He shook off snow before removing his coat and barreling through to the kitchen. At the doorway, he stopped short, staring at the two of them.

“What are you doing?” he asked as he came up behind Vanessa and gave her a huge kiss on the side of her neck. “That smells interesting. Why are you cooking for my brother?”

At his touch, she froze. Again, she had the sense of barely leashed violence, though she managed to shrug lightly. “He was hungry, so I thought I’d make him something to eat while he waited for you to get back. There’s plenty, if you’d like some, too.”

Instead of immediately answering, he leaned around her and peered into the pan. “What is that?”

“Hollandaise sauce. I’m poaching some eggs and serving them on English muffins with cheese, topped by this sauce.”

“You know, eggs Benedict,” Remy chimed in, his tone dry. “I’m pretty sure you’ve had it before.”

Though Seth didn’t respond, judging by the hard set of his mouth, he wasn’t pleased.

Why Remy was pushing his brother’s buttons, she wasn’t sure. But she sure as heck planned to stay out of it. She kept busy, putting the English muffins under the broiler now that the poached eggs were in the water. “Seth, why don’t you get some coffee and sit?” she suggested. “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”

Seth narrowed his eyes and glared at her, then stalked over to the coffee maker. Relieved, she relaxed her spine slightly, though she couldn’t help but wonder if coming here for closure might have been a huge mistake.

The eggs were done just as the English muffins turned the perfect shade of brown. She tossed a few thick slices of ham in a frying pan and when they’d begun to crisp, she put everything together and ladled the hollandaise on top. Perfect, she thought, suppressing the urge to snap a quick pic with her phone. Instead, she smiled and carried the plates over to the table.

“Here you go,” she said, placing the meals in front of each man. “Enjoy.”

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Seth asked, eying his food. “Seems like you went through an awful lot of trouble for my brother.”

Still smiling, she ignored the snide tone. “I had scrambled eggs and toast earlier, while you were asleep. And you know how much I like to cook. This wasn’t any trouble at all.”

“Thank you,” Remy said, and he dug in.

Seth eyed his brother, using his fork to move things around on his plate. When he finally cut a piece, he got only the egg and ham, leaving the English muffin and most of the sauce on his plate. He chewed and then set down his fork. “You know,” he mused, “I think it’s time I hired a professional chef.”

When he glanced at Vanessa, she wondered if he was actually going to offer her the job.

“One who can really cook.” He pushed his plate away. “Nice try, Van.”

Stunned, she could only stare. To her horror, she felt tears prick the back of her eyes. She turned away, ostensibly to clean up the pans. The casual cruelty coming from a man she’d always regarded as a friend hurt. Clearly, Seth hadn’t gotten over the breakup, and they couldn’t go back to being friends. In fact, as soon as the roads were clear, she needed to pack up and go. Maybe a room at either The Chateau or The Lodge would have become available just for one or two nights, so she could ski Pine Peak. Heck, she’d even take a room in one of the chain motels on the edge of town.

She ran the water, then scrubbed out the pans and placed them in the dishwasher. Seth had gone silent, making her wonder if he might apologize. She glanced back at the table, only to find him glaring at her, his expression furious.

“What were you two doing here alone while I was gone?” he demanded, including Remy in his stare. “And come on, Vanessa, why were you trying to impress my brother with a fancy breakfast? We have oatmeal. Scrambled eggs and toast is what you said you had. But no, that wasn’t good enough for him. I’m thinking you—”

“Enough!” Remy pushed to his feet. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Seth. Leave her alone. She was simply being kind. She doesn’t deserve this treatment from you.”

“Really, Remy?” Standing so quickly he knocked back his chair, Seth faced his older brother. His hands were clenched into fists. “You come in my place, hit on my girlfriend and have the nerve to try and tell me how to act?”

Remy appeared as stunned as she felt. “Seth—”

Again, Seth cut him off. “Mind your own business. Vanessa belongs to me. Our relationship has nothing to do with you.” He pointed toward the door. “Leave.”

Remy took care not to glance her way. Part of her didn’t want him to leave. But when she didn’t correct Seth, what else could he do?

“Thanks for breakfast,” he finally said, meeting her gaze. “It was delicious.” He grabbed his parka and left.

Seth dropped back into his seat, muttering under his breath. Vanessa cleared her throat. “Seth, we need to talk.”

“Do we?” He shook his head. “Don’t be mad because I didn’t like your cooking. I’ve never been fond of eggs Benedict, that’s all.”

“It’s not that,” she said. “Actually, that’s only part of it. You were unnecessarily rude, both to me and your brother. Not just that, but I don’t belong to you. And we don’t have a relationship.”

His harsh expression softened. “Then why’d you come here? Come on, Van, I know you missed me as much as I missed you. You didn’t drive up all the way from Boulder just to ski.”

Even though the lure of skiing Pine Peak had factored into her decision to come to Roaring Springs, she knew better than to bring that up. “Seth, I came here to explain why I broke things off so abruptly. I wanted to give us both closure.”

“Closure?” He spat the word as if it left a bitter taste in his mouth. “What is it with women and closure? Who the hell cares? Either you want to get back together or you don’t. Which is it?”

Heart aching, she took a deep breath. “Actually, I was hoping we could go back to being friends. But clearly, that was a foolish idea. I’ll pack my things and get out of your hair. I’m sorry to have put you out.”

She kept her chin up and her back straight as she walked to the guest bedroom. Luckily, she hadn’t done much unpacking, so all she had to do was grab her toiletries and put them in her suitcase.

When she emerged, Seth was nowhere to be found. She had no intention of going in search of him to say goodbye. Essentially, she’d already said that.

It took two trips to get her small suitcase and her ski gear loaded back in her car. Seth didn’t bother to make an appearance, something that both saddened her and filled her with relief.

At least the plow had been by. She’d put snow tires on her car right before the first snow and she had chains in the trunk in case she needed them. Either way, she wasn’t sure she could make it back home in this weather. With snow still falling heavily, she drove a slow and cautious couple of blocks until she reached The Chateau. If worse came to worst, she’d sleep sitting up in a chair in the lobby.

There were no parking spots open in the small lot, but she finally located one on a side street. This time, she left her skis on top of her car, though she grabbed her suitcase and trudged toward the hotel entrance.

Stepping through the ornate glass doors, she felt as if she’d entered a different world. Though she doubted anyone would have checked out since yesterday, she approached the front desk, anyway.

Just as the polite, well-coiffed young woman asked her if she could help her, Vanessa had an idea. “Yes, I’m looking for Remy Colton. I was told he works here.” After all, she’d met him out in front of the hotel yesterday.

“I’m sorry, but Mr. Colton isn’t taking visitors today,” the woman, whose badge announced her name was Tena, said.

“Could you contact him and ask him to call me?”

Slowly, Tena nodded. “I could take your number, yes.”

Vanessa rattled off the digits, then asked that Remy call her as soon as possible. “I’ll be waiting in the lobby,” she said. “Unless you happen to have any vacancies?”

“I’m sorry, we don’t. We’re fully booked through Christmas.”

Which was the same answer she’d gotten when she’d inquired yesterday and clearly nothing had changed on that front.

Choosing an unoccupied, overstuffed chair facing the front door, Vanessa took a seat. She began scrolling through her phone, checking social media and catching up on the news. Barely five minutes had passed when her phone rang.

Chapter 3

After getting a message to call Vanessa, Remy dialed her number immediately. When he heard her soft hello, he exhaled. “Are you all right? I was worried about you,” he said.

“I’m fine,” she replied, her voice shaking. “But I’ve left Seth’s condo. I’m not sure what to think about his behavior.”

Remy wasn’t sure, either. In all honesty, his brother’s mood swings, heavy drinking and barely leashed rage worried the hell out of him. The breakup with Vanessa must have affected him strongly, though if his end goal was to get her back, he was going about it the wrong way. He couldn’t blame Vanessa for being scared off.

“Is there somewhere we can meet and talk?” Remy asked, pushing away the sharp thrill of anticipation that went through him at the thought of seeing her again. He only wanted to make sure she was safe, he told himself. Nothing more. “Where are you now?”

Her answer surprised him. “Well, actually I’m in the lobby of The Chateau. I was hoping a room would miraculously open up, but no such luck. I’m still not sure the tunnel is open yet. I seriously doubt I could get back home to Boulder in this storm.” She laughed self-consciously. “And I really was hoping to ski Pine Peak once it opens. As long as I’m up here…”

“I’ll be there in five,” he replied. He could tell she wasn’t the kind of person who enjoyed asking for help from anyone. “We’ll go grab a cup of coffee or something to drink and I’ll see what I can do to find you a place to stay.”

Sounding relieved, she agreed to wait for him.

“Save my number in your phone,” he told her. “This is my cell. You can call or text me anytime.”

She promised she would.

Hanging up, Remy walked out into the still-too-quiet office and told everyone they could take the rest of the day off. Despite The Chateau being booked to capacity, the PR department took it easy over the holidays. With so many already on vacation or personal days, they weren’t getting any work done anyway, and if the snow continued to fall at the same rate, the plows would have trouble keeping up. They might as well go home and stay warm.

His good-natured order was met with cheers. He stood near the door and watched everyone gather up their coats and head out. A few people high-fived him and one of the older women gave him a hug. Hiding his impatience, he wished they would hurry up so he could lock up the office and go spend the rest of the day with Vanessa.

The rest of the… The realization should have shocked him, but he could barely get past his eagerness to see her.

Finally, everyone had gone. He busted out the door with an unusual spring in his step before he reminded himself to slow down. Vanessa needed a friend, not a suitor. Plus, with Seth so volatile, he didn’t want to take a chance of doing something to set him off.

Before heading out into the lobby, he decided to get a breath of fresh air. Mostly so he could get a handle on the conflicting emotions that filled him when he thought of spending time with Vanessa.

Stepping outside, he stood for a moment, letting the snow swirl around him, barely feeling the cold. He took several deep breaths, letting the icy air fill his lungs. He’d always found winter exhilarating, which made living high up in the Rockies perfect.

Glancing at the street and the tire tracks left by his employees, he decided he’d go ahead and walk around to the front entrance of The Chateau and go in that way.

As usual, when he strolled around to the front of The Chateau, a sense of pride and contentment filled him. He loved the structure, inside and out, and loved the people who worked there and made it one of the top vacation destinations in the United States even more.

Stepping into the lobby, he stuffed his gloves into his pocket and caught sight of Vanessa seated on one of the ornate chairs under the skylight, sunlight illuminating her dark hair. Scrolling through her phone, she didn’t see him until he’d gotten a few feet away. When she looked up, their gazes met and locked. Once more, something intense flared between them. One-sided? he wondered. Or did she feel it, too?

“Hey.” Vanessa stood, greeting him with a smile and an outstretched hand. “Thanks so much for meeting with me.”

When his fingers connected with her slender ones, he fought the completely ridiculous urge to pull her up against him. Instead, he managed a civilized handshake and reluctantly released her.

“Let’s go get something to drink and see what we can figure out,” he offered.

“Here?”

He debated with himself, weighing the chances of Seth walking in, since the last thing he wanted to do was provoke some kind of scene. Deciding that possibility highly unlikely, he nodded. “There’s a wonderful little coffee shop right off the lobby,” he said.

“I saw it. It was very crowded, though. I don’t think there was any place to sit.”

Which wouldn’t be surprising. “Let’s go check it out.” But even before they were close, he could tell they’d need to make another choice. “I tell you what,” he told her. “Since the slopes are closed right now, everywhere downtown is going to be packed.”

She nodded, eying him. “How about we take a walk? Or are you averse to a little snow?”

Unable to help himself, he laughed. “I love to be out in the snow and cold. People are always acting like I’m crazy when I say I want to go out for a stroll in the winter.”

Eyes sparkling, she nodded. “I have snow boots in my car. How about you?”

“Of course,” he replied. “In my back seat.”

Impulsively, she took his arm. “Then let’s go.”

Side by side they hurried out of the hotel. He felt giddy, as if he was seventeen again and a love-struck teenager. While rationally, he knew he had to get a grip, for now he decided to go with the flow and simply enjoy the day.

She led him to her vehicle first, a practical and sturdy Subaru. “Four-wheel drive,” she said, grinning as she unlocked the doors. “She also gets great gas mileage.” Grabbing her boots, Vanessa sat down on the front passenger seat to put them on.

“She?” he asked. “Don’t tell me you named your car.”

“Of course I did.” Boots in place, she hopped out and tugged on her gloves. “Your turn.”

Her infectious enthusiasm made his heart pound. Slipping and sliding, he took off for his Jeep, hoping he had an extra pair of socks, too, since his were already soaked.

Luckily, he’d had the foresight to tuck a pair into his snow boots. He motioned her to hop inside, front or back—her choice. She chose the front passenger side, which probably was a good thing. He got in the back seat and closed the door to keep the blowing snow out while he peeled off his wet socks and slipped his feet into a pair of dry ones. Once he’d laced up his Sorel Caribou waterproof boots, he gave her a thumbs-up. “Ready.”

She hopped out, pulling on a jaunty ski cap with a pom-pom on top. “I’m hoping the storm has driven most of the people inside,” she said. “But with this being a ski resort, you never know.”

Debating, he gave in to impulse and took her arm. “I’m sure there’ll be a few other hearty souls, but I guarantee it won’t be anywhere near as crowded as inside.”

“Good.” Her teeth flashed as white as the snowflakes. For someone with nowhere to stay, she seemed awfully chipper. Maybe she was one of those people who never worried, and simply figured things would always work out. He’d often wished he could be like that. Instead, he planned and scheduled, feeling as if he had to have control over every aspect of his life.

Walking side by side with Vanessa, he realized it felt amazing to be able to let that überpreparedness slide, if only for a little while.

After a few steps, she pulled her arm free, turning this way and that, surveying the picturesque downtown area with wonder. Bright lights shone from inside the shops and cafés, and in most of the eating and drinking establishments, it appeared to be standing room only. Quite a bit different than the normally bustling sidewalks.

The heavy snow and blowing wind had discouraged most of the tourists from venturing out. Those few people they encountered were bundled up so much that they were unrecognizable. Glancing at Vanessa, he saw she’d pulled out a scarf and wrapped it around her lower face. He reached into his pocket and did the same. They needed to talk, but for now he wanted to simply enjoy being with her like this.

When they reached the end of the commercial part of Main Street, she turned. “I guess we can go back down the other side,” she said. “Though I wouldn’t mind going in somewhere and warming up a bit.”

Since the chill had begun to seep into his bones, too, he nodded. “There’s another coffee shop one block back on the opposite side of the road. Maybe since everyone seems to be frequenting the bars, it won’t be as bad.”

She nodded, her long lashes white with snow. “I’ve reached my limit on coffee, but I can get hot cider or tea.” She missed a step and nearly fell. Without thinking, he reached for her hand and took it, helping to steady her. If this surprised her, he couldn’t tell.

Gloved hand in gloved hand, they crossed the street. Traffic was almost nonexistent and even the streetlights had taken on a magical glow. The deep, powdery snow had begun to make walking difficult, even though a few intrepid shop owners appeared to have attempted to shovel the sidewalk.

By the time they reached the No Doze Café, they were both out of breath. Luckily, the inside appeared to be only moderately crowded, rather than packed.

The instant they stepped through the door, Vanessa pulled her hand out of his and removed her gloves. “Oh, it smells wonderful in here,” she said, inhaling deeply. “And look—a table just opened up over there in the corner!” She made a beeline for it, grabbing a chair and taking a seat before anyone else could. Grinning triumphantly, she beckoned Remy over.

Entranced by her, he went. “Do you mind ordering while I guard our spot?” she asked. Rummaging in her pocket, she pulled out a crumpled five-dollar bill and slid it across the table. “Here. This will take care of mine. I’d like a large hot apple cider with whipped cream.”

“I’ve got this,” he said, ignoring her money. “I’ll be right back.”

At the counter, he waited in line. Finally, he placed their order—the cider for her and a black coffee for him—and paid. The drinks were ready quickly and he carried them back to the table, noticing how a group of twentysomething guys were eying Vanessa. He had to love the fact that she appeared to be oblivious as she scrolled on her phone.

As soon as he approached her, she put it down and reached for her drink. “Thank you so much.” She took a deep sip and made a throaty sound of pleasure that had him aching with desire.

Damn. He reminded himself to focus. He sat, wrapping both hands around his coffee cup. “Are you ready to tell me what’s going on with Seth?”

Her eyes widened. “Wow, you clearly believe in getting right to the point.”

“I do,” he admitted, aware he couldn’t tell her he’d simply needed a distraction from the way he couldn’t stop wanting her.

She sighed. “I came here because I felt I owed Seth an explanation for the way I broke things off with him. I was abrupt and…” Expression rueful, she shrugged. “I was wrong. Not for ending it, but the way I handled it. I wanted closure. I forgot guys don’t seem to get that word.”

Her comment made him smile. “Truth. We—or at least I—tend to see things a bit more cut-and-dried. Either something is or it isn’t.”

Considering him, she shook her head. “Despite my best efforts, Seth seems to believe I’m here for another reason—to get back together. He’s hurt and angry…understandably so.” She took a deep breath. “He’s your brother, but I’ll be honest with you. Seth’s taking it to another level.” Leaning forward, she met his gaze. “He’s frightening me.”

“Me, too,” he admitted gruffly. Then, because he was curious, he asked her how long she’d known his brother.

“A couple of years. We met on the slopes. We were friends, just that, nothing more. Then I went through something…” She bit her lip, her dark blue eyes huge. “Both my parents were killed in a car crash. Seth was there for me. He became my port in the storm.”

Surprised, Remy simply nodded, hoping she’d continue. Maybe his brother had matured in ways he didn’t always reveal. For Seth to stand by Vanessa while she endured her own private hell, expecting nothing in return… That showed the sort of personal growth, the kind Remy had long wished Seth to have.

She fell silent. He didn’t press her, and instead drank his coffee in silence.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, getting up quickly and heading toward the restroom. Right before she reached the short hallway that led to the ladies’ room, she turned and looked at him. “Please wait for me.” And then she disappeared behind the door.

For reasons he didn’t entirely understand, that broke his heart.

Had she said too much? Or not enough? Standing in front of the washroom mirror, Vanessa put her hands to her flaming cheeks. She needed to remember that Remy and Seth were related by blood, while she was merely a stranger who’d come to town for what now seemed to be entirely selfish reasons. Clearly, Seth would have been better off without her attempt at obtaining a respite from her guilt at the knowledge that she hadn’t handled their breakup well.

Turned out maybe that had been all in her head. She should have left well enough alone. And she couldn’t believe she’d almost revealed the fact that she and Seth had never even been intimate. If she had, then Remy would know what a cold fish she was.

During her brief engagement to Seth, she’d managed to deflect every attempt he made to get her in his bed. At first, she’d chalked it up to her sheltered upbringing, but she’d come to the realization she didn’t want him at all that way. She’d seen the way other women looked at him—he was a handsome man, after all. So it had to be her. With that bit of awareness, she’d understood they both deserved better.

But she’d lacked the courage to say that to Seth. Of course, the fact that when she’d called off the engagement, he’d been so furious that he’d punched a hole in the wall might have had something to do with it. He’d scared her so badly, and after he’d stormed out she’d had all her locks changed so he couldn’t come back.

He hadn’t. He’d hightailed it back to Roaring Springs, which had given her both relief and peace. Until she’d gotten the foolish idea that she needed to make things right with Seth so they could both move on.

All she’d managed to do was make everything worse.

Though she had learned one thing about herself. Apparently, she wasn’t as much of an ice princess as she believed. One look from Remy Colton’s hazel-green eyes set her on fire. She craved his touch, wondered about how his lips would feel on hers and imagined carnal scenarios she’d only previously read about.

Had she lost her mind? Seriously, she needed to get a grip on this ridiculous attraction she felt toward Remy. Talk about creating a huge mess! That’s what it would be if she even considered acting on these forbidden desires.

So nope, nope, nope. Luckily, Remy seemed oblivious to her feelings. Thank goodness. She needed to remember she simply needed his help to find a place to stay for one or two nights and then she’d be out of this town for good. Hopefully before she managed to make an even worse mess out of things.

Once she managed to regain her composure, she left the sanctuary of the restroom and went back to her table. Remy looked up from his phone and smiled. The warmth of it went straight to her heart.

Shaking her head at herself, she sat back down and took a sip of her hot cider. Though it had cooled down significantly, the drink still tasted delicious.

“I’ve done some checking,” he said. “We keep a family suite at The Chateau and since no one is using it at the moment, it’s yours.”

She stared. “A suite? That’s amazing.”

“And in case you’re worrying about the cost, we’re not going to charge you anything. You can have it for as long as you need it, within reason.”

Within reason. His caveat made her smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t be moving in or anything. I’d just like to ski the mountain once it reopens. And then I’ll be out of your hair.”

Gaze steady, he shrugged. “How long is up to you. No one will be using the suite until after the holidays.”

“Wow. Okay, thanks. I confess I’m a bit surprised you don’t have family coming in for Christmas, though.”

“We do. But they’ll be staying at Colton Manor,” he replied.

“Colton Manor?” She couldn’t help herself. “That sounds like something out of a movie about royalty or something.”

He laughed. “That’s closer to the truth than you realize. My family has this huge and utterly pretentious mansion where my uncle Russ and my aunt Mara like to entertain. My grandfather, Earl, has a separate suite of rooms all to himself.”

“Your father doesn’t live there?”

“No. He tends to do his own thing.”

“What about your mother?” Utterly intrigued, she leaned forward.

“Cordelia?” His mouth twisted. “She dropped me off on Whit’s doorstep when I was five. She has… substance-abuse issues. My grandparents basically raised me. And Cordelia has been out of the picture ever since I got legal custody of Seth.”

“That’s a lot to take in,” she mused. “You must have been so young yourself and yet still took on trying to raise your little brother.”

He shook his head, his expression distant. “I didn’t have a choice. I simply couldn’t leave him in that environment.”

She wanted to tell him how much she admired him for that, but kept it to herself. Remy clearly was a good, honorable man, and men like him weren’t comfortable with compliments on actions they considered to be second nature.

They finished their drinks in companionable silence while the snow continued to fall outside. She liked the way Remy put her at ease without even trying.

“Would you like another cider?” he finally asked.

“I think I’m done,” she said and stretched, even though she was reluctant to move. “Thank you so much for helping me.”

Wearing a pleased expression, he nodded. “We’ve solved your immediate problem. But I’m still worried about Seth.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” she began.

“Oh, he will, once he thinks about things rationally and calms down. But that’s not what I meant. I love him—he’s family I didn’t even know I had until fifteen years ago. But he’s had his share of troubles since we reconnected. He’s not always successful in conquering his demons.”

Intrigued, she grabbed her empty cup and stood. “You know what? Let’s both get another drink. On me this time. That’s a story I’d really like to hear, if you don’t mind sharing.”

“I don’t mind at all.” His steady gaze touched on her and she felt it like a caress. “Though I have to say, I’m surprised Seth never told you.”

She was, too, though she didn’t voice that thought. “I’ll be right back.”

Instead of a line, only one other person waited at the counter. She placed the order and paid, waiting just a minute until the drinks were ready.

“Here you go,” she said, placing Remy’s coffee on the table in front of him. She waited until she’d gotten settled back in her seat before she took a sip of her own hot cider drink. “Seth didn’t really talk much about his past. He always said he liked being an enigma.”

Though Remy raised one eyebrow at that statement, he didn’t comment. He drank his coffee, appearing contemplative, as if trying to figure out the best way to tell his story.

She waited patiently, enjoying the warmth of the room, the scent of fresh-roasted coffee, the delicious drink and the intriguing man seated across from her.

“When I was five years old, my birth mother dropped me off on my dad’s doorstep,” he began. “Whit Colton has always been a playboy. Still is, even though he’s well past fifty. He had no time for a son, but he made sure to take care of me financially, for which I’m grateful. His parents were delighted to have a grandchild to coddle, so they took care of me and loved me.”

He looked down, wrapping his hands around his coffee cup.

Unable to help herself, she made a sound of sympathy and reached across the table to put her hand on his. “That must have been hard on you. You were so young to go through such a thing.”

Remy grimaced. “It wasn’t easy. For years, I was convinced I must have done something wrong for my mother to send me away like that. And when my father didn’t seem to want to have much to do with me, well, that reinforced my belief that it was all my fault.” He released a ragged breath then went on. “As a consequence, I became very, very well behaved. Straight-A student, outstanding athlete, all of that. My grandparents cheered me on, encouraged me and treated me as if I mattered. Despite their belief in me, I always felt something was missing. So when I was twenty, I set out to find my birth mother.”

Vanessa gasped. “Did you have any luck?” Then, as she realized what that meant, she shook her head. “Of course you did. I’m guessing that’s also how you found Seth.”

“Exactly. My mother, Cordelia, was an ex-model, which is how she met Whit Colton. She became a drug addict, probably before she dumped me off on Whit.” He took a deep breath, his gaze faraway, as though he was lost in his memories. “Though she’d gotten married to Seth’s father, he also had drug problems and, worse, anger issues. She’d neglected Seth the way she’d neglected me, except he spent his entire life in that environment. Seth’s dad was abusive, verbally and physically, which in turn caused Seth to take out his anger on others, even animals. Though he was only fifteen, he started to have problems with drugs and alcohol too.”

Stunned, she covered her mouth with her hand. “That’s horrible. I had no idea. Seth never mentioned any of this to me.”

Remy shrugged. “He says he prefers not to look back at the past. I’m sure he didn’t want your pity.”

Pity. She considered Remy’s choice of word. Maybe he was right. But then again… “Knowing about this might have helped me understand him better. The anger issues. The times he got falling-down drunk.”

“Well, now you know.” Remy’s matter-of-fact tone didn’t fool her one bit. Raw emotion shone from his eyes. “I couldn’t leave my half brother there. He wouldn’t have stood a chance. I took over legal custody of him, even though I was only five years older.”

“His parents let you? Just like that?”

“No.” Remy drank his coffee. “I got a loan from my father and paid them to relinquish custody. Not surprisingly, they were eager to waive parental rights for some cold, hard cash.”

“Yikes.” She winced. “But this was a good thing, right? I’m assuming you must have brought him to your grandparents.”

“No. I enrolled him in rehab and sent him to counseling. Once he was off the drugs and had learned to deal with his rage, then I brought him home. I loved him the best I could, as much as he would let me. Things were rough between us for a while, but then seemed to settle down.” He sighed. “But you’ve seen him. Something is…off. He’s back to binge drinking. And that anger still lurks right under Seth’s skin, ready to erupt at the slightest provocation. I worry about him constantly.”

Vanessa wasn’t sure what to say. She settled on going with the truth. “Well, that explains a lot. The night I broke up with him, he punched a hole through my wall. He told me to consider myself lucky it wasn’t me.”

Remy’s jaw tightened. Fists clenched, he turned away, his breathing harsh. She watched as he clearly struggled to get himself under control. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, slowly moving to face her. “I wish I could have been there to protect you.”

She took a deep breath. “He scared me to death. And then the way he’s acted since I came here… While knowing about his past helps me understand why he behaves the way he does, I still think it’s best if I don’t see him again. At this point, I don’t think we can even be friends.”

To her surprise, Remy smiled. “Maybe it’s time you make some new friends.”