Page 18 of Snow More Secrets

Over the past decade, Raven had proven to our mom that she was more than capable. She’d made smart improvements and even expanded it. Then she’d brought on a partner who was just as perfect for the place as she was. They ran a tight ship and made sure that everyone was safe.

“I’ll follow you just in case the shuttle can’t make it all the way there,” I told him. If the roads got too dangerous, we’d park it on the side of the road and worry about it after the storm.

“Thanks, Jake,” he said with a nod as he opened the door for me. I braced myself for the wind and snow, then jogged back to my vehicle.

As I headed up the road to the resort, seeing through the snow was becoming more and more difficult. It was nearly whiteout conditions, so Gus and I slowed to a crawl, but eventually, we made it to the parking lot of the inn.

He waved in thanks, then headed toward the path to a group of employee cabins. I returned the gesture as I exited the Jeep and grabbed my bag. Then I ran to the entrance and yanked open one of the elegant wooden doors that were carved with Christmas scenes.

I grinned as I walked into the lobby of the Inn.

“Mommy! It’s Uncle Jake!” my six-year-old niece Hailey shouted as she jumped up and down, clapping wildly.

Four-year-old Rachel had to do everything her big sister did, so she joined in.

Their twin little sisters, Molly and Lucy, were on the floor next to the check-in desk in their bouncy chairs. They were only six months old and didn’t care what their older siblings were doing. However, they wiggled and gave me big, toothy grins that melted my heart.

Raven glanced up from the front desk and giggled when I dropped to my knees and braced myself just as two tiny bodies came barreling into me. “Oomph!” I grunted, just barely hanging onto my balance.

Colin, who was standing next to Raven, chuckled. “I’m impressed. The last time all the girls came running at me, I ended up a pancake.”

I snickered, then turned my full attention to my girls. “Hey, jelly bean,” I greeted Hailey, giving her a peck on her cute little nose. Then I turned to Rachel and did the same. “Hey, sugarplum.”

“We missed you,” Hailey sighed, looking extremely put out—an expression she got from her mother. “Why were you gone so long this time?”

I chuckled because she was just so damn adorable, but quickly covered it up with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, jelly bean. I’ll try not to stay away so long next time.” I felt a little guilty, considering I hadn’t seen them since they came to watch me compete in the Olympics. But if things worked out in my favor, they’d be seeing a lot more of me soon.

“Or you could just give up your nomadic lifestyle and settle down,” Raven suggested dryly.

I rolled my eyes. She was getting almost as bad as our mother at nagging me to find a woman and have a family. Okay, that was an overstatement. No one was as bad as our mother. If only they knew how easy she’d gone on them…

Choosing not to take the bait, I stood, holding a niece on each hip.

“Trying to talk your brother into wedded bliss again, baby?” Caleb queried as he came up behind Raven.

“What?” She sniffed defensively. “He’s not getting any younger?—”

“Gee, thanks, little sister,” I interrupted dryly.

“—and I just want him to be as happy as we are.”

“I’ll live vicariously through you,” I replied. At least until I found my wife, I thought darkly.

“One day, all the ornaments on the tree will belong to other people, bro,” she insisted. “You should drink the hot chocolate while it’s steamy.”

Deciphering her Christmas swear words and hot chocolate-themed advice took a skill level I’d never quite mastered. I looked at Caleb. “Do you understand her gibberish?”

Caleb put his arms around Raven and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Most of the time. But when I don’t, she’s so damn sexy; I don’t care.”

“Don’t!” I shouted, my face screwing up in disgust. “Don’t talk about my sister and the s-word in the same breath ever again.”

Caleb shrugged, and I narrowed my eyes as I hesitantly walked toward them.

“Congratulations on the win, Jake,” Caleb said, forgoing the handshake and slapping me on the back because my arms were full of giggling little girls.

“Do you think I could crash in one of the cabins for a few weeks?” I asked as I set the girls on their feet, sending them running into their daddy’s arms. I needed time to heal and hopefully figure out what the fuck I was going to do about Hannah. And the last thing I needed was my mother—who I loved despite her well-intentioned meddling—hovering.

Raven’s brow rose. “Um, sure. Of course.” She paused, then prompted, “A few weeks?”

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