Page 17 of Snow More Secrets

“Sounds like fun,” I replied with a little more brightness. I was feeling a little excitement over the adventure.

We talked about a few more details, then hung up, and I called Wendy to let her know what I’d decided.

“I’m so happy you’re coming with, Hannah. Maybe you’ll meet some dashing European billionaire who will sweep you off your feet and make you forget about your Vegas hookup.”

My best friend was the only one who knew about my time with Jake, although I hadn’t told her about the wedding. And despite spending the evening with his friend, she hadn’t figured out who he was. I’d only admitted that he was a snowboarder who traveled constantly and lived a more glamorous life than I wanted for myself.

I kept my voice casual when I queried, “What makes you think I’m still hung up on him?”

Wendy scoffed. “Don’t try to bullshit me, bestie. I’ve seen the moping you’ve been doing. Although, I’ll admit, you’ve hidden it pretty well from everyone else.”

“I have not been moping,” I defended irritably.

She sighed. “Lie to yourself if you must, but don’t expect me to pretend you’re not miserable.” She paused. “Tell me why it won’t work again?”

I didn’t want to get into this discussion again. “It just won’t. Now, let’s talk about what to pack for the trip…”

By the time we arrived at The Snowed Inn, I was more than ready to have a fabulous trip with my girls. I just had to get through one night at the Winter Falls Resort. My stomach was in a constant state of knots, and it didn’t help that there was a massive blizzard in the forecast. We were supposed to beat it out of there, but with the way the snow was accumulating, I was growing more and more worried.

When the morning arrived, Cammie left while we were still packing up our stuff. She was going to say goodbye to her family, then meet us in the lobby to grab the shuttle to the airport.

I tried not to notice all the skiers and snowboarders around the area by keeping my head down and studying the forecast on my phone.

That shuttle couldn’t come soon enough for me.

Nine

JAKE

It was a good thing I’d come home early.

There was an epic blizzard headed for our town—we hadn’t seen one this bad in seven years—and my flight had been delayed a day because of the weather. But at least I would make it home by the day before Christmas Eve. The chaos of my family, especially my adorable and incredibly energetic nieces, would help keep my mind off my anniversary.

When I arrived at the airport, the snow was already falling fast and thick, making the roads slick. I was glad I’d asked my dad to put chains on my Jeep and leave it at the airport because I didn’t want him or my mom driving in these conditions.

Despite the obscured view from all the snow, a smile crawled across my face as I drove through town, seeing all the places I’d loved as a kid. Some of my friends hated living in a town where it was perpetually Christmas. They couldn’t wait to get out of our little village. But I’d missed it every day since I left and always felt an overwhelming sense of home when I visited.

I’d known I wanted to settle back here someday and raise my family in this amazing place. Hopefully, Hannah would like it here.

When I reached the base of the mountain, I spotted the shuttle for The Snowed Inn and Lodge pulled to the side of the road. It was hard to miss, considering it was decorated like a giant snowman—not at all shocking when you knew my sister because she had an obsession with snow people—with snowflakes painted on the glass windows.

I parked behind it and put on my parka, hat, and gloves before exiting my Jeep and jogging to the front of the bus. The doors opened, and I quickly stepped in so the driver, Gus, could shut them again, keeping the cold outside.

“Jake!” he greeted with a crooked smile, doffing the Santa hat on his head. “I didn’t know you were coming into town for the holidays. It’s great to see you.”

“You too, Gus,” I said with a smile. “But I’d be happier to see you at the inn instead of the side of the road like this. Did you break down?”

I glanced around at the jolly interior, relieved when I noted that the cozy, suede-covered single seats and booths were empty.

“No,” Gus replied. “I was just checking on the chains and lights before I made the trek up the mountain.”

I nodded. “Smart. Do you need help with anything?”

“I’m good.” He gestured to the empty bus. “Thankfully, I was taking my last load down. Raven shut down the reservations once she realized how bad the storm was going to be.”

That sounded like my sister. The safety of her guests and employees would always be her top priority, even if it cost the business money.

She was perfect for running The Snowed Inn and Lodge. Our mother had been more than skeptical when my dad had passed the business on to Raven. He’d had a stroke, and the doctor told him he needed to cut the stress out of his life. Raven had only been twenty-two, but she’d been helping him run it since she was a teenager. The rest of us had known she would be amazing. We’d always planned for it to go to her since she loved it with all her heart, and neither Cammie nor I were interested in running the place.

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