Page 19 of Snow More Secrets

I knew she was hoping for an explanation but didn’t want to get into everything, so I simply said, “Thanks,” and reached over the counter to hug her.

“No problem. Is everything okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I injured myself”—I held up a hand to ward off her inevitable freak-out—“it’s no big deal, so don’t make a fuss. Anyway, I need a quiet place to think and recoup in solitude.” I gave her a pointed look. “Somewhere that doesn’t come with a hovering, nosy mother.”

Raven winced and nodded. She certainly couldn’t argue with that.

Colin piped up as he started typing on the computer. “I’ll just look at reservations and see what’s available for you to?—”

“Don’t worry about a guest cabin, Raven,” Cammie announced as she strolled into the lobby. “You can use mine, Jake. I’m going on a trip with some friends for a few weeks.”

I frowned. I was home for Christmas, and she was going on a trip with…wait. Friends? My eyes narrowed on her. “What friends? Where are you going? A few weeks? Can you be more specific? Are any of these ‘friends’ guys?”

Caleb and Colin both muffled their laughter when Cammie shot a lethal look at me.

When Raven married Caleb, I sort of handed her protection over to him, but I couldn’t help it. I was still the overprotective big brother with my youngest sister.

Cammie sighed, raised her hands, then ticked off her fingers as she spoke. “None of your business, Europe, yes, no, and none of your business. Did I answer all of your questions?”

I scowled, but she ignored me and turned to walk around the desk, where she crouched in front of the twins. Hailey and Rachel rushed over to give her hugs.

“She’s a grown woman, Jake. If she wants to take a ride on Santa’s sleigh, you don’t get any say in it,” Raven snapped, glaring at me with her hands on her hips.

Cammie snorted a laugh, and I growled, “You better not be riding anyone’s sleigh, Cammie. You’re too young.”

“Oh, for the love of snowmen and their top hats,” Raven muttered.

The door opened behind me, letting in a gust of wind and flurries as a bunch of feet stomped inside.

“Cammie! Are you ready to go?”

I froze at the sound of the woman who spoke. Raven gave me a questioning look, but I ignored her and focused on the familiar voice.

“I need to get the hell out of Dodge,” said the same woman.

“Yeah, just let me say goodbye to my family, and we can hit the road,” Cammie responded, then she gave each of our infant nieces a smacked kiss on each of their cheeks.

“Fantastic,” the woman mumbled. “All these snowboarders are making me jumpy.”

I finally regained the ability to move and slowly turned around.

And there she was.

My wife.

Standing with a group of girls around Cammie’s age, she was staring at her phone, her expression tense. “And why is that, Hannah?” I drawled.

She jolted, and her head flew up, her sinful mouth forming a little O as her beautiful brown orbs met mine.

I raised an eyebrow. “Afraid you’re going to run into the man you’re hiding from?” My tone was even and calm, but inside, I was raging.

“What?” Cammie looked between us, her expression confused. “Do you two know each other?”

“Yes,” I growled.

Hannah squeaked, “No.”

“Well, that didn’t clear things up,” Raven quipped.

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