Page 37 of Unforgettable

The door opens before I can knock, and it’s Wyatt. Black sweater and jeans.

“Hi. Come on in,” he says, opening the door wider.

A boy comes running up. “Hey, are you Jamison?” he asks.

“Yeah, that’s me. You must be Owen.”

I’ve heard about him a few times now, and the kid is pretty cute. He seems to be around my niece Ivy’s age, maybe a little younger.

“My aunt does not like you,” he says, eyes wide.

“Owen,” Sutton says. “Mind your manners.” He holds out his hand to shake mine. White button-down and jeans. “Come on back, some of us are in the kitchen and some are in the great room. Can I take your coat?”

I shrug it off and the three of them freeze, taking in the shirt.

I put my hands in my pockets and nod slowly. “Yeah, I have a feeling Scarlett was pranking me about the Hawaiian shirt dress code.”

Sutton laughs and Theo wanders in before we reach the hall. Grey long-sleeve shirt and jeans. I hold back my laugh.

“Hey, man. Lookin’ like a vayy-cation,” he says, tipping his chin toward my shirt. He tilts his head when he gets a closer look. “Oh, and Jesus. Bold, okay.”

The house has beautiful craftsmanship, a cozy living room with hickory built-in shelves next to the stone fireplace, but when we step into the great room, it’s even better. The ceiling is high with beams going across, and the back wall is all windows, showing the most incredible view of the Rocky Mountains.

“The place is gorgeous.”

I hear giggling and turn to see Scarlett taking in my outfit. I point at her and she gives a little shrug.

“That is some kind of shirt,” she says. “Grinny will be so pleased.”

“Mm-hmm.” I pretend to be more annoyed than I am by her trickery.

Grinny walks in then, setting a big dish on the table, and then she makes a beeline to me.

“Jamison, I’m so glad you could make it. Don’t you look handsome. I’ve always been partial to a Hawaiian shirt. Such a happy print.” She starts laughing. “Oh my. What on earth is Jesus doing in a hula skirt?”

I smile and hold the orchids out for her, trying not to laugh at Scarlett’s told-ya smirk. “Thank you. Scarlett thought you might appreciate the shirt. And Cecil helped me pick it out.”

“Is that right? Cecil’s a hoot.” Grinny giggles. “And my girl knows me well.” Grinny presses her hands together in delight and then takes the orchids, setting them in the middle of the table. “These are just lovely. Thank you so much. Have you met the rest of my family yet?”

“Owen was the only one I hadn’t met yet, and we said hello.” I grin at the kid and he smirks back.

Callum walks in and stands next to Scarlett. “Hey. Sorry, I’m late.”

She leans over and hugs him and then he walks the few steps it takes to kiss Grinny on the cheek.

“So glad you’re here, honey,” Grinny says.

He takes in my shirt, but he doesn’t say anything, just studies me from across the table. If I hadn’t seen how he smiles at Grinny and Scarlett like they hung the moon, I’d have trouble deciding if he’s one of those hipster lumberjack models or a serial killer.

Grinny motions for me to take the seat next to her and everyone else sits down. Grinny hands me the serving dish closest to her and I tell her I’ll hold it while she gets hers first.

“That sounds just like my John Henry,” she says softly. “He had a few backward ideas about some things. He wanted to be the one to provide for us and for me to be here when our kids came home from school and when he got in from work, but he was a gentleman through and through, always made sure I was served first, that I never had to open my own door when he was around…” She laughs, her eyes filling with moisture. “That man was such a contradiction, and do I ever miss him.”

She nods when I hold up another serving dish toward her and takes a helping of mashed potatoes.

“What made you decide to go into the hotel business?” she asks.

“My brother and I have invested in a few properties the past couple of years, mostly backing friends of his who are buying restaurants or revamping vacation properties here and there that we buy and then sell. Zac’s wife, Autumn, has an interior design business—so she’s worked on the projects we’ve been involved in. Nothing of this magnitude though. Honestly, I’d never considered being a resort owner until I heard about Landmark Mountain being for sale.”

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