to multiply.”
“You genuinely like Winter Valley and are invested in this place.” My own words give me hope.
Her cheeks turn slightly red as her smile leaves her pretty lips. One thing that stays is the joy in her eyes.
“It’s a gorgeous place,” she confesses.
“Not as beautiful as you are.” I pull her into my arms and give her a kiss.
“Maybe I’m not doing it to get the owner to pop in and sell.” She rests her head on my chest.
The way our bodies mold together makes me believe this can be a lot more than just a winter fling.
“I never dreamed I could own a place like this B&B and manage it. I’d make it somewhere between professional chic and I went to visit my childhood home. Maybe the guests will make this their second home.”
She wiggles her nose and says with conviction, “Home away from home.”
I inhale deeply because her words sound a lot better than what I was expecting.
They give me hope that this can be home for her. Because for the first time in my life, I can see a longer-term vision where, like I had with Oliver in New York, I might be able to form a new business partnership. The woman in front of me has incredible talent and vision. Can I use this day to help her see this vision too?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Colin
My sisters rock.
I complain about them often because they are nosy. However, when I need them to do me a favor, they always come through. The hotels in the Aspen area are at full capacity. When I called to make an appointment at a spa, no one had an opening. Thankfully Clarissa, who knows everyone, was able to get Audrey and her mom in at one of the most exclusive spas in the area. I have to give her my season tickets to the Broncos in exchange, but it’s a small price for something invaluable.
Or so I thought.
My plan is working, except I didn’t see the flaw while I was organizing it. I have to drive Audrey and her mother to Aspen. That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Audrey’s mom has motion sickness and needs to sit in the front seat—next to me.
Joy.
She’s lovely. However, I feel like I’m in the middle of a job interview with constant questions.
“Are you planning on having more children?” She fires a question immediately.
“Mom!” Audrey’s screech makes me snort, trying to hold in the laughter.
This might be uncomfortable for me, but she has a bad case of secondhand embarrassment that might push her to jump out of the car.
“It’s a simple question,” she defends. “There’s traffic. This is almost like the 405 in Los Angeles. Why is it congested?”
Who knows? I-70 bottlenecks in this area during lunchtime and Sundays when everyone from Denver is trying to drive back. It’s yet another oversight and huge flaw that’s making my plan suck.
“Talking about his future isn’t just making conversation. Surely, you have other things to discuss, Mom. How are your book club friends?”
“Donna’s daughter is having another baby,” she answers. Audrey grunts in response. “Did I tell you Harmony is pregnant?”
“Who is Harmony?” All these names get mixed up in my head.
“Nobody,” Audrey says.
At the same time, her mom answers, “Stan’s fiancée.”
Audrey’s jaw twitches, and she’s giving her mom an angry glare. Is it because she’s dumping information that’s not relevant or because she’s still in love with her ex? An unfamiliar sensation burns in my chest. I squeeze the wheel, trying to calm myself. But it’s so hard. She’s not over him, and here I am, trying to show her that even though this is too soon, it’s meant to be. She’s making me believe there’s a chance for me to love again while she’s pining for an asshole who doesn’t care about her feelings.
I’m angry with her mother too. Why is she doing this?
“By the way, she got a new engagement ring,” her mom adds. “Someone told her you designed the one she had.”
“Mom, we discussed this before. I don’t want to know about them,” Audrey says firmly. “We have to set boundaries. I love you, and I don’t want our relationship to collapse because you can’t let go of Stan. It’s over, and he’s not a part of my life. He shouldn’t be a part of yours, and you should respect me.”
The moment is awkward, but I’m so damn proud of Audrey for putting her foot down. Now, if she can just do the same