Just One Kiss (Whisper Lake #4) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,44

my dress, Keira. It has to be even better than the one you made for my sister. But don't tell Chelsea I said that."

"Your secret is safe with me."

"How's the boutique going?" she asked Keira. "Will this upcoming year be the one where you ditch the real-estate and go full force into your fashion design business?"

"I hope so. We'll see."

"If I can help in any way…"

"I'll let you know. And by the way, we won't talk about your sister while we're with Brett, but just so you know, we have your back."

"Whatever you need," Gianna added, with Lizzie and Chloe smiling their support.

She appreciated each and every one of them. She might have lost her real sister a long time ago, but she had these women. Three of them had been her friends for most of her life, and Lizzie was becoming one of her best friends now.

For the next hour, they played on the bunny slope, taking turns riding down the hill of soft white powder with the kids, who were all in absolute heaven. She loved seeing Brett so happy. He hadn't known any of these people three days ago, but now he was one of them. He was Hailey's adored little friend and Leo's big brother figure. Most importantly, he was her nephew, and more and more, she saw not only bits and pieces of Kelly in his expressions and in his personality, but she also saw her dad. Her father had missed so much, and his passing had left a huge hole, but there was a new generation now. Brett had a lot of her dad's easy friendliness. His legacy lived on.

As Jake swept Brett up into his arms for another run down the slope, her smile broadened. Jake was like a big kid himself, and in this instance, all the children were benefiting from his zest for adventure. They were willing to follow him anywhere. She could relate to that feeling. He had a powerful charisma that had always made it difficult for her to look away. That's why she'd stopped looking at him. She could feel the pull even when their eyes didn't meet, but when they did…

Her heart flipped over as he caught her gaze now, his smile spreading across his lips, as something passed between them, something she didn't want to define.

"Nothing like watching a man with a child," Gianna said.

"What?" She forced herself to break the connection with Jake to turn to Gianna.

"Jake looks good with Brett," Gianna said. "When I first saw Zach and Hailey together, I was overwhelmed by the tenderness and love between them. They don't even share blood. He was her stepfather, but he loved her so much, and it touched me deeply. I was already falling for him again, but that was the real kicker."

"Zach is amazing with Hailey. I forget that he's not her biological father." She paused. "I also sometimes forget that you and Zach had a teenage history, too."

"It wasn't as long or as complicated as yours and Jake's, but summer camp was certainly memorable that year. Our story was also different, because I'm the one who hurt Zach, whereas Jake was the one who hurt you. I wasn't sure Zach could forgive me, but I'm lucky that he did, because it allowed us to get to this incredible place."

"You think I should forgive Jake?" she asked curiously, feeling like Gianna would understand her conflict better than anyone else.

Gianna frowned. "I don't know. I feel like you think we're belittling the pain you went through because we've accepted Jake back into the group. But we haven't forgotten, Hannah. We've just seen a different side of Jake, one that you haven't allowed yourself to see—until maybe now."

"I have to admit it has bothered me," she said honestly. "Everyone was so willing to welcome Jake home."

"Not at first," Gianna protested. "It took a while, but he and Brodie became friends through the search-and-rescue team, and Jake started working with Lizzie giving tours to her guests. Then he made Zach's day by taking him skiing down Skyhawk Trail. The friendships started with the outsiders and then spread to us. Keira resisted the longest."

"She's under his spell now," she said dryly, seeing Keira laughing hilariously at something Jake had said.

Gianna smiled. "You kind of seem like you're warming up to him."

"I don't know how it has happened, but he does bring the heat," she muttered.

"That sounds interesting."

"Or dangerous. I don't want to make another mistake. I loved