Only Her Smokejumper Firefighter - Cami Checketts Page 0,33

siblings, in-laws, cousins, Grams, and even Uncle Jay made a concerted effort to keep her playing games, eating, talking to somebody. She didn’t know how they coordinated it, but she was never left alone.

An interesting disturbance caught everyone’s attention and even distracted Mavyn from her worries and prayers. A man who looked so much like the Chadwick brothers it was uncanny was escorted from a table by Cedar and Devon, where he was quietly eating dinner with the beautiful wedding coordinator, Ashley.

Grams marched up to him. “Who are you and where did you get those blue eyes? And what are you doing hiding that handsome face behind a beard?”

When the man admitted he was a dermatologist from Missoula and the famous Kris Bellissima had tracked him down, told him she had information about his biological family, and lured him to Mystical Lake for Christmas, the entire family exploded.

Mavyn was stunned. Apparently this man was Ren’s half-brother. Grams alternated between crying happy tears and hugging her newest grandson to cursing Peter for being a cheating scum who she shouldn’t even call a son. Everyone wanted to talk to Chase and get to know him, but she heard Cedar mutter, “No wonder Dad took off. Couldn’t live with the guilt any longer.”

But Cedar and all of them treated Chase like he was the best discovery since Milwaukee tools. She wondered how Ren and Quill would respond, but they were good, forgiving men, except when it came to their father.

Could Ren really forgive her again when he found out she’d lied about Bruce?

Mavyn watched all the drama and bided her time but eventually, Chase was alone for a second and she hurried up to him and demanded, “Where is Kris Bellissima?”

He glanced down at her, his blue eyes reminding her of Ren.

“She left the resort before the storm. I believe she’s rented a cabin on the lake, but I haven’t seen her or heard from her for a few days. Why?”

She folded her arms tightly across her chest and muttered, “She and I have some unfinished business. Do you think you could find her?”

He shrugged. “I can forward you her number if you’d like.”

“Yes, please.” She rattled off her phone number and he pulled out his phone and sent Kris’s contact info to her. He was very trusting, this new brother of Ren’s. He didn’t even question who Mavyn was.

Kris Bellissima had tried to destroy Quill Chadwick and had injured her dearest friend Cora in the process. Mavyn had promised to take the woman down. Maybe this was the opportunity she’d been hoping for. An act of ugly revenge was building inside of her. Kris was here, in Mystical Lake. Maybe it was another reason Mavyn was meant to be here. She’d promised Ren she’d stay in Mystical Lake until he got back. Tomorrow after Christmas breakfast, she’d call Kris and see if she’d meet her for an interview. Kris had no clue Mavyn was Cora’s—or Pepper’s, as Cora used to go by—best friend. If Kris wouldn’t meet her, she’d go on a nice long run and knock on doors until she found Kris … and then she’d destroy her.

She smiled grimly to herself. It wasn’t the best approach, but somehow, someway, she’d take that woman down.

Finally, the party ended and she went to Grams’s house, downed a cup of hot cocoa to appease Grams, and then settled into bed. Her mind was stirring with ideas to expose Kris for what she was, and worry over Ren’s safety, and what might happen between them when he returned. She finally crashed late that night, or maybe early the next morning, sleeping until weak winter’s light peeked in the windows.

A pounding sounded on her bedroom door. She jumped up and raced to it. “Ren?” Flinging it open, she saw no hunky man filling the doorframe. Glancing down, she saw a small man with an adorable face and dark brown eyes.

“Aunt Mave?” he asked. Aunt Mave? How sweet was that? “Can you please get up? I already opened my Santa at home, but everybody’s waiting for you downstairs so I can open loads of presents from Grams and all my aunts and uncles.” He gave her an impish grin. “What’d you get me?”

Mavyn felt a rush of embarrassment that Ren’s entire family was waiting for her and that she had no present for the cute little guy. She squatted down to his level and said, “My present’s going to be a little late, but that’ll make