She waited for a minute to see if Karen knocked again, half tempted to call the damn cops on her, but within a minute, she heard the start of her car and leaned her head against the door, tears burning her eyes. Connie blanked her mind of remembering all she had lost, at how gullible she had been. The affair, and the affairs before that, had just been the icing on the cake, but the miscarriage... It had been a tubal pregnancy. There was nothing she could have done, and the doctors didn't think she could ever get pregnant again, not after the surgery. It was still possible but a very slim chance, and that prognosis nearly destroyed her. Connie’s dream ever since she had been a little girl had been to have a family, and now it was gone.
The tears fell regardless of the will to hold them back. She hadn't cried for what she couldn't change in almost two years, and yet the bitch had brought it all back. The dam broke, and her shoulders shook as the tears fell faster, and quiet sobs filled the silence of her apartment.
Finally, she didn't have anything left, and she collapsed on her couch, bringing her knees up to wrap her arms around. Bowing her head, she sighed. She didn’t feel better; she felt worse, but she wasn’t one to moan about what she couldn’t change. She just wouldn’t make the same mistake again. Ever.
The phone rang, but she ignored it. She wanted to ignore everything, but unfortunately, she didn't have that luxury. It was called being an adult and paying bills. Connie sat on the couch and thought about the only peace she had had since before her marriage.
Vail Mountain.
A small smile formed on her lips as she thought of the resort and the women she had met a year ago, of the little girl who had followed her around and warmed heart, even as she made her miss what she couldn’t have.
Granted, that peace had diminished fast when Nina had been kidnapped and Connie herself had been knocked unconscious by the goon who had been after Nina, but it had still been nice. The pain had been worth the week of the fresh air and silence of the beautiful mountains.
Then she thought of the man.
Jacob Tanner.
Her heart started to pound as she thought of his dark brown eyes and his tall frame. In fact, Connie had often found herself thinking of him, which was weird considering they hadn't really spent much time together while they had both been at the resort. She also suspected he was hung up on Nina, and even though she wasn’t happy in her relationship at the time, she was technically married last year. But despite all of it, she still couldn’t seem to shake him from her mind.
Her face dry, Connie stood up, and the insane thought struck her, freezing her in place.
She had vacation saved up.
She never took vacation except for that week a year ago.
Her phone rang again, and she walked over to her cell and spied the flashing number on the small screen. The urge to scream tickled her throat. She didn't know what her ex wanted, especially after just dealing with his mother, but she couldn't take another minute of his whining voice begging for another chance.
Like fucking hell. Why couldn’t they go away? Leave her alone? Was that too much to ask for?
She sent the call to voicemail and dialed a number.
Within an hour, she set her plans into motion. Her boss was pissed, but she didn't care. She needed a break and was determined to get back some of that peace she had felt.
In any way she could.
Chapter 2
Wednesday: 3:26 p.m.
A few weeks after his decision was made, Jacob navigated the treacherous roads, careful to stay away from the edge of the cliff as he climbed higher up Vail Mountain.
What the hell am I doing? he wondered, his hands tightening on the wheel.
Everything he owned was in the back of his Jeep, and for some surprising reason, it had been easy to pack up his city life with no intention of coming back. This decision was unlike him. He wasn’t a spontaneous kind of guy. He never made decisions without first analyzing each possible outcome. Yet within a small amount of time, he had packed and settled his affairs with the city and his bills.
It had taken him a bit to cancel commitments, handle his lease, and sell what he wasn’t going to need or want, and he now found himself on the mountain headed to the edge of civilization, for all intents and purposes, homeless.
A few hours later, his back ached from the holes in the roads, and his arm pulsed in pain from any small amount of movement. The brace had come off the week before, the stitches before then, but it was still tender and sore. The lack of shocks on his Jeep hadn’t helped either. He had been meaning to get those replaced, but with everything else that had happened, he had forgotten.
I should have just sold the damn thing and bought me a truck.
Sighing, he pulled up in front of the resort and cut his engine, looking around. Nothing had changed, but he hadn't really expected it to. The tall mountains with the snow-covered tips graced the landscape in the background, and everything was turning the different shades of autumn. Before long, winter would again fall on the mountain, and the resort would be booked. He had called ahead, and Nina had said that it was their slow season with only a few bookings, so that suited him just fine. He really didn’t feel like socializing now.
He was surprised he didn't see anyone in the yard, but Nina had mentioned that most people didn't start showing up until late November and early December, and it was early October.
He stepped out of his green Jeep, rocks crunching beneath his boots, and sucked in the cool mountain air as he took in the large trees surrounding the resort, and the smell almost seemed to rejuvenate him. It was colder up in the higher elevation of the mountain, and he pulled his jacket closed, hastily zipping it.
I must be crazy, he thought, taking another glance around. He didn't know what he was going to do or if the city council would even hire him, but hell, no one could accuse him of not trying or stepping outside of his comfort zone. This was so far out of his comfort zone it wasn’t even funny anymore.
That’s it. I’ve lost my fucking mind.
Just then, the door opened, and Nina walked out on the porch, a large grin on her pretty face.
A few months, hell, years, he had spent thinking he was in love with her. And then she had gone and fallen for Rob, the resort owner. Now he knew it had just been infatuation of a sort. All he felt now was a gentle love for a sister, and he was grateful for that.
"Jacob! You made it!" Nina exclaimed.
The glow on her face was so vastly different from a year ago when the run for her life and kidnapping had taken place. Now the glow of happiness was the result of peace and joy with her new life. Marriage and love agreed with her. Jacob wanted that same glow, hence the drastic move himself. He was sick of waking up by himself with no plans for the future and with no one to share it with.
He walked up the steps of the porch and gave her a side hug, smiling at the man who appeared behind her. He was glad the aching jealousy was gone. All he felt now was happiness for his friends.
"Hey, Rob. Thanks for putting me up for a bit until I find a place," he said, shaking the other man's firm grip.
"No problem, man. I'm glad I could help."
Just then, they all heard a squeal, and Jacob braced himself for the little body that launched herself at him.
"Uncle Jake!"
He grabbed her but was careful with his wounded arm, hugging her from the side as tightly as he dared. Even the gentle hug caused him to flinch at the pull of his shoulder. Getting shot was never a pleasant experience, but the healing process was just as painful as the actual bullet.
"How’s my princess doing?" he asked as he drew back to look down, the same glow of her mother gleaming on the little girl's face as she grinned up at him. Mountain life agreed with them all, and if he was honest with himself, he was a tad jealous, but he didn't let that stop him from being thrilled that his two girls were finally happy. That meant the world to him.
"Great! I love it here!"
Before he could respond, the four o
f them moved inside, and the aroma of the kitchen made his stomach growl. Loudly.
Nina laughed, Rob chuckled, and Emily grinned.
"Steak and potatoes sound good?" Nina asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow.
"Sounds delicious."
They moved to the table, and Jacob again looked around, slightly puzzled at the lack of activity at the resort.
"No guests?" he asked as he sat down at the dining room table. Nina had mentioned it was slow, but he could have sworn she said they had a few bookings.
Rob shook his head, thanking the cook who began putting the food on the table. "Not yet. Around six this evening, we have a few bookings, and the winter months are almost booked as usual, so it's going to be busy, but we have a bit before they get here."
Jacob nodded and started to dig in, the food almost melting on his tongue. God, it had been months since he had a good home-cooked meal. He was used to living on fast food, and he wouldn’t miss that.
They made small talk, catching up on the past few months and the fall and winter plans of the resort.
Before long, dinner was done, and he sat back with a sigh, finally relaxed for the first time in months.
“So, when do you meet with the city council?” Rob asked, taking a drink of his soda as he shot the question everyone wanted to know.
Jacob shrugged, not having much to tell them at the moment. “Haven't called them yet. Figured I would just go into town and scope everything out. I haven't decided if I'm taking the job yet.”
Nina rolled her eyes. “You'll take it,” she quipped, sounding confident, the brat.
But she was right. He was going to apply, but that was beside the point. She already had a big head and a knowing grin on her face. He wasn't giving her more to gloat over.
He opened his mouth but froze when he heard the voice coming from the front of the building, asking if anyone was home.
Nina and Rob both jumped up, Nina’s grin widening, and they rushed from the room. He remained still. Emily had recognized the female voice too and ran out of the room in excitement.
With a slow movement almost resembling an old man, he stood up and walked over to the door of the dining room, the view of the front desk in his line of vision.
He saw her standing in front of Nina, and his heart started to pound. He had often found himself thinking of her, which had been surprising considering he really didn't know her.
She turned to look down at Emily, and just then, their eyes met. Hers widened, and for a brief second, a flash of interest gleamed in them before it disappeared, and she nodded toward him, acknowledging his presence before turning back to the little girl. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was dressed in blue jeans and a red sweater, and her strawberry blond hair was longer, ending just below her shoulders. She had minimal makeup on, and yet she was beautiful. The same aura of sadness was still there, hidden in the blue depths of her eyes, but unlike last time, he was taking a vast interest in getting to know her better.
Now he just had to convince her to talk to him past the pleasantries of conversation.
Without the cloud of Nina hanging over him, or his illusions, he saw her, really saw her, and he liked what he saw.
A lot.
Connie felt his attention on her, the interest that gleamed in his brown eyes, but she turned and let Emily drag her away, her excited chatter bringing a smile to her face. She had forgotten how much she had enjoyed the little girl’s presence, which seemed so long ago, or how much she had missed the mountains. It almost seemed instant that the tension had melted away the closer she got to the mountains, the farther she had traveled from the city and memories of the past.
It almost feels like...home.
She shook that insane thought from her head. It was too crazy to consider. Connie was just there for a mini vacation and to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. She hated her job at the accounting firm, but it was the only thing she knew how to do, the only job her husband had allowed. And five years later, she was still there, dealing with her constant dickhead of a boss and the bitch of a secretary who thought because she was screwing the boss, she was the boss. Connie broke out of her depressing thoughts as the child took her around her room.
“So, you like living here?” Connie asked her, looking around at all the pink and white decor. Pictures of Rob and Nina with the child hung on the peach-colored walls, along with the landscapes of the mountains. It was a gorgeous room. A full-size bed was against the far wall, accompanied by an oak bedside table cluttered with a lamp and some books. A matching, long oak dresser sat on the other side.
Emily nodded with a contagious grin. “I love it! I start third grade soon. Mom homeschools me because it’s such a long drive into town, and the snow is always a pain, but she’s giving me a long break because she says I’m doing so well.”
Connie wished she had her happiness, but she was truly happy for the small family who seemed so happy and in love. If she was honest with herself, it was something she wanted, but she wasn't willing to take that risk again, not with the slim chance of having any children and the disappointment that would follow with each failure.
She knew there was always adoption, and she had been considering it since she had left Adam, but it wasn’t just the thought of children. It was the man as well. She didn't know if she even believed in that kind of love anymore, but being surrounded by it made her think that it was possible but elusive and almost nonexistent. Jacob flashed through her mind just then, his grin and handsome face, but she shook her head, dispelling the image.
Not going to risk it, she thought, looking out the large window toward the mountains. Emily was still chattering, telling her about the mountains and her art. The child was truly talented if the pictures on the wall were any indication.
Just then, Nina laughed, and Connie turned to see the other woman in the doorway.
“She talks a lot,” Nina said.
Connie smiled and looked down at the child, at the brown hair that framed the sparkles of excitement in her dark eyes.
“She's excited and happy. You should be proud.”
“I am.” Nina smiled. “Are you hungry? The food is still hot in the kitchen. I had the cook hold it for you. We had two other guests book rooms, but it should be a few before they get here.”
Connie shook her head, not in the mood to try to eat. She had hoped that she would be the only guest, but she should have known better. The resort was a popular attraction and often busy. She was a little shocked to see Jacob though and didn’t know how she felt about that. They hadn’t really had any conversations the first time they had met. She could have sworn he had been in love with Nina, but that wasn’t what she saw in his eyes when he had looked at her. Connie wasn’t going to ask about him, though, not wanting to give Nina the wrong impression.
“Just tired.” She just wanted to relax and forget, at least for a little while.
Sympathy flashed in Nina’s eyes before it disappeared, and she smiled again. It was almost as if a different woman stood in front of her. The Nina of a year ago had rarely smiled. This Nina seemed to glow.
“Let me show you to your room then.”
Connie nodded gratefully and followed Nina and Emily to the room assigned to her. She hoped that the next day would be helpful in relaxing her. She was tired, but it was more emotional than anything, and she was looking forward to a good night of sleep. She hadn't had one of those in years.
Chapter 3
Jacob watched Connie and Emily disappear up the stairs, mixed emotions running through him. He was in no position to start anything with anyone, and yet that didn't stop him from wishing differently.
Sighing, he turned away from what he couldn't change, and Rob stood behind him, staring at him thoughtfully.
"She's a great girl, Jacob."
Jacob raised his eyebrow, not sure he liked the other man butting into his business. "Did I say she wasn't?"
"You thought you loved Nina a year ago,
" he returned, not answering his question. "Don't think I didn't notice."
Jacob's eyes narrowed, not liking Rob's attitude at all or his reminder.
Rob sighed. "I'm not blind, man. Just don't use her as a rebound. She seems like she has enough on her plate."
“How would you know? Everything happened fast, too fast to really know a person.”
Rob shrugged. “She stayed a bit after everything went down. She and Nina got close, and I got to know her. She’s a sweetheart. Just don’t play with her.”
"I'm not playing at anything," he growled, glaring at the other man.
Rob opened his mouth, to say what or get punched in the face he didn't know. Jacob didn't care at that point. He was a grown man, and Connie was an adult. Rob didn't have the right to get in the middle of Jacob's shit, or lack thereof.
Jacob turned away, not wanting to say anything he might regret. Just because he knew the state of his own mind didn’t mean he needed someone else to tell him what to do as well. He was done with that shit.
After Nina told him what room he was assigned to, Jacob headed for it, beyond tired and still unsure exactly what he wanted to do. Everything was jumbled in his mind, and he didn’t want to make the wrong decision with the path of his life. He was tired of fucking up or letting chances slip by. As soon as his head hit the pillow, a switch was flipped, and he was out.
The next morning, Jacob headed down for breakfast, smelling the frying bacon and eggs before he had even hit the bottom step. His stomach growled loudly, and a light chuckle drifted over to him from the couch in the living room. He swirled, spying Connie relaxed in front of the fireplace. It was early fall, still too warm for a fire, so it was silent and still, but a lot of people liked the illusion of the fire. Connie must have been one of them.
Drawn to Vail Mountain (Vail Mountain Trilogy Book 3) Page 2