Don’t Fall for a Fugitive: Strong Family Romances

by Checketts, Cami

  Heath’s stomach dropped. “Gone? Where?”

  “Apparently she went back to London with her parents.”

  Heath felt a chill wind sweep over him. She would just leave? Go home without saying goodbye? It felt wrong and awful. He looked around at his family. They were either giving him compassionate looks or weren’t meeting his eye. Mama kept a reassuring arm around him.

  Cassie squeezed his hand. “I’m sure she just needed to be with her family after this crazy ordeal. I’ve gone through hard times when all I wanted was to get back to all of you.”

  Mama raised a questioning eyebrow, but Cassie didn’t expound.

  “She’ll contact you or come back,” Cassie said with a certainty Heath didn’t feel.

  Heath nodded, but he wasn’t sure of anything. Hazel had left. How was he going to survive? Should he chase after her?

  Jed was staring at him. “You can’t leave Colorado, Heath, let alone the country. Don’t make this worse.”

  Heath’s shoulders rounded. She’d left, and he couldn’t go chasing after her. He wasn’t sure at this point if he even wanted to. If she cared for him, how could she just leave without a word?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Hazel got home and enjoyed the Christmas holidays with her family. Well, she tried to enjoy the holidays. During the first day, she called her phone repeatedly with her siblings’ phones. It always went to voicemail. Had Heath not even turned it on? Did he not care to?

  On Christmas Eve, a delivery came to their house: a government official returned her luggage and her purse. Hazel should’ve been ecstatic to have her camera equipment back. Before Heath, it had been her life and her joy. Yet her heart sank at the sight of her purse. Heath, or someone in his family, would’ve had to return it to the authorities. No wonder he’d never answered her calls.

  She put everything in the room her mum still kept for her at her flat and went back to join the party. Her mum had made a spice cake with cream cheese frosting, similar to the one she’d made at Gavin’s. She wondered if they’d simply thrown that cake away. Had Heath even tasted it? Was he aching for her like she was for him?

  She hadn’t even been able to tell him goodbye or explain, but surely someone would explain to him that she’d been basically kicked out of his country. Wouldn’t they? She mechanically ate the cake, fighting back the rush of emotion at missing Heath. She’d shared the entire story with her mum, who tried to comfort her on the flight home, telling her she barely knew the man and she couldn’t possibly be this besotted with a stodgy American businessman who seemed to be her complete opposite. How could Hazel explain that she and Heath fit like she’d never dreamt she could fit with someone?

  She determined that after Christmas and Boxing Day, she was going to be making phone calls and figuring out how to undo whatever that gormless git at the consulate had done to her passport. Somehow, she was getting back to America, to the mountains, and especially to Heath.

  Christmas morning dawned cold and grey. There was no new snow, and the city that she loved looked dirty and sad. Inside their flat, everything was joyous and warm, and Hazel focused on that. She adored her family, and her nieces and nephews brought such joy.

  After the presents and stockings were torn into, the adults started cleaning up the mounds of wrapping paper and cleared walking paths through the toys, treats, and other presents. Hazel and her mum made their way into the kitchen to start whipping up scones with honey butter and eggs Benedict with her mum’s special hollandaise sauce.

  The bell rang, barely audible over the din in the flat, and Hazel glanced quickly toward the door. “Expecting someone?” she asked.

  Her mum shook her head, measuring out flour. “Did they deliver all of your things, love?”

  “Yes.” Hazel wasn’t helping her mother anymore; she was studying the door as her brother, Brandon, cradled his youngest like a rugby ball and strode to answer it.

  He swung the door open, but Hazel couldn’t see who was there. Her heart rate was picking up, though, as Brandon easily conversed with the person and then stepped back out of the way, gesturing them in.

  Heath strode into the flat. He looked incredible in a rumpled white button-down shirt and navy-blue sacks. His hair was disheveled, and he hadn’t shaved. Hazel had never seen such an attractive, unkempt man.

  His dark eyes sought her out, and the worry and depression and frustration melted instantly. His gaze was the balm she needed, always. His mouth formed her name. “Hazel.”

  Hazel darted around the counter and past the mounds of toys, leaping over one nephew to avoid trampling him. She registered that the flat had become deathly still, but she didn’t care. “Heath!” His name burst from her lips.

  His face split into a relieved grin as she barreled into him. Hazel jumped and wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his back. Heath caught her and chuckled. “Missed me?”

  “Shut up and kiss me,” she demanded.

  “Gladly.” Heath held her tight and kissed her. It was incredible.

  She never wanted to stop kissing him, but she heard a throat clear behind her, followed by several more. Unwrapping her legs from his back, she slid to her feet, turned slightly, and said, “Mum, Dad, everybody, this is Heath. I’m probably going to marry him and live in America, but he has some explaining to do, so we’ll be right back.”

  Her parents’ jaws fell open, and the rest of the family didn’t look much better. Only the young children seemed unaffected by her announcement.

  “Nice to meet you.” Heath raised a hand and made to step forward to start shaking hands.

  “Not until we’ve properly talked,” she informed him. She grabbed his hand and tugged him out the door and into the hallway between flats.

  Heath was giving her a bemused smile as she slammed the door shut behind them. He let out a soft moan and cupped her face with his hands. “I’d forgotten how beautiful you are.”

  She smiled, ducking her head slightly. “In two days?”

  “It seems like much longer.”

  She nodded in agreement. “What happened?”

  He released her face but stayed close. “After I got out of questioning, you were gone. At first I was afraid that you’d wanted to leave, but then Gavin pulled me aside and told me that I was wrong, that he was certain you cared for me every bit as much as I cared for you, and somebody must have forced you to leave.”

  She nodded. “An American git. He revoked my passport or some such nonsense. They made me come home with my parents. I’d decided tomorrow I was going to fight it.”

  “Oh.” His shoulders relaxed. He wrapped his hands around hers and squeezed. “I was told not to leave Colorado, but luckily Jed was able to get with some of his contacts with the FBI, vouch for me, and overrule the guy who didn’t think I should leave. I felt horrible asking my pilot to leave his family at Christmas, so I flew commercial.” He blew out a breath. “That’s miserable stuff. I’ve been in airports or on planes for …” He seemed to be calculating in his head. “Thirty-six hours. I’m sorry I look so horrible. I just wanted to get to you.”

  Hazel hugged him fiercely, kissing him until he knew exactly how appealing he looked. “You look incredible, amazing. I like seeing you unpolished and rumpled.”

  “Really?” He chuckled and held her close. “I like seeing you any way I can get you.”

  She kissed him but then pulled back and said, “I can’t tell you what it means that you came for me, but I was serious in there.”

  “About?” His brow wrinkled.

  “Moving to America, being there for you.”

  He stared at her. “You can’t commit to something like that, Hazel. Your family is here. Your life is here.”

  “But you are there,” she said stubbornly.

  His dark eyes were soft and warm. “I would move here for you. I could start a new resort.”

  “I’m not sure we have quite the skiing that you’re used to.”

  He shrugged. “I c
an make it work.”

  “No.” She shook her head and ran her hands up his arms, resting her palms on his strong shoulders. “I’m coming to America. I’m going to meet all of your family and tour around and see your lovely resorts and homes, and we’re going to fall deeply in love, and someday soon you’re going to propose, and we’ll have a right proper church wedding right here in London with both of our families. Then we’ll officially settle in America. It’ll be perfect.”

  Heath chuckled. “So you’ve got it all planned out.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  The door cracked behind him. “Have we given you long enough?” her dad asked. “We’d like to properly meet this American bloke.”

  “Coming.” Hazel glanced up at him. “After he agrees to the plan.”

  Heath’s dark eyes sparkled. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up into the air. “Agreed,” he said happily. “I love your plan.”

  As he lowered her slowly, she gave him a tender kiss. “I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you,” she admitted.

  “I was a bit slower than that, but I love you enough now to make up for it.” He winked and bent close, capturing her mouth with his.

  Her family could wait. Brunch could wait. Nothing really mattered but being with the man she loved.

  Epilogue

  Hazel stood at the top of a barmy high mountain at Angel Falls Retreat in Lone Peak, Colorado. It was the end of January. It had taken her a while to get clearance to get back to America and she’d only been here for three days, sadly missing Trey and Ella’s wedding. Her connections weren’t as good as Heath’s, obviously. Brigham was in prison, and Jamison had recovered. Her family had fallen in love with Heath over the past two weeks, and now she was getting to return the favor and spend time with his family, who she already adored.

  “Ready?” Heath asked, putting his goggles down.

  “No,” she admitted. “No, no, no. Where’s Austin?” She loved that little man, and he was always quick to hold her hand or be right by her side when she needed a friend.

  Austin sailed past her, whooping. “You got this, Hazel. You’re ready. Meet you at the falls!”

  Hazel’s heart was threatening to beat out of her chest.

  Heath smiled over at her. “You’re not feeling ready?”

  “Heath Strong,” she said forcefully, “this is a black diamond run, and I am a newbie. What in that brilliantly beautiful head of yours believes I am ready for this?”

  He chuckled. “This is only a blue, and I know how brilliant and amazing you are. I have faith in you.” He backed up and came around behind her, wrapping his arms around her and positioning her skis between his. “But if you’d prefer, we can go down this way.”

  She leaned back against him. “I always prefer being close to you. Thank you.” She put her own goggles on and murmured, “Be careful with me.”

  “Always.” Heath pushed off, and though the slope was terrifyingly steep for her, he went back and forth and they slowly made their way down.

  They had been skiing for maybe twenty minutes. She was loving the view, the sunshine, the fresh air, and especially Heath’s presence. She wanted to get her camera up here, but she’d have to improve a lot as a skier to do so. She’d been able to get some unreal pictures of the valley and the views from the bunny hill. Heath had scheduled a helicopter for tomorrow so she could snap some aerial shots. Life was incredible, and she wasn’t even worried about her teeny fear of heights and a helicopter ride. She’d simply stare into Heath’s eyes and be right as rain.

  As they came around a large copse of trees, her jaw dropped. To her right, the frozen falls went majestically up and down the mountain. The sight was gorgeous. She could hardly wait to hike this in the spring and see the water tumbling down that slope and over the rocks. Would they be covered in moss then? She could just imagine the pictures. She’d have to request that this be one of the places they flew to tomorrow.

  The rest of the Strong family was congregated near the roped-off edge close to the falls, expectantly watching them as they skied closer.

  “About time!” Austin hollered. “You been a-smooching somewhere?”

  “I wish,” Hazel called back.

  Austin giggled, and everyone else laughed. Heath guided them to a stop, popped off his skis and then knelt down and popped off hers.

  “What are you doing?” She smiled up at him.

  Heath wrapped his arms around her and studied her. “I was going to wait until tomorrow, up in the helicopter soaring over the sky. But then Austin reminded me that family is the most important thing, and he deserves to part of the big moments in my life.” He turned to wink at his little brother, who gave him a broad grin and a thumbs-up. “They all want you to be part of our family too,” Heath said.

  Hazel glanced at his family again, who were all grinning.

  “We love you,” Mama said.

  Hazel held up her hands in a heart shape. She was trembling. “Love you back.” She turned back to Heath. “Are you saying …”

  Her voice trailed off as he removed his gloves and dropped them, then unzipped a pocket on his coat, pulling out a diamond ring that caught the sunlight and sent glittering sparks every direction.

  Heath dropped to one knee and tugged off her left glove. Holding that hand in his, he smiled up at her, but she could see a trace of the uncertainty that had drawn her in. This man might seem to have it all, but he needed her. “You came as a shock to me, Hazel.” He smiled softly as his family chuckled. “I don’t think the good Lord has ever put such a perfect surprise in my path. I love you, and I don’t want to ever be without you.”

  “I love you!” Hazel screamed, bowling into him and knocking him backward onto the snow. “Yes!”

  “Did he ask her anything yet?” Gavin said dryly behind them.

  Hazel ignored Gavin and framed Heath’s face with one gloved hand and one bare hand as she lay on top of him in the snow. “Any question you have, the answer is yes.”

  Heath grinned. “That’s pretty brave.”

  “I’m a brave girl.”

  “Yes, you are.” He leaned up and kissed her then. The world exploded with heat and joy as his family cheered behind them. “Marry me?” he whispered against her lips.

  “Already a yes.” She grinned and then pushed him into the snow and kissed him again.

  Don’t Date Your Brother’s Best Friend

  Ella Strong drove her new Camry down the mountain pass that led to her Colorado valley and sighed with relief, “Home.” The little town of Lonepeak was all there like a postcard in front of her. Downtown still boasted wide tree-lined streets and quaint little shops, all cookie-cutter with a faux wrought-iron railing on the second story and their own light post. Houses and farms were spread throughout the valley. Honest, hardworking people she’d known and loved her entire life occupied those spots just like she’d remembered—and, in her mind, just as they should be.

  She strained for a peek at the spot she loved most in all the world, without running her new car off the road. There. Straight across the valley, she could make out the lodge rising above the pine trees, with ski lifts and runs twisting up the mountain behind it. In June, the lifts were used for mountain biking instead of skiing, but she loved that too.

  The Strong family had owned and operated Angel Falls Retreat since before Ella was born. Her mama’s family roots were here, and they’d owned the property and a small ski lift and bed and breakfast. Her parents had met snow-skiing in Aspen as college students. They’d both dreamed and schemed of making the mountain into something incredible. Many years and hours of work later, it was a thriving year-round retreat. Her oldest brother, Gavin, mostly ran the resort now. Ella’s second-oldest brother, Heath, had even expanded the concept and had resorts of his own in Utah, Wyoming, Connecticut, and West Virginia.

  Ella pushed the pedal down. The car responded, and she bypassed town and made it home in record time. She pulled into the main lodge parkin
g lot. There were smaller villas scattered away from the main lodge, and the newer spa and ski and bike shop was to the east. Her family’s home was west, in a smaller canyon. Their canyon was private and gated, hidden from the resort, but she knew Gavin was a workaholic. She’d find him here and maybe Austin and Mama, then go see her papa.

  Sliding into a parking spot, she jumped out and hurried toward the lodge. A man whizzed through the parking lot on a mountain bike. He must not have seen her, as he almost buzzed her.

  “Watch out!” Ella called.

  “Excuse me,” he said, braking to a stop. He spun around and pedaled back to her. Stopping right in front of her, he leaned over his handlebars. His eyes swept over her, letting her know he was interested, but it was a little over the top. She didn’t even know him, yet he gazed at her like he had paid for the right to gawk. “I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”

  “Apparently,” she sassed back, putting one hand on her hip and tossing her long, dark curls.

  He grinned. “Can I gain your forgiveness by buying you dinner?”

  Ella took a quick inventory, not sure if she wanted to spend more time with this guy or not. He was a built dude and his bike was top of the line, Emonda. His high-end bike clothes reeked of wealth. Not that she was opposed to wealth, as long as the guy had earned it. Hardworking and fun were qualities at the very top of her list for the man who would snag her heart.

  “No, you can’t,” a voice said at her shoulder.

  Ella knew that voice. She loved the depth and timbre of it. Quite often, she heard it in her dreams. She turned slightly, and there he was. Trey Nelson. The man who had defined everything that she’d wanted in a man since the day she’d realized boys and girls were different creatures.

  Unfortunately, Trey had never wanted her in return. He was the best friend of her oldest brother, Gavin, and since he was six years older than her, Trey had always treated her like his little sister. He was protective of her, liked to tease her, and had probably never once envisioned dating her like she dreamt about daily. Correction: used to dream about.