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Then he saw his mom. She stood back by the check-in desk, next to Jace’s open office door, beaming as if she was absolutely certain he had found his match. Oh boy. Though his parents had no vested interest in the resort, his mom came to help in the kitchen almost every day because she loved to cook for a crowd and loved to be near her boys and her best friend. Bentley would be out skiing as he was every day of the week but Sunday. Their dad would be at home, watching whatever sporting event was on. His dad’s multiple sclerosis made it impossible for him to ski and be active like he used to be. It was hard for all of them to watch him deteriorate, but he was a great man and stayed as positive as anyone with such a condition could.
It turned out Ayla didn’t need Jace to support her, or any kind of encouragement to tell Bryan off. She whirled on Bryan, her expressive face painted with abject frustration. She jabbed a finger at him, and said, “You promised me separate suites.”
He stepped back, holding up his hands but also rolled his eyes. “It’s fine, Ayla. It’s a two-bedroom suite. You’ll have your own room. I paid a lot of money for the nicer, newer suite. You should’ve seen the pictures of the hotel rooms. Dumpy.”
Jace was confused, irrationally hopeful, and annoyed. His hotel rooms weren’t dumpy. They weren’t gorgeous, built to the highest quality standard by Klein and Alivia Vance, made to look rustic, and decked out with the nicest furnishings like his suites, but they were nicer than a standard hotel room.
But the more pressing issue—were they married or not, and why was Ayla so uncomfortable? If they were dating, a two-bedroom suite would give her privacy but allow them to relax together in the evenings, in front of the beautiful fire, with the snow falling outside, and the room all decorated for Christmas.
He hated that image.
“It is not fine, and it was not the agreement. I should’ve kicked your tush off the plane the second you showed up uninvited.” She whirled back to Jace. All the hope that she was available was pushed to the side with the concern he felt for her. Was the guy abusive or controlling? How could Jace intervene, help, and protect her?
It was the second week of December and they were booked completely. He was betting everywhere in the valley was booked. The only space available he could think of was his own cabin. He and Ammon had both built cabins near their parents’ home, less than half a mile from their lodge, so they could help their mom with their dad and Bentley.
What if he offered to go stay with his parents or Ammon and let her stay in his cabin? His rational mind couldn’t believe he was even thinking of opening his home and wanting to grow closer to, protect, and comfort this intriguing woman. His caught up in Ayla mind was saying to whisk her off her feet and away from Bryan. To step up and be her hero, protect and hold her, and see where a relationship with such a woman could go.
Tanner held their suitcases, looking uncomfortable. Ayla looked even more uncomfortable. Most of the crowd had drifted away.
“Excuse me.” A tap came on his shoulder. He turned to see a young dad holding the escapist little girl Jace had almost knocked down.
“Hi,” Jace greeted him. “Is she okay?”
The toddler had curly dark hair and eyes and dimpled cheeks.
“Yes, thanks to you leaping over her. We try to keep Quinn under control, but she’s really fast. Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. She’s cute.”
The little girl waved at him and rambled off a sentence so quick he only caught a few words: snow, me, and Santa were among them.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Quinn.” He extended his hand.
The little girl giggled, put her hand in his, and squeezed tight.
“You’re the owner?” the man asked as Quinn pulled her soft hand back and clapped them together, tossing her curls from side to side.
“My brother and I,” Jace said. He chanced a glance at Ayla. She hadn’t moved, but the look in her eyes changed. She was obviously thinking if he was the owner maybe he could help her not sleep in Bryan’s suite.
“This resort is incredible; we’ve had the best vacation here this week with my wife’s family. The skiing is top notch and the food in your restaurant is delicious. We also respect and appreciate you being closed on Sunday. We’re renting a house down in town and we love the little town, but next year we’re going to try to book early and each get a suite so we can stay right at the resort. We love it here.”
“Thank you.” Jace enjoyed all the compliments he and Ammon’s resort received. When he was chasing his Olympic dreams and then his Iluminada dreams, he’d ditched Ammon, his family, his friends, and this valley for a while. He hated to think about how self-absorbed and overconfident he’d been and could never thank Ammon enough for doing the work of four men to keep everything going and everyone happy. He’d never leave his family or this valley again.
“Dumpy” hotel rooms? He didn’t like to judge people, but Bryan rubbed him the wrong way. Was it only because he was with the woman Jace was drawn to, or was Bryan a jerk all the way around? Why would Ayla be with him then?
“See you around.” The dad and Quinn both waved as he walked off toward a family gathered around a group of couches by one of the free-standing fireplaces.
Jace turned back to Ayla, Bryan, and Tanner. None of them had moved. Ayla blinked those beautiful blue eyes at him, her gaze begging for his help. Jace had resisted more women than he could count, but he had no idea how to resist her.
Bryan looked seriously ticked off. “Stop making such a big deal out of this, Ayla,” he said condescendingly. “You got a free vacation. Just enjoy it.”
The guy was trying to trick her into sleeping with him because he brought her on vacation? Not on Jace’s watch. The protectiveness he felt for Ayla was surprising, new, and fierce. He’d keep her safe from this guy and anyone else who tried to cajole her.
“Just enjoy it?” Ayla fired right back. Jace loved her grit and confidence. “I earned this trip through my own hard work, hitting every unreasonable bonus box you put out there. Imagine my surprise when you are not only on the plane with me but booking a two-bedroom suite together? It is not acceptable, and I refuse to stay in the same suite with you. I’ll sleep on that couch.” She pointed at the gathering area.
“Sheesh.” Bryan arched an eyebrow. “Do I need to remind you who owns the company you earned those bonuses from?”
So they weren’t married but employer and employee? Jace’s hopes took a leap and he took a sidestep closer to Ayla. Maybe she wasn’t duplicitous like Iluminada. Maybe she was as trustworthy, down-to-earth, and hardworking as she was gorgeous and appealing. Maybe she was every bit as incredible as he’d first felt and the woman he could believe wouldn’t shatter him when she walked away.
