Page 9 of When You Were Mine

She knew she had something good here. Something unique. She’d done her market research, of course, and she’d developed a concept this ritzy small mountain town didn’t have—an exclusive, luxury wellness spa centered around a natural hot spring.

It had taken years of planning, saving, and researching, but when she’d discovered the thermal springs on a remote side of Lake Calamity, she’d known she had a winner.

From the moment she got her first permits, she’d begun the slow process of purchasing one parcel of land at a time. This was her baby. Her pride and joy.

And itwouldbe a hit.

Her phone vibrated, and she quickly checked the screen.Oh, thank God.Grace responded.

Grace: I got you! And holiday or not, I’m always baking, so it’s not a problem. I’ll box up everything that’s not in the display cases. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.

Jessica: You’re the best! I can’t thank you enough. But I can give you and Jaime a night of decadence on the house whenever you can get a babysitter!

Grace: I like how you think!

No matter how much her friend loved baking, it was still a matter of days before Christmas Eve. And Grace was not only a stepmom to an adorable little girl but pregnant with her first baby. It was a big ask, and Jess would pay her triple for the inconvenience.

She pocketed her phone just as her sister poked her head into the walk-in. She looked anxious.

“Everything okay?” Jess stepped out, closing the door behind her. “What’s going on?”

“There’s someone out there.”

Shock blasted through her so fast the soles of her feet stung.

Because her sister wouldn’t make a big deal over a random guest. Only if it were someone significant like… Trevor Montgomery.

Is he here?

No, that’s ridiculous.

But her response highlighted how deeply she feared running into him. She knew he lived in town—it preoccupied her every thought—and she dreaded bumping into him at Calamity Joe’s or while out hiking the trails. How mortifying would that be? She could imagine his expression of pity, thinking she’d moved here to pursue him.

Uh, excuse me. Pity?

When he sees this place, he’ll be blown away.

Now, shake it off. It’s definitely not him.“Who is it?”

“You won’t believe this.” Her sister paused for dramatic effect. “It’s Cole.” And then, as if Jess didn’t know exactly who she was talking about, she said, “ColeMontgomery.”

For just one moment, the world stopped spinning. It lurched and rocked.

Trevor’sson?

Is here? Now?

This is not happening.

Heat flashed across her body. “Who’s he with?”Please don’t say Trevor.

Do not say Trevor.

“It’s just him and four little girls.” Amber reached for her. “I can’t imagine how weird this is for you. You don’t have to go out there.”

“No, no. It’s fine.”Liar.It wasn’t fine at all. Disoriented, she didn’t know which impulse to follow. Either she turned back into her office and shut the door or hurried into the dining room to see him.

“Do you think he knows about you?” her sister asked.

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