Page 132 of Moonlit Colorado

I expected the Harcourts would hire the best lawyers Manhattan had to offer to defend Ainsley, both there and in Colorado. But one thing was certain. I would use every bit of my money and influence to make sure Ainsley served prison time for Nina’s murder. Same with Bristol.

Even if I’d been tempted to stay out of it, Grace wouldn’t have let me. She’d already given me an earful about the subject. I’d assured her we were completely on the same page. There was no way I’d let either of the Harcourt sisters get away with their crimes.

“I’m just thankful Grace is okay,” Ashford said. “Glad you’re safe too, but my little sister…”

I nodded. I would never fully understand that big brother/baby sister bond, but I understood to the depths of my soul how special Grace was. “I get it. But I also want to make myself completely clear. I love Grace, and I would give everything for her. I meaneverything. There was never a question of me walking away from that situation without Grace walking out right alongside me.”

Ashford blew out a heavy breath, making white clouds appear in the frigid air. “I appreciate it. I asked for your intentions toward Grace once, and your answer was pretty vague. But I have the feeling I won’t have to ask again.”

A grin tugged at my lips. “I intend to make Grace very happy for the rest of our lives.”

“Good answer.” He scratched his beard. “I do have one other question for you, though.”

“Hit me.”

“Would you be my best man?”

I turned to stare at him. “Your best man? I assumed you would ask Callum.”

He shrugged sheepishly. “Cal is my brother, and I love him. But you’re my best friend.”

I felt only the briefest hesitation. But I pulled him into a hug. “Then I’m there. I would be honored.” I hadn’t told Ashford yet about tracking down Grayden. Grace had asked me not to. I was leaving that to her, and I had to trust that Ashford would understand.

We had each other’s backs. Someday, I hoped that Ashford would stand by my side when I married his sister. But the women we loved came first.

* * *

I was all smiles as the day wore on. Helping out the staff, mingling with Silver Ridge residents, building a snowman with Grace and the kids during breaks in ski lessons. I even took Grace on a few easy runs, and while she was very much a beginner, she was getting the hang of it.

We reached the bottom of the run and snapped out of our skis just as my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Grace tugged off her helmet. “Someone calling you?”

I pulled out my phone. “Looks like a text.”

“Let me guess, it’s Dixie, demanding another hot toddy. We are probably going to have to cut her off.”

I laughed, thinking of how Dixie had been tearing down the slopes. The woman claimed she didn’t usually spend winter in Silver Ridge, preferring to head to the warmer climes of Florida, but she’d decided to stick around through Thanksgiving this year. I wanted her to make it safe and sound to the holiday and not take out anyone else either, so Grace was probably right.

But when I opened the text, it was from the assistant manager, Rhonda. She’d taken over for Tobin as the acting head manager until I made a final hiring decision. “Someone’s in the lobby for me. And Rhonda added three exclamation points, so I assume it’s urgent.” I gave Grace a quick kiss. “I’ll be back. Watch out for Dixie. Love you.”

“I value my life, so yes, I’ll be watching for Dixie. Hurry back.”

I left my skis in a rack, still grinning as I headed into the lobby.

Then I saw who was waiting for me near the reception desk, and I stopped in my tracks. “Dad.” I glanced over at Rhonda, and she mouthed,Sorry.

No wonder she hadn’t mentioned who was here. My father had probably asked her not to. He wasmyboss and the ultimate owner of the ski resort.

“Son. Is there someplace private we could speak?”

I had to assume Dad had made the trip all the way to Silver Ridge to chew me out in person. Nothing to do but get this over with. “Sure.”

I led him to Tobin’s former office, which Rhonda had been using as acting manager. But she was at the front desk for the moment, and I had no intention of taking my father up to the hotel room I shared with Grace. We had moved our things out of the top-floor suite after it became a crime scene. We’d been staying in a mountain view room on the fifth floor instead.

“I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I decided it would be better to do this unannounced.”

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