Page 33 of The One I Love

Once he did, he’d be out the door and on his way back to Silver Creek. Spotting Nyla sipping champagne with her husband and speaking with a blond woman in a black dress had Miles weaving his way toward them.

He came to a sudden stop when he realized he knew the blonde. Well, maybeknewwas too strong a word, but he remembered Trini Wysocki from an incident at this hotel last year when he and Nyla had rescued her from her lecherous boss.

“Miles.” Trini’s blue eyes lit up at the sight of him. “This is a nice surprise.”

Nyla slanted a glance at the young woman. “I told Trini I thought you were here somewhere.”

“I thought I saw you speaking with the band manager,” Deron said.

“That was me,” Miles confirmed. “I’m having difficulty finding a band that’s available to play on Christmas Eve in Silver Creek. He gave me a few names to contact.”

“Did your other band cancel?” Trini inclined her head. “I don’t know if you remember, but I was an event planner before I went to work for the Grizzlies. I still freelance for my former firm. I can tell you that normally a band for a gig around Christmas would be secured by now.”

“That’s what I’m discovering,” Miles admitted with a shrug. “I only just decided this week to hold a Christmas party.”

Trini reached into the tiny purse hanging by a delicate chain over her shoulder. After pulling out a business card and pen, she scribbled something, then held out the card. “If you need help, just call.”

Miles recognized the name of the firm she worked for. He shook his head. “We’re a small operation. I don’t have the budget to pay someone to help.”

While Miles had his own fortune, he was determined to make his hotel and bar viable without injecting Driskill cash.

“But if I could hire someone,” he told her, “it’d be you.”

Trini’s face flushed with pleasure. She was as pretty as she’d been that long-ago night. Her hair, the color of winter wheat, had been cut short back then. It was longer now, brushing her shoulders in a choppy style that suited her oval face. As she turned more fully toward him, he saw the long scar down the side of her neck.

He hoped that one day she’d tell him what had happened.

“I wrote my cell number on the back of the card,” she said, pushing it into his hand. “You came to my rescue once. I’d be happy to do what I can to help you, no charge.”

He turned the card over in his fingers. “Thanks, but you don’t owe me anything. Nyla and I were happy to help.”

“I’d still love to see the town of Silver Creek, so this would give me a reason to drive there. Think about it.” She refocused on Nyla and Deron. “It was wonderful seeing you both again.”

Miles stepped forward before she could walk away. “Would you like to dance?”

A look of regret crossed her face. “I’m afraid I’m working this evening. I’m here to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Miles nodded. He understood obligations. “Another time perhaps.”

When she left, Miles watched her go, tapping her card against his palm.

“You’ve got something on your mind, little brother,” Nyla teased.

Miles only shrugged. But on his way out the door, he found himself wondering if Trini would not only like to see Silver Creek, but perhaps attend a Christmas celebration at his newly renovated hotel as his guest.

* * *

I hope the ending to THE ONE I LOVE left you with a smile on your face. Anson’s big gesture, putting his entire future on the line for the one he loved, certainly had me smiling.

Now that we know what happened the night Aubrey Parker was killed, the only question remaining is why was it so important for Hal to give June the money to find what happened to her sister?

That question will be answered in ALWAYS THE ONE which will take place in the family’s home town of Silver Creek, Colorado and will bring together Miles and Trini.

If you sign up for my newsletter you’ll be the first to know when the book is scheduled.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out other books in the Silver Creek series, I suggest you start with the first book in the series: JUST SAY YES.

Grab your copy now or keep reading for a sneak peek:

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