Page 137 of Sunkissed Colorado

“Eliza, this is my sister Grace O’Neal. You’ve probably seen her around town.”

“Yes, but when I invited you here, I didn’t expect a crowd.”

Grace straightened to her full height, which wasn’t all that much. “I’m here for my brother and Zandra. That’s what family does. We show up when it matters, and we don’t ask permissionto take care of the people we love. So if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like someone to point me to the kitchen so I can get dinner ready.Please.”

Her last word echoed on the vaulted ceiling above us, then fell into silence.

“Very well,” Eliza said stiffly. “Right this way.”

Dane and I shared a knowing smile. Grace was scary when she wanted to be.

While Gladys showed Grace to the kitchen, helping to carry the takeout bags, Dane introduced himself to Eliza. And wouldn’t you know it, when Eliza heard he wasthatDane Knightly, owner of the Silver Ridge Ski Resort, she got a lot more friendly.

Half an hour later, Piper had arrived, as well as Zandra’s aunt Rosie and Jimmy Perkins. Piper’s son Ollie was staying with Ashford and Emma today. Ashford had texted that he wanted to come see us, but he and Emma were on kid duty and didn’t want to bring Maisie and Ollie if they might disturb Zandra’s recovery.

Of course, there were already enough big personalities here to have the noise levels high.

The house was buzzing with activity as everyone pitched in to heat up food, get drinks, set the dining table. Grace had brought a few different kinds of creamy, pureed soups that would be easy on Z’s throat. All allergen-free and ready for whenever Z came downstairs.

The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” I said, already heading toward the front of the house. I was pretty sure I knew who this would be.

Connor stood on the porch with a couple of duffel bags. And a cat carrier holding a very grumpy looking Chloe.

I reached out to give him a quick hug and a back slap. “Thanks for this, man. Appreciate it. Was Chloe difficult about getting in the carrier?”

“If leaving a gouge in my forearm is difficult, then yes.”

“Shit, sorry.”

“It’s cool. I’ll live. Grabbed all Chloe’s stuff Icould find.”

“Litter? And that fountain thing?”

“Yep. For your bags, I wasn’t sure how much to pack, so I mainly grabbed basics.”

“And the gnome?”

“The weird gnome too. Let me know if I missed anything else essential.”

“I’m sure it’s fine.” I lowered my voice. “Hoping this will only be a few days.”

Connor’s smile was half-hearted. “At least it’s a fancy place. Is there room service?” He glanced past me into the entry.

“Nah, but plenty of clean towels. You want to come in?”

“I can’t. Other plans.”

So many people had turned out for me and Zandra today, and my roommates were no exception. I already knew Darius and Niko had been at the scene of the fire last night after the call went out.

Connor was the only one I hadn’t heard much from, but here he was, delivering clothes and other essentials he’d packed up from my and Zandra’s rooms.

“Darius told me about your new girl. I’m guessing you were out with her last night?”

Connor glanced at his sneakers. “Yeah, she’s not from Silver Ridge. Things are…getting more serious. You know?”

“That I do.” My last conversation with Darius came to mind. The thought that we might not be living together for much longer. “We should all go out sometime. Me and Zandra, you and your girl.”

“Thanks.” But Connor’s eyes didn’t meet mine. “I better go.”