“India’s brother, Logan, is a partner in a ski resort in Avalon, up in Ulster County.” Darcy knew which location she preferred, but she didn’t get a vote.

Lydia gave a low whistle. “There’s a brother.”

“And this brother,” said Lizzie, “does he happen to be single?”

“And does he happen to have red hair and green eyes and a killer smile, not to mention a set of abs like a cheese grater?” asked Mary.

Darcy smacked her. “Hey, you’ve been snooping.”

“I call it research,” Mary stated. “Is it a secret?”

“No, but it’s...new. It might be nothing. Or it might be a thing.” She knew she was blushing furiously now, because she kind of wanted it to be a thing. She’d even scheduled a shoot for a sports gear client at Saddle Mountain next week, hoping she’d run into him.

“Now it all comes clear,” Lydia said, laughing at Darcy’s flaming cheeks. “We know what Darcy wants for Christmas.”

“Hey—”

“And you can’t smack me,” Lydia said. “No smacking the pregnant sister.”

Chapter Ten

chapter ten

Logan paced back and forth on the train platform, stomping his feet and swinging his arms across his chest in order to stay warm. A cold front had arrived the night before, and it hovered like an alien spaceship, beaming wintry weather down on Willow Lake. A fresh dumping of new snow blanketed the town, and the sun was trying to break through, offering glimpses of frigid blue sky. The fresh snow was a boon for Saddle Mountain, which had opened with great fanfare the first Saturday of December. The place had been busy ever since, teeming with locals and tourists, visitors from the city, people who loved the bright chill of winter and the exhilaration of a day on the slopes.

He hadn’t taken a day—or even more than a few hours—off since the ribbon had been cut by the town mayor at the base of the main chairlift. This day was special, though. In a kind of terrible way. Maya Martin was bringing her kids to stay with him for the next two months.

The cold bit at his earlobes. He tugged his hat down lower and paced a little faster, stimulated by nerves as well as the temperature. He couldn’t imagine what Maya must be feeling right now. How did you tell your kids goodbye for two whole months? Sure, he had a similar challenge with Charlie every time he sent him to his mom’s, but the circumstances were never as extreme as Maya faced.

They would not be allowed to visit her. She had insisted on this. She didn’t want her children brought to the concrete-and-razor-wire-surrounded facility to be frisked and questioned and then ushered into some cheerless, monitored holding room where they would undoubtedly watch her fall apart, only to be escorted away in tears.