Gina knew the second Owen was close. Angel alerted her. It filled Gina’s heart to see that Angel and she were developing a strong bond.
Gina released Angel and she took off into the yard. Owen walked over to Gina and as he got closer, she stepped into him and threaded her arm around his back. He draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her in close. She could feel the heat of his body.
“I waited a bit before I returned downstairs and left the lodge,” Owen said. “I didn’t want people getting ideas.”
“Are there any reasons why people should get ideas?” She teased him.
He chuckled. “For the most part, I like to keep my private life private.”
They stood there and watched Angel explore the yard for a bit. Then Owen stepped directly in front of her, tilted her head upwards and looked into her eyes. She held her breath not wanting to break the spell. He searched her eyes as if he thought he’d find whatever it was he was looking for. Then slowly he leaned down and kissed her. It wasn’t the kind of gentle, quick kiss she’d expected. It became demanding, devouring, and promising. She melted into his embrace. When he pulled away, he gently ran his hands through her hair and kissed her once more.
“We should probably go inside before we freeze out here,” he whispered.
Gina showed Owen her new home. They wandered into the kitchen together.
“Would you like something to drink?” she asked him.
“What are you having?”
“I was thinking a cup of homemade cocoa with a splash of Kahlua and brandy.”
“That sounds delicious.” Owen took a seat at her kitchen bar and watched her move around the room. “Can I help?”
“No, thank you. Just sit there and talk to me.” She smiled. He looked hot in jeans. His expensive suits looked striking on him, still there was something about his jeans and cashmere pullover that brought out a different side of him. He seemed more at ease with himself.
“You said you’d found something out. What is it?” Owen asked.
“It just so happens that today I found out that my mother has lied to me since my dad died.”
“Seems my timing couldn’t have been worse,” he said more to himself. “And I walk in and say—Hey, remember me? Well I’m not who I said I was. I’m so sorry, Gina. I feel like a complete heel.” She heard him curse under his breath again. “In all honesty you handled it way better than I would have.”
She held up a bag of tiny marshmallows and he nodded. Suddenly Angel appeared right behind her. “Looks like I’ve found something you like. Sit, Angel.” Angel dropped her behind to the floor quicker than she’d ever done. Gina and Owen laughed as she rewarded Angel with a couple marshmallows. She resealed the bag and Angel returned to her bed in the corner of the kitchen. Gina trickled caramel and then chocolate syrup over the marshmallows and handed Owen one of the mugs.
“This looks decadent,” he said as he sipped it. “This is decadent.” A drizzle of chocolate syrup and caramel remained along his upper lip.
Gina smiled and walked around to where he was sitting. She wedged herself between his legs and leaned in and licked the caramel off his lips.
“Ummm…you taste sinfully sweet.” She winked at him, picked up her mug, took Owen’s hand, and led him into the living room. She grabbed a controller and turned on the gas fireplace. That was Angel’s cue to sprawl in front of it. Owen sat on the sofa and Gina sat down beside him.
“Tell me what happened,” Owen said. He snugged her into him, and she told him the story of her great-great-grandparents and the mansion. He listened intently and when she finished he asked, “You said your mother showed you proof. What was it?”
Gina showed him the contents of the envelope her mother had given her.
“What do you think?” she asked him.
“I think you have pretty good grounds for pursuing this.” He glanced at her. “You say there’s an oil painting that shows this couple,” he pointed at her great-great-grandparents.
“Yes, I put it up today. It’s on the wall behind the reception desk. You didn’t notice it?”
“My mind was focused on you. I don’t think I would’ve noticed Saint Nick if he had bumped into me.”
“Oh, I’m certain his outfit would have jumped out at you.” The two of them laughed. “I don’t want to take advantage of you. But could you suggest some next steps?”
“I want to help you. And I will.” He rubbed a hand over his forehead and through his hair. “There’s one problem.”
“What’s that?” Gina asked.
“The mansion that you’re referring to. Rose told me today that mother said it was stolen from our family generations ago.”
“Pardon?” Why would Rose Brock say the mansion was theirs?
“We need to keep this under wraps. Whichever family’s legacy the mansion is a part of, I will need to deal with my family. Let’s just take this one step at a time and follow where the leads take us.”
She told Owen about her experience with Mrs. Byrd and the items she’d purchased. She pointed out some of them in the living room. He slipped his shoes off and put his legs on the oversized ottoman. She turned on some music and it played softly in the background. Eventually Gina put her legs up on the sofa and Owen settled her in his lap. Before either of them knew it, they slipped off to sleep.
Someone was banging on the door. Angel jumped up and rushed over to Gina, nuzzling her awake. Gina woke with a start.
“Gina, Gina, can you hear me?” Juliet’s muffled voice sounded through the door.
Gina hurried to the door and yanked it open.
“Thank goodness, I thought maybe…” Juliet trailed off when she saw Owen sitting up on the sofa. “Oh my. I’m sorry, but—”
Colton stepped up behind his wife and took in the scene. He didn’t appear the least bit phased. “We got a call from your mother—”
“Is she okay? What’s happened?”
Owen got up and stood beside Gina. He extended his hand to Colton. “I’m Owen Brock.” Colton’s eyebrows shot skyward and Juliet’s mouth formed in the shape of an ‘O’. Owen extended his hand to Juliet, not allowing their responses to stop him. “Juliet, I’m sincerely sorry for my deception when we met the other day. I wanted to be incognito. I didn’t want my sister, Rose locating me.” Juliet nodded her understanding. “Come inside and tell us what’s happening.”
Gina closed the door behind them and glanced at the clock over the fireplace. It was four-thirty in the morning.
“You didn’t have your phone,” Juliet said as she handed it to her. “I found it at the reception desk. I’m so glad you’re safe!”
“Carla has been trying to reach you for a few hours,” Colton said. “The library caught fire. No one knows what happened. It burned to the ground earlier this morning.”
“Oh, my God,” Gina said. “Is Mom OK?”
“Yes,” Colton replied. “She’s fine, but she’s very upset. She said the two of you had discussed a family matter yesterday and said you were going to the library to search for additional information. She was terrified you died in the fire.”
“When she couldn’t reach you, she called us,” Juliet said, finally composing herself. “I’m so glad she was wrong,” Juliet said, hugging Gina tightly.
“So am I, but why in heaven’s name didn’t she come over instead of waking you both up?”
“Your brother wouldn’t let her leave the house. The snow is coming down in piles and has been for hours now. Most of the roads are closed,” Juliet said.
“You should probably give her a quick call,” Owen said. “I’ll go make us a pot of coffee.” Owen looked at Colton. “Do you happen to know your way around her kitchen?”
“I do.” Colton and Owen walked into the kitchen.
Gina phoned her mother and told her she was home safe and sound. She apologized for causing her to worry. She assured her mom that she hadn’t been avoiding her, she’d left her phone upstairs. After her mother’s reassurance that everyone was okay, Gina told her mother she’d speak with her tomorrow, she loved her, and then hung up.
“So…” Juliet said as she snuggled up to Gina. “You and Mister Hottie,” she whispered into Gina’s ear.
They walked back into the living room and Juliet took a seat on the sofa. Gina took the loveseat and tucked her feet up on the other cushion.
“Don’t even start. We were just talking and fell asleep on the sofa.”
“Even you have to admit, there’s definitely some Christmas chemistry going on between the two of you.” Juliet’s face shown with excitement.
Gina shushed Juliet and asked, “Hey, by the way, how did you not know who Owen was? You grew up in Glenville.”
“Owen was a few years ahead of me. And we didn’t exactly run in the same circles. I did mention to Colton that Owen looked like someone I knew but I couldn’t place him. It’s been years. There must be more to his story than hiding from his sister. So why the made-up name?”
Gina ran through a very short version of what happened. The guys came out a few minutes later, talking away like they were the best of friends.
“You have an open invitation to come up to the ski resort any time. You’ll usually find me there,” Colton said as they walked into the living room.
Colton handed his wife her coffee and sat down beside her. Gina thought that Owen would hand her a mug and sit in the chair. Instead he slid her legs off the loveseat, sat down close beside her, and put his arm around her, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Is everything worked out with your mom?” Owen asked.
“For now. I tried to convince her that I wasn’t avoiding her. She’s really upset. Besides, she just lost her job; all the books and historical reports are ashes.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Colton said.
“What do you mean?” Gina asked.
“Everything from historical to current day information regarding Glenville is stored in the basement of the courthouse.”
“That’s right,” Juliet responded. “Colton spent days down in the archives. The history of Glenville is safe.”
Owen rubbed Gina’s shoulder. “Your mother will be relieved to hear the town’s history is still intact.”
“But mom no longer has a job.” Gina dropped her chin to her chest. “She just can’t cut a break.” She kept the rest of her thoughts to herself. She would have to move back in with her family for them to keep the place.
“Don’t worry so much about it. Things have a way of working themselves out,” Owen said.
“So, Owen.” Juliet attempted to take the spotlight off her friend. “How long are you here for?”