“Thanks,” Erica said and meant it. In all the strangeness of her new world, it was good to have at least one person here who seemed to be on her side. Why Melissa had decided to be an ally seemed clear enough. Heaven knew that Erica would have loved to have a sister to help her stand against her older brothers occasionally.

“Now,” Melissa asked, pointing at the piles of brochures and pamphlets scattered across the coffee table, “what are you doing with all of this stuff?”

Laughing, Erica scooped up one or two of the forgotten pamphlets. “I was trying to learn all I could about Jarrod Ridge.”

Melissa took a sip of wine. “There’s an easier way. Just ask me.”

“Okay, I will as soon as I figure out what to ask.”

“Deal. So, Christian told me you’re in PR?”

Glad for a respite of talking about her now tangled family ties, Erica said, “Yes, and apparently that’s what I’ll be doing here, too.”

“That means working with Trevor. You’ll like him. Easygoing, hard to ruffle,” Melissa said, “unlike the rest of the bunch.”

“I met Guy this afternoon.”

“How’d that go?”

“Cool, but polite.”

“That sounds about right,” Melissa told her. “Of the twins, Guy’s more reasonable. Blake not so much. But he’ll come around. Just don’t let him scare you off.”

That didn’t sound promising, Erica thought, now even more reluctant than ever to meet Blake Jarrod. But there would be no way to avoid it and now, knowing for sure that he was going to be less than welcoming, it gave her a chance to prepare. To be ready to stand up for herself as she’d had to do most of her life.

“I’m here and I’m not leaving,” Erica told her. “If Blake’s unhappy with that, he’ll just have to get over it.”

“Good for you!” Melissa grinned at her, obviously pleased at her new sister’s inner strength.

If only she knew, Erica thought, that right now, her strength was little more than a carefully constructed front. Inside, she was quavering. But she, too, would get over it.

“Now then,” Melissa was saying, “there’s Gavin to deal with, too. He’s sort of shut-off emotionally, so probably won’t be much trouble. But good luck getting a smile out of him.”

“He sounds a lot like my older brothers.”

“That’s right. Christian told me that you’re the only girl in your family, too. What do your brothers think of you being here?”

“They tried to talk me out of it—as did my fa—” she caught herself and amended what she had been going to say. “Walter.”

Melissa reached out and patted her hand, sending her a commiserating smile at the same time. “It’s going to get confusing with all of the fathers around here, isn’t it?”

“I suppose.”

“Look, my dad may have been your biological father, but Walter’s still the man who raised you,” Melissa said softly.

“I know, it’s just …” How to explain her need to stand alone, to find answers? To live with the feelings of guilt and betrayal she had for turning her back on Walter, despite the fact that she’d never really felt any real warmth from him?

“So, are you and Walter close?”

“No,” she answered quietly, wishing she could say otherwise. “How about you and your dad?”

Melissa sighed and shook her head. “No. I was two when my mother died and my father didn’t really know what to do with me, I guess. So he did nothing.” She smiled ruefully. “I know how it sounds, poor little rich girl. The truth is though, Erica, you got the better end of this bargain. You weren’t raised here.”

“At least you had this place,” Erica told her. “It’s so beautiful here.”

“A golden jail is still a cell.” A long moment of silence passed during which Erica didn’t have a clue what to say or do. She’d have liked to offer her sister comfort, but wasn’t at all sure it would be welcome. Besides, she knew all too well that sympathy didn’t always salve ancient hurts. Sometimes it only made it worse. So she kept quiet and waited until Melissa came out of her musings herself.

“Anyway, ancient history for both of us, right? Moving on. So, PR girl … what do you think about helping me design a new menu of services for the spa?” She grabbed the old one off the coffee table and glared at it. “This one is so generic it’s tired. I’d like something splashy. Something bright. Oh, and something about the yoga classes I’m going to be teaching. Do you do yoga?”

Erica laughed at the rapid-fire statements, grateful that they’d left the subject of their fathers and sad, lonely childhoods behind. Shaking her head, she said, “Yoga? No thanks. I’m just not that bendy. But I’d love to work up a new brochure with you. If I have time with the food and wine gala preparations …”

“Oh, yeah.” Melissa sighed in disgust. “True. Okay, once you get that going, then we’ll tend to my little slice of Jarrod Ridge.”

“Sounds good.”

“So,” Melissa said, and lifted her wineglass in a toast. “Here’s to us. Sisters by birth, friends by choice.”

“Here’s to us,” Erica said and clinked her glass against the rim of Melissa’s. She could only hope that the remaining meetings with her siblings would go even half so well.

Six

The next morning, Gavin walked into the Manor to meet Erica Prentice in Christian’s office.

Sister?

Not as far as he was concerned. She was a stranger who shared a little Jarrod DNA. Logically, he knew that she, too, was being manipulated from the grave by Don Jarrod. But it didn’t make her being here all right.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about this new sister taking up a place at Jarrod Ridge. Hell, he wasn’t even happy about having to be there himself. But for him it was different. The Manor was filled with memories, good and bad. He felt his father’s presence everywhere in the old building and knew that wherever Don was now, the old man was enjoying watching his children wrestle with the terms of his will.

“Just like him,” Gavin muttered as he walked through the crowded lobby, discounting the low roar of dozens of voices locked in conversations. He continued on along the hall toward Christian’s office, resenting the fact that he was here at all. He’d made a life apart from the Ridge and his father had known it. But then, he thought, that would have been half the fun for Don. Upsetting his children’s plans to ensure that his own worked out as he wanted.

“Nothing Don liked better than stirring things up and seems like he’s done a great job of it this time,” he told himself.

He’d already talked to Guy and Melissa about their new sister and while Guy was withholding judgment, Melissa had, of course, come down on Erica’s side. Though he appreciated the input, Gavin would make up his own mind and he believed firmly in not putting off what could get done today.

Unlike Blake. He knew damn well that Blake had left for Vegas deliberately this time, not wanting to be at the Manor when Erica arrived. As for Trevor, well, he was supposed to be here this morning but he’d do whatever felt right for him at the moment.

As if his thoughts had conjured him out of thin air, Gavin’s youngest brother pushed away from a wall and lifted one hand in greeting.

“Wasn’t sure you’d come in,” Trevor said.

“I told you I’d be here.”

Trevor smiled. “And you’re always exactly where you’re expected to be.”

“There something wrong with that?”

“No,” Trevor answered with a shake of his head, “But don’t you ever get tired of leading such a regimented life?”

“It’s not—” He broke off, clearly not interested in rehashing the same old discussion.

Trevor admired his oldest brother. Hell, as a kid, he’d practically worshipped him. But now that they were all grown, Trevor thought Gavin’s life could use some shaking up. Coming back to the Ridge was a start, but he needed more. The man was wound too tight, Trevor told himself sadly. While he, on the other hand, took life as it came, did as he wanted and planned to have no regrets when it came time for him to check out.

Just another reason he’d gone along with his late father’s machinations to get them all back to the Ridge. Not that Trevor had gone far from the Jarrod family home. And why would he have? He loved skiing and he’d never find better than what Aspen could offer. Besides, he had his house in town, his own company and too many friends to just pack up and disappear.

So he’d stayed in Colorado while everyone else had gone. He’d missed his brothers and sister, though, so despite how it had happened, he was glad they’d come back.

As for his new sister, Trevor was willing to give her a shot. After all, it wasn’t her fault Don Jarrod was her father.

“So, you ready to meet her?” Gavin asked. Trevor snorted a laugh. “You don’t have to make it sound like we’re going to a hanging.”

His brother sighed. “And you don’t have to turn it into a social event.”

“It is a social event, man. We’re going to meet our long-lost sister and unless you’re trying to scare her off, you might want to paste a smile on your face.”

“You smile enough for both of us.”

“You’re hopeless, you know that, right?” Trevor asked and then, more seriously, said, “She’s probably more upset by all this than we are, Gavin. Maybe you could cut her a little slack?”

“Fine. Slack for the newcomer. No slack for you.”

Trevor laughed.

Grumbling, Gavin fell into step alongside his brother and swung past the hotel’s business center. They walked on to Christian’s office. The man didn’t have a secretary guarding his gate. Instead, he used the employees of the business center to take care of whatever tasks he needed done. Which made dropping in on him even easier.

After a brisk knock, Gavin opened the door and stepped inside, with Trevor just a pace behind him.

Looking up from his paperwork, Christian smiled. “She’s not here yet.”

“Late, huh?” Gavin pointed out.

“No,” Trevor corrected with a sigh and shake of his head. “We’re early.” Then he walked into the room and dropped into one of the available chairs. Looking at Christian he asked, “So what’s the newest Jarrod like?”

Christian leaned back in his chair and studied the two men. Gavin was standing off to one side, his arms folded across his chest. Trevor, on the other hand, looked the picture of relaxation. The two of them had offered to come in to meet Erica together and Christian had agreed, hoping Trevor’s presence would be enough to mitigate Gavin’s penchant for aloofness.

“What’s she like?” he mused, and instantly his mind filled with images of Erica. Her eyes, her mouth, her delicate, but curvy figure and just how much he wanted her. But an instant later, he shut those thoughts down as quickly as he could. Not exactly the description he could give Erica’s brothers.

“She’s smart. Funny. Strong.” His gaze shifted from Gavin to Trevor and back again. “She’s nervous, as anyone would be, but she’s determined to make this a success.”

“Why is this so important to her?” Gavin asked. “Hate to admit it, but good question,” Trevor agreed.

Frowning, Christian said, “You know what your relationship with Don was like. Well, that’s what she had with the man who raised her. From what I can gather, she was cut out of their family business and now that she’s been brought into this one, she’s focused on making it work.”

“Focused.”

Christian looked at Gavin. “She knows that you guys aren’t exactly ready to throw her a welcome-to-the-family party. And from what I can gather, she’s used to that kind of behavior from her older brothers.”

“Well, that’s telling us,” Trevor muttered. “So we can play nice or we can be the bastard brothers she’s accustomed to.”

“Exactly,” Christian said with a nod. It was important to him that they understand. That they give Erica the chance she deserved. He wasn’t willing to explore why it was important to him, though. Point was, “She’s innocent in this, you know. If you’re pissed that your father had an affair with her mother, be pissed at him.”

Gavin shifted position uneasily as if he were feeling the stirrings of guilt and didn’t like it a damn bit. “I didn’t say I blamed her for any of this. It’s just a difficult situation. For everyone.”

“It is,” Erica said softly.

Christian’s gaze snapped to the doorway and the woman who stood poised, alone, watching them. He stood up and said, “Erica.”

She spared him a quick smile, but it was gone too soon in Christian’s opinion. What was it about this woman that grabbed at him? Why was he having so much trouble reminding himself that as an employee of Jarrod Ridge, the Jarrod family was off-limits to him?

Trevor came lazily to his feet and Gavin turned to face their younger sister.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she was saying as she walked into the room, with her chin tilted defiantly. “But I couldn’t help overhearing. Since I was the topic of conversation anyway, I thought it was as good a time as any to introduce myself.”

Christian spared brief glances at both of the Jarrod men and he saw Gavin trying to think back and figure out if he’d said anything he should apologize for. While, at the same time, Trevor’s mouth was quirked in an approving smile.

“Erica,” Christian said, coming around his desk to align himself at her side—both physically and figuratively. “These are your brothers, Gavin and Trevor.”

She returned Trevor’s smile, then looked at Gavin. They stared at each other for a long minute and Christian could actually feel the tension building in the room. And then suddenly, it was gone as Gavin stepped forward, held out his hand to her and said, “Welcome, Erica.”

She only hesitated an instant before shaking his hand. “Thank you. I heard you say this was difficult and you’re not wrong. This whole situation has been just as hard on me as it has been on all of you.”

“You’re right,” Trevor said as he came up to join them. “And whatever you heard before you came in, pay no attention. Everybody’s a little on edge, being back at the Ridge, and that’s bleeding over into everything else.”

“I appreciate that,” she told him.

Christian felt that stir of admiration for her again for how well she stood up to brothers who clearly weren’t eager to have her in the family. Whether she was wanted to be here or not, she had a place at the Ridge. Through birth. Through blood. Because Don Jarrod had wanted to bring all of his children home.

“Once you’re settled in, come and see me,” Trevor was saying. “We’ve got the food and wine gala right around the corner now. Most of the marketing and publicity is already lined up and in play. But there are a few things we can still do to give it that final push.”

Erica nodded. “I’ve heard about the gala for years, though I’ve never attended. I’m looking forward to being a part of it this year. Last night, Melissa showed me some of what you’d been doing and it’s really fabulous.”

He grinned, apparently satisfied.

“But,” she added, “I’ve got a few ideas we might want to try.”

His eyes narrowed on her thoughtfully, then after a moment, he gave her a grin. “I like confidence, so yeah, I’d like to hear your ideas. Tomorrow work for you?”

“Tomorrow’s great.”

Gavin interrupted them. “I know this isn’t easy on you, being here. Being thrown into the middle of something you didn’t even know existed a week ago.”

“No,” she said, “it’s not.”

He nodded. “I came in here prepared to not like you,” he admitted and smiled when she stiffened. “But I’ve got a lot of respect for anybody who’s not afraid to stand up for him—or herself.”

“And I respect anyone who’s trying to protect his family,” Erica told him. “As for standing up for myself, I’ve been doing that my whole life.”

“I’m getting that,” Gavin said with an approving nod. “I think you just might make a place for yourself here … little sister.”

Erica gave him a careful smile, pleased but clearly not willing to relax her guard just yet. Then the moment was over and the Jarrod brothers were excusing themselves.

Christian couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He hardly noticed when his friends left. All he saw were two amber-colored eyes watching him with a mixture of nervousness and satisfaction shining in their depths. She was pleased with the way she’d handled herself and damned if he wasn’t, as well.

He’d set this meeting up specifically so that he would be there when she met her brothers. So that she wouldn’t be alone. Not that he didn’t believe the Jarrod siblings, even if they were angry about the situation, would be anything but polite. It was only that Christian had wanted her to have his support and know that she had it. He didn’t ask himself why that was important to him, he only accepted that it was.

She was still nervous, but the others wouldn’t have been able to tell. Funny, but he’d once thought her features easy to read. Now he knew the truth. Though she might be quaking in her shoes, she’d never let anyone know it.

Their first meeting had been different. She’d been taken off guard and her shock and stunned surprise had been impossible to hide. But he’d learned since that the only real hint to what Erica Prentice was feeling lay in her eyes. There, her emotions shone out loud and clear.

Despite her lifted chin and firm voice, those eyes of hers showed him that she was silently battling her own fears. Yet despite everything, every time she went into battle, she came out victorious. He admired the hell out of that. Almost as much as he wanted her.

Desire was now a constant companion. Haunting him through his sleep, torturing him during the day. Thoughts of her were never far away and his body was in a constant state of arousal. He’d never before felt such a powerful pull toward any woman. And every moment he spent with her only intensified those feelings.

“Gee, that went well,” she said after a moment or two of silence that practically throbbed with unresolved tension.

“Believe it or not, it did,” Christian answered. “I think you impressed both of them.”

Her gaze fixed on his. “I wasn’t trying to impress.”

“Maybe that’s why you did. Just by being yourself. They respect strength.”

She smiled ruefully. “Good thing they couldn’t hear my knees knocking then, isn’t it?” She walked across his office and looked out the window behind his desk at the sweep of lawn that seemed to stretch all the way to the mountains. “You arranged that meeting specifically so I wouldn’t stumble across my … brothers on my own, didn’t you?”

“Yeah,” he admitted. “I thought it would be easier if I were around.”

She turned her head to look directly at him. Her gaze slammed into his. “It was. Thank you.”

He stared into her eyes and it was all he could do to keep from going to her, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her until neither of them could breathe. But somehow he managed. “You’re welcome. You’ve still got Blake to meet and deal with, but he should be back in a couple of days.”

“From what everyone says, I’m not looking forward to meeting him.”

“Blake’s all right,” Christian told her, not wanting her to be anxious over the last Jarrod hurdle she had to face. “He’s not really happy with the situation, but he knows none of this is your fault.”

She blew out a breath. “What do you think, Christian? You’re the objective observer in all this. Do you think this is going to work out?”

“You being here, you mean?” When she nodded, he walked closer to her. “Yes, I do. You’re already making a place for yourself here. Your sister likes you. Your brothers will come around.”

Erica shook her head and her light brown hair lifted from her shoulders, then fell back again in soft waves. Christian curled his hands into fists to keep from reaching for it. To keep from threading his fingers through that mass and turning her head toward his—

“Why are you on my side in this?” Erica asked. “Melissa says you’ve known the family since you were a kid. And you were Don’s personal attorney. I’d think that would make you more prejudiced in their favor rather than mine.”

He backed up a step, leaned against the corner of his desk and said, “Don Jarrod was a hard man to know. He helped me when I was a teenager. Offered me a job here when I got out of law school. But,” he added, “that said, I don’t owe him or his memory my soul. Just the best job I can do. My allegiances are my own.”

She tipped her head to one side and looked up at him. “And you’ve decided to be my ally.”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Do you really have to ask?”

“Shouldn’t I?”

He shrugged, though it cost him. He wanted her to trust him, but couldn’t say that he trusted himself around her. He wanted more than friendship or an alliance with her. But if he took more, he’d risk everything he’d already built.

“Let’s just say that whatever I owe the Jarrods, I owe myself more. So I’m on your side because I’ve had a hand in throwing your life off kilter.”

“So you feel responsible? You don’t have to,” she told him. “Like I said earlier, I can take care of myself.”

“I’ve noticed,” he said, then forced a smile. “Let’s get out of here. How about a tour of the grounds?”

“I’d like that,” she said and took the arm he offered before walking with him out of the office and the hotel.

They walked for what felt like miles.

Erica was overwhelmed with everything. She was on sensory overload. Jarrod Ridge had to be the most beautiful place she’d ever been and it was staggering to realize that she was a part of the legacy that had built it.

The resort was like a small town in and of itself. Narrow walkways, cement pathways bordered by vibrant flower beds, wound past tiny bungalows and lavish cabins. Christian had stopped by his own home to give her a quick tour and Erica had loved everything about it. From the honey-colored log walls to the braided rugs on the polished wood floors to the overstuffed, brown leather furniture.

He had a river stone fireplace big enough to stand up in and the huge windows in his kitchen overlooked the forest and the mountain beyond. She could imagine stepping out onto the back porch, sitting in one of the rocking chairs there and sipping a morning cup of coffee as she watched the world wake up.

Seeing his home had given her more insights into Christian the man and she relished them. He was neat, but not to the point of craziness. He had actual pots and pans in his kitchen, which meant he at least tried to cook occasionally rather than subsisting on room service or takeout. He had framed family photos hanging on his wall and seeing him as a younger man with one arm thrown across his mother’s shoulders told her that he was someone to whom family meant a lot. All good things. And all of those things combined made him even more intriguing to Erica.

When they left his house, Erica was more captivated by him than she had been before. She took his arm as he led her on through the resort. He pointed out the cabins where Gavin and Melissa lived. He’d shown her the gift shops, the jewelers, the on-site bakery and the ice cream parlor. He’d taken her past the pools—both the indoor and outdoor, not to mention the pool built just for kids.

Guests in swimsuits, tennis gear and even riding outfits streamed over the property in a never-ending flood of humanity. Children raced each other across manicured lawns and a couple of elderly guests sat on a padded iron bench beneath a gorgeous cluster of aspen trees.

The sun was out, the sky was blue and she honestly felt as though she’d stepped into an alternate world. Everything was almost too perfect.

Including the man at her side. He wasn’t wearing a suit and tie, just black jeans, a white, long-sleeved shirt open at the throat and a pair of black boots that looked as though they had seen a lot of wear. He looked handsome in a well-cut suit, but Erica thought he looked even more so in casual clothes. It was then a person realized that his personal power wasn’t shaped by any outward appearance—not his clothing, his car or his job—but by his own innate strength.

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