Jasper Vale (The Edens)

“Miss?”

I jerked at the lady’s voice. Lost in my head, drawing invisible circles on the hotel’s mahogany reception counter, I hadn’t heard her approach.

Guests had been sneaking up on me for the last three days, ever since I’d come home from Vegas.

“Sorry.” I gave her a bright smile. “Welcome to The Eloise Inn. Checking in?”

“Yes.” She nodded, then gave me her name to pull up in our reservation system.

Five minutes later, I slid over two key cards tucked into a paper envelope with her room number written on its face.

“The elevator is there.” I pointed toward the foyer. “You’re in room 302. Take a right when you get off the elevator and your room is at the end of the hallway. Can I have anything sent up for you this afternoon?”

“No, thank you.” She smiled, glancing around the lobby. “This is my first visit to Quincy. Your hotel is delightful.”

“Thank you.” I beamed at the compliment. “I think it’s rather delightful myself. Welcome to town. Are you here visiting friends or family?”

“My sister just moved here.”

“Ah.” I nodded. Had I met said sister?

Quincy was a small town. When it came to the locals, there weren’t many faces I didn’t recognize. Though lately, that had changed. More and more people were looking to escape city life, and my hometown was a rural gem tucked into the rugged landscape of western Montana.

“Enjoy your stay,” I told the guest. “Please let me know if you need anything at all.”

With a wave, she headed toward the elevator.

Beside it, the walls were lined with potted evergreens. The miniature trees were still adorned with the white twinkle lights we’d added for the holidays. Taking the lights off was on my to-do list, I just hadn’t gotten to it yet. Mostly because their tiny sparkles added a bit of charm to the hallway.

We were in the strange season in Montana, not quite winter, not quite spring. Beyond the glass windows that overlooked Main Street, there was a fresh skiff of snow on the sidewalks.

A wood fire crackled in the large hearth on one side of the grand room. I’d keep the fire going until the snow was gone. I liked the gentle, smoky scent it gave the hotel’s lobby. And the mantel, the stone column that towered to the rafters, just looked prettier with a fire burning in its hearth.

The Eloise Inn, named after my great-great-grandmother, had been in our family for generations. She’d been my namesake. Maybe it was fate that I loved this hotel as much as I liked to imagine she’d loved it too.

My favorite vanilla candle was burning on the coffee table, its sweetness mixing with the fire’s smoke. It was cozy. Warm. I wanted guests to feel like they’d been wrapped in a hug when they walked through the doors of the hotel.

My hotel. Sort of.

Technically, The Eloise belonged to my parents, even though I’d been the manager for years. Even though most people in Quincy thought it was mine.

Not quite yet. Not officially.

Mom and Dad wanted to make sure I was ready to take over. That I was mature. That I was capable of handling this level of responsibility.

A week ago, I would have volunteered to be the poster child for responsibility. Sensible might as well have been my middle name.

Except then I’d flown to Las Vegas last weekend. And gotten married on a whim.

“Oh God.” Every time I thought about Saturday night, I wanted to hurl.

What the hell was wrong with me? I was never, ever drinking again. That had been the most impulsive, reckless decision of my life.

“Ugh.” I dropped my face into my hands.

I was twenty-six years old. And married to a stranger.

My family was going to freak the fuck out.

Maybe Jasper and I could keep it a secret. Get it annulled before anyone learned the truth. Erase the marriage from existence. Then it could be more like a whoopsie. If it was null and void by the time they found out, my parents couldn’t get too mad, right?

Sneaking out of the hotel on Sunday morning hadn’t been the best idea. Jasper and I should have talked. At the bare minimum, we should have exchanged phone numbers.

Was Jasper back in Montana yet? He was coming back, wasn’t he? Because I was going to need some information, like his legal name and a physical address.

And I was going to need a lawyer. I didn’t have a lawyer.

In normal situations, I’d call my dad. He’d tell me who to call and what to say.

Not this time.

If I wanted to keep this marriage a secret, I’d have to find an attorney outside of Quincy. Missoula was two hours away. Was that far enough to keep any rumors from spreading? Not that I didn’t trust in attorney-client privilege, but I’d lived my whole life in a small town. Secrets always had a way of coming to light.

A plan. I needed a plan.

So I plucked a pen from the pen cup and flipped to a fresh page in the notebook I’d been doodling on earlier.

Step 1: Find a lawyer.

No, that wasn’t step one. I scribbled over the words, blacking them out. Then started over on the next line.

Step 1: Find Jasper.

If he was back in Quincy, he’d clearly been avoiding me. Not that I’d minded. These past few days, I hadn’t been ready to face him, to relive the shame of my drunken self.

Humiliation crawled down my spine, making me cringe.

I’d gotten married.

To a stranger.

In. A. Tube top.

“What is wrong with me?”

Alcohol had played a major role in the disaster that was Saturday, but it hadn’t been the only motivator. I’d gotten caught up in the adventure. In the spontaneity. In the charm of that chapel.

And Jasper had been so . . . certain.

Not once had he wavered.

He’d walked into that chapel, his hand holding mine, with sheer determination. And when he’d asked for a marriage license in that rugged voice, it had sounded like the best idea in the world.

Standing beneath that beautiful pergola, beneath a ceiling of wisteria blooms, I’d convinced myself it was fate.

Stupid fate.

Stupid Eloise.

It was okay. I could fix this. No more avoiding Jasper. After work, I’d track down my husband.

Talia had mentioned that he’d rented a long-term cabin from the Stewarts. They had four vacation rentals in town. Only one of those was a cabin. Which meant Jasper had to be staying in the A-frame on Alderson Road.

Well, I wasn’t going to call Talia and ask. If he wasn’t there, I’d swing by the other rentals until I found him.

Step 2: Ask Jasper not to tell a soul. Especially Foster.

The doors opened as my pen scribbled on the paper. My heart climbed into my throat as my parents walked inside the lobby.

“Hi,” I said too brightly, tucking the notepad out of sight. Then I searched their faces for any hint of irritation.

Mom was smiling. That was a good sign, right? If she’d found out about Jasper, she’d be in tears.

Dad glanced around the lobby, taking it all in. That was normal too. If he was mad at me, he’d be wearing the scowl.

Phew. Everything was fine. They didn’t know. They didn’t have to know.

I’d find Jasper, and we’d figure this out. This marriage would be gone in a flash. Deleted. Erased. A blip that had never happened.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Mom rounded the reception desk, standing by my tall chair. She touched a lock of my hair. “Your hair looks pretty today.”

“Thanks.”

Sleep had been impossible the past three days. Every time I’d drift off, I’d see Jasper’s face. Either I’d dream of him at the chapel, saying I do. Or I’d picture him in bed as he moved inside me.

Last night, I’d woken to a throb between my legs so powerful I’d climbed out of bed at three in the morning to deep clean my refrigerator. Then I’d spent an extra thirty minutes after a shower curling my hair.

Tonight, when I inevitably woke up before dawn, I was going to scrub the baseboards around my house. Good times.

“Hi, kiddo.” Dad stopped in front of the counter, running a hand along its edge like he was searching for any raised wood that might give a guest a splinter. But as always, it was smooth and polished to a shine.

I cleaned this counter at least ten times a day to erase fingerprints.

“Hey, Dad. What are you guys up to today?”

“Oh, just running errands,” he said. “I told Griffin I’d pick up a couple things at Farm and Feed for him. Save him a trip into town.”

“You’re not babysitting today?” I asked Mom.

“No.” She pouted. Mom often watched my nephews and niece. Three kids, all under the age of two. Only she would be disappointed to have a day off. “Winn had to cover a patrol shift last weekend, so she took today off to spend with Emma and Hudson. And Memphis wanted to keep Drake home today so they could bond with the baby.”

“Ah.”

Memphis, my brother Knox’s wife, had just given birth to a baby boy. Harrison, named after Dad.

Not only was she my sister-in-law, but she was my favorite employee. She’d moved to Quincy for a housekeeping job at The Eloise. That was how she’d met Knox.

She was the best housekeeper I’d ever had, and selfishly, I wanted her to come back after her maternity leave. But I also wasn’t fooling myself. Chances were, she’d stay home with her kids.

“How are things going here?” Dad asked.

“Good. Busy.” With Memphis gone, we’d had to shuffle some staff around to cover shifts. Yesterday, I’d been shorthanded, so I’d done laundry and some general cleaning in the lobby.

Whatever it took to keep this place sparkling and guests smiling.

“We were hoping you had a minute to talk.” Mom shared a look with Dad.

A look that made my stomach clench.

“Okay,” I drawled. This couldn’t be about Jasper. Not a chance. Regardless, my heart climbed into my throat. “About?”

“Do you want to put the sign up? Head to your office?”

A closed-door conversation? Oh hell. “Um . . .”

“We can just visit here, Anne.” Dad checked over his shoulder, confirming we were alone.

The air rushed from my lungs.

A discussion at the desk meant I wasn’t in deep shit. Yet.

The lobby was empty, and every guest who was due to check in today had already arrived. So while we might get the occasional interruption, it would most likely be uneventful until around five. That was when the locals would come in to eat at Knox’s restaurant, Knuckles.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Two things.” Dad held up a couple fingers. “I had to stop in at the bank the other day and was talking to Randy.”

The bank president wasn’t my favorite person in town. Whenever he came into the hotel, he brought with him an air of self-importance.

“He’d like to reserve the annex for the bank’s employee appreciation dinner this summer.”

“Great.”

When Knox had renovated the kitchen and restaurant a few years ago, my parents had bought the building next door for events. In the original projections, the annex had been slated to pay for itself five years after the purchase. But instead of just offering it up for weddings and parties, I’d advertised it with area businesses and organizations too. Just this past week, we’d had a craft show in the annex. Next weekend, the Western Montana Country Dance Club would be here for their annual dance competition.

“Just have Randy go look at the calendar and he can reserve it on the website,” I told Dad.

“Well, I guess he tried and couldn’t find the right spot. He’s not the most tech savvy guy.”

Yet he managed to run a bank? Didn’t Randy have an assistant who could help?

“Would you mind printing off the calendar for him?” Dad asked.

The whole point of me putting the annex’s calendar on the website was so that I could stop printing it out and chasing down payments. But whatever. “Sure. Is he going to stop by to pick it up?”

“Any chance you could run it by the bank?”

No, I didn’t want to take it to the bank and make small talk with Randy all because he couldn’t be bothered to use an intuitive website. But I would. “I’ll do it first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Thanks.”

“Of course.” I forced a smile, dreading whatever else they needed. “What’s item number two?”

“Well, we just wanted to check in and see how the quarter was going,” he said. “We just met with the accountant to review the taxes. Last year was the best year we’ve ever had at the hotel.”

“Oh.” My chest surged with pride. “Really?”

“We’re proud of you.” Mom patted my arm.

“Thanks.” It was a relief to hear those words, especially after how hard I’d been trying to earn them.

To earn Mom and Dad’s approval.

While the restaurant belonged to Knox, the hotel was incorporated as a separate entity owned wholly by my parents. The physical building, they’d split with my brother. Two businesses run independently that shared an address.

Besides the Eden family ranch, The Eloise had always been Mom and Dad’s most time-consuming business venture. Dad had always been focused on the ranch, while Mom had managed the hotel. She’d worked here for years until she’d handed me the reins after I’d graduated from college.

She’d put in her time with this business. What she wanted for their retirement was to be at home, surrounded by their grandbabies. So they’d spent recent years trying to settle their affairs. Dad wanted us all standing on our own two feet and the Eden businesses controlled by his children.

My oldest brother, Griffin, was now running the ranch. The love of Griff’s life was his wife, Winn, and their two kids. But the land was a close second.

Knox was the same. Memphis and the boys came first. If he wasn’t with his family, he was happiest in a kitchen, cooking for those he loved most.

Lyla had her coffee shop.

Talia had taken her inheritance to pay for medical school and buy a house. She was a doctor at Quincy Memorial.

Mateo, our youngest brother, was a pilot, flying planes in Alaska. Of us all, he seemed like the one who was still wandering. Still finding his wings.

But as sure as Griffin was about the Eden Ranch, as dedicated as Knox was to Knuckles, I was equally as committed to The Eloise.

More than anything in the world, I wanted this to be my hotel.

I’d gone to college because Mom and Dad had always taught us that a higher education was important. But from the time I was sixteen, working here as a housekeeper in high school, running this hotel had been my dream. Then I’d become the manager.

I’d thought the next step would be assuming ownership.

Except then they’d offered it to Knox.

Partly because he was older. Partly because he had more experience managing a business and more money to cushion hard times. Mostly because I’d gotten into a sticky situation with an ex-employee.

Apparently, I was too soft. Too gentle.

I led with my heart.

Somehow, that had become my greatest weakness. The obstacle keeping me from my dream.

Ironic, considering Mom and Dad were the people who’d taught me to be kind. Loving. Trusting. But apparently for my dream, for this hotel, my personality was all wrong.

I loved my parents. I loved my family. But that?

It had crushed my heart.

When I’d learned they wanted to give the hotel to Knox, I’d been devastated. An epic blowup had ensued. There had been tears. There had been hysterics. Both from me.

Thankfully, Knox had turned them down. He’d convinced them to give me more time to prove myself.

Did I really need to prove myself?

There was a reason Mom and Dad didn’t spend much time here. Me. This hotel ran on autopilot because I took my job seriously.

From housekeeping to maintenance to guest services, there wasn’t a single aspect of this hotel that I didn’t oversee. From the plush slippers we left for guests to the twinkle lights on the elevator’s potted evergreens, I lived and breathed The Eloise.

Yet for whatever reason, it still wasn’t enough. My parents had such confidence in my siblings. Even Mateo. But my brothers and sisters didn’t see this side of Mom and Dad. The hovering. The micromanaging.

Though it was nice to have Mom and Dad say they were proud.

“We just wanted to recognize the changes you’ve made lately,” Dad said. “Maybe it’s time to start talking about transferring ownership.”

Seriously? I reached down and pinched my own leg. Was this really happening? Finally?

“When we came to you about Knox taking over the hotel, we told you that you weren’t ready,” Mom said.

Ouch. I didn’t need the reminder. I remembered every word of that conversation.

“And now you think I am?” I asked her.

“Yes, we do.”

Holy. Shit. This was happening. This was really happening.

“Any time there’s been an issue with an employee, you’ve handled it perfectly,” Dad said. “The guest count is the highest in history.”

Before me, they’d never even kept track of that number. But I could tell you how many guests we’d had every day of the year for the past three years.

“And the magazines and tourist blogs we’ve been mentioned in lately.” Mom’s smile was contagious. “It’s just wonderful.”

“Thanks.”

For tourists traveling to Glacier National Park, Quincy was a popular tourist stop. During the summer months, we were booked solid. The same was true around the holidays. So I’d worked hard to drum up press features for The Eloise that would fill rooms during our quieter months. Spring break. Hunting season. Thanksgiving. And though there were still slow times, our off-peak seasons were getting busier and busier.

“The hotel is flourishing financially,” Dad said. “You’ve really shown us how responsible you can be.”

Responsible. That word was like a knife to my heart.

Responsible, twenty-six-year-old women didn’t get married in Las Vegas on a drunken whim.

Oh, no. No no no no no.

The minute they found out about Jasper, I could kiss my hotel goodbye.

Maybe I should tell them. Get it out there in the open. Apologize and promise to fix it.

“It won’t happen immediately,” Dad said. “But as long as this momentum continues, we’re looking at stepping away, officially, by the end of the year.”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak.

“We’ve shocked her, Anne,” Dad teased.

Mom laughed, putting her hand on my arm. “It’s just so comforting to know you’ll take care of this place. That you’ll be responsible for it long after we’re gone.”

Responsible. There was that word again.

Tell them. Tell them right now.

“I need—” The words lodged in my throat so hard I coughed.

“You okay?” Mom ran her hand up and down my spine.

I nodded, swallowing hard and choking down the confession that would end my lifelong dream. “I won’t let you down.”

Dad smiled, his blue eyes softening. “No, I don’t think you will.”

My heart crumpled.

I was going to let them down. I was going to fail them completely. They were going to be so disappointed in me. Just like with the lawsuit.

“We’ll get out of your hair.” Mom gave me a quick hug, then rounded the counter. “I’m making potato soup for dinner tonight. Want to join us?”

Her potato soup was a favorite. “I have plans. Next time.”

“Next time.” She clasped Dad’s hand, interlacing their fingers, then as he waved goodbye, they headed for the door.

The moment they were out of sight, I collapsed on the counter, banging my head against the surface. “How could I be so stupid?”

Why had I married Jasper? Why?

Sure, he’d sort of dared me. And yeah, it had been my idea to do something spontaneous. Tattoos would have been better. Why hadn’t we just gotten matching tattoos? Guaranteed, I would have regretted Jasper’s name on my skin less than this marriage.

“I have to fix this.” I whipped up straight and scrambled off my chair, diving for my phone and purse.

A secret. That was the only solution.

If I wanted this hotel, no one in my family could find out the truth. Which meant I needed to get to Jasper. Now. Before he told Foster. Before Foster told Talia. Before Talia told Lyla and Lyla told everyone with the last name Eden about my hasty marriage.

I put out the sign on the counter we used when the desk clerk needed to take a quick break. Then I sprinted for the elevator, hitting the button for the fourth and top floor.

Brittany was cleaning rooms today, but she’d been training recently to run the desk.

I found her vacuuming the largest room, nearly done with the cleaning for today. “Hey, can I beg a favor?”

“Of course.”

“I’ve had sort of an emergency come up. Would you mind watching the front desk for like, an hour?”

“Sure.” She nodded. “Everything okay?”

Nope. “Yep,” I lied. “Be back soon.”

With my keys in hand, I hustled to the stairwell, too anxious to wait for the elevator. Then I jogged to the first floor, racing through the lobby to push outside and start the trek home.

Gah. Why hadn’t I driven to work today? My house was only two blocks away, part of why I rented it even though the water heater was as questionable as the furnace. But the sidewalks were slick with the recent snow, forcing me to walk instead of run.

The moment I arrived, I went straight for the garage, climbing into my gray Subaru. Then I sped across town toward Alderson Road.

Alderson was on the outskirts of town, where most of the roads were unpaved. My tires crunched on the gravel as I sped past rows of towering evergreens. Beyond their trunks was a creek that eventually flowed into the Clark Fork River, which acted as a natural boundary on one side of Quincy.

The properties out here were secluded, most of the homes large and built off the road to give their owners some privacy. The turnoff to the A-frame was the last in line, and when I reached the mailbox, I slowed to roll down the narrow driveway.

A silver Yukon was parked in front of the cabin. Inside the house, the lights glowed golden behind the windows. Standing on the front porch, with his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, was Jasper.

My heart tumbled.

Jasper stood statue still, his dark eyes unreadable. He was as gorgeous as he had been Saturday. That ruffled dark hair. That stony jaw dusted with stubble. Soft lips and a body built for sin. The ache in my core that had woken me this morning flared to life.

Never in my life had sex been that good. He’d made me come two—no, three—times. The fact that Lyla hadn’t heard us having sex on our end of the hotel suite had been a freaking miracle. Because that man had made me scream.

Heat rose in my cheeks as I parked beside his SUV. I took a fortifying breath and climbed out of my car, walking to the base of the porch’s stairs.

Here goes nothing.

“Hey there, husband.”

Jasper’s jaw clenched. That clench had to be a good thing. A sign that Jasper didn’t want to keep the title.

“So . . . about this marriage.”