Tipping my head back, I closed my eyes and soaked up the sunshine.

Breathing in the fresh dry air, I was rejuvenated with excitement. Sienna had given me hope just when I needed it most. God, that woman was amazing. Gary had no idea what a catch he landed when she agreed to marry him.

Feeling my lips curve at the corners, I wasn’t going to let my problems follow me here. Not when I was surrounded by beauty and luxury. I knew that wasn’t going to be easy. I had worked so hard, put in the hours and made sacrifices, with the confidence of knowing that it would eventually pay off.

Sucking back a deep breath, I blew out a heavy sigh and pulled my hair back, tying it off into a ponytail.

The heels of my boots clacked over the pavement as I headed in the direction of the entrance. “Enjoy the weekend,” I whispered to myself. “It’s time to move on.” And it was the truth. I had to walk away from those thoughts and be confident in knowing that I had the power and knowledge to get through it—no matter how difficult the obstacle seemed to be.

Feeling breathless, I was eager to know what the girls had waiting for me inside.

Pulling the glass door open, I was welcomed by an empty reception.

Glancing around, I let the large canvas photos fill me with inspiration as I leaned over to smell the bouquet of flowers that seemed to bring the outside in. And that’s when I found the envelope with my name on it, Sophia Monroe.

Curious by the lack of formality that came when checking into a rental, I opened the top and peeked inside. The silver glitter of keys jingled at the bottom as I slid a handwritten note out from the inside.

Sophia Monroe,

Welcome to your mountain retreat. You’ll find your keys inside along with a map directing you to your condo. We hope you enjoy your stay and let us know if there is any way we can make it even better.

Nolan Foster

I studied the map and noted the contact number at the bottom. Then I was out the front door, meandering across the manicured grounds before winding up the outside stairs to my own private condo.

Dropping the keys into the palm of my hand, I reached to the doorknob and my heart skipped when I found it already unlocked.

The city girl inside me leapt into action, brow furrowed with hesitation. I smoothed down the front of my shirt and turned to look over my shoulder. The pulse in my neck ticked, but here in the mountains things were different. It wasn’t like living in Denver where shady characters preyed on vulnerable women like me. This was Vail. A peaceful mountain town where even a near head-on collision couldn’t bring out the worst in people.

Rolling my shoulders back, I turned back to face the door. “I’m sure everyone leaves their doors unlocked here,” I said to myself, if only to settle the apprehension roiling my stomach. “Or it was accidently left unlocked by the cleaning crew.” I nodded like I wasn’t alone, but I was really thinking this had to be Sienna.

Turning the knob, the door opened without problem. Stepping one foot inside, I held my breath and listened.

Silence.

And when I was convinced that it was safe to enter, I fully stepped inside as relief to finally be here, away from the work drama, swept over me.

The condo was beautiful with local wood framing the large windows staring up at the ski resort. I could imagine it white with snow in the winter but was happy to see the green of summer and warmth. As I continued my acquainting of the place, I eyed the flat-screen television hanging on the wall thinking I might have to settle into a romantic movie for the night and a tub of ice cream when I heard the first clank.

I froze.

My eyes bugged.

Then I heard the next set of clinks and clanks.

Padding lightly across the floor, I moved toward the sound coming from the kitchen. A grumble from under the sink pulled me yet further into the room.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, other than this had to be Sienna and Monica trying to prank me. It wouldn’t be the first time those two did something like this. Even at Sienna’s bachelorette party she was dishing out her digits to tons of guys. Only later, when my cell wouldn’t stop ringing for a week, that she was really giving out my number.

Lifting my hand to the granite countertop, I raked my fingers over the cool polished surface as I rounded the corner. With my hand flying over my mouth, I gasped.

Thick thighs and long legs filled the blue jeans that jutted out from under the counter. His sneakers were athletic and made for running trails. And though I couldn’t see past his waist, a few more clinks and a closer observation revealed that this stranger was also without a shirt.

I wanted to look away. Knew I shouldn’t be staring and checking him out. But I couldn’t. Not with his abs flexing and hardening as he twisted and contorted as he worked at whatever it was he was doing. He was both toned and tanned. Shaking my head, I said, “Hello.”

He continued to work.

“Hello.” I raised my voice louder, but he still didn’t respond. Then I kicked the sole of his shoe hard enough to get him to stop.

He lifted his head and was slow to shimmy himself out of the cubby he was busy working inside of. I folded my arms over my chest and cocked out my hip, thinking that the laidback attitude of this place was something I was going to have embrace before I completely lost my mind.

“Hang on,” he said, pulling his phone out from his pocket and swiping his finger over the screen. After a few clicks, I watched him angle his head to the side, pulling out his earphones. Then he looked up at me and smiled. “I must have not heard you come in.”

“No. No, you didn’t.” My gaze shifted to his phone.

He followed my line of sight and said, “Country music. You a fan?”

Rolling my eyes, I looked away.

He kicked his legs out and landed on his feet in one swift move that was rather impressive, showing off his athleticism. “You look like you have the spirit of the West inside you.” He stepped closer and I refused to look him in the eye. “I bet you’re a country girl at heart.”

I rolled my neck and found him holding his gaze on my face. His long hair was tied into a messy man bun, a trend I wasn’t sure I was totally on board with. I couldn’t deny how he seemed like the kind of man Sienna was always interested in before she’d met Gary.

“So,” my gaze traveled over the mess on the floor, “should I leave and come back when you’re finished?”

He chuckled before pointing to the unhooked dishwasher on the other side of the kitchen. “It’s broken.”

“That’s okay. I plan on eating out mostly.”

He moved away and turned his back, heading toward the machine.

“Maybe you could just clean up the mess and fix it after my stay?”

I hated myself for doing it, but he was a nice distraction from the humiliating day I’d had. I couldn’t look away. He was totally made for Sienna. The way his back muscles bulged and popped and were coated in a thin layer of masculine sweat from a hard day’s work only made him look even more delicious than I already thought he was. And when he turned around with a pair of thin laced panties spinning around his finger, my jaw dropped and heat flushed my cheeks.

“Broken because someone thought it would be a good idea to wash—” he stopped the spinning and lifted his finger as he held the revealing underwear close to his face, “—delicates in the dishwasher.”

Covering my mouth, I couldn’t hold myself back from letting out a boisterous laugh. “Delicates?”

He turned back to me with a quizzical look on his face. “Have you ever done that?”

Giggling, I said, “No. Can’t say I have.”

“That makes two of us.” He hooked his thumb in the elastic and shot the undergarment across the room. “Anyway, I should be finished working soon. Feel free to make yourself at home in the meantime.”

Suddenly, losing sense of time and place, my initial reluctance to accept Sienna’s surprise was looking better by the minute. Maybe I could get used to the man bun? “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

He stepped forward, wiping his hand on his jeans before reaching out to offer it to me. “Travis Foster.”

His large hand quickly engulfed mine, making me feel much smaller than I thought I was. “Sophia,” I murmured as I shook his hand. Time stopped. The room spun, and as I looked up into his eyes, I thought how I couldn’t wait to call Sienna and tell her what I’d found. “Well, I better collect my things from the car,” I stammered.

He smiled and watched me hurry through the condo, flustered. I didn’t know what just happened in there, but something definitely happened. The way he looked at me, like he had the ability to solve all my problems or—

Knew that I was coming.

As soon as my feet hit the pavement at the bottom of the stairs, I put a call in to Sienna.

“Miss me so soon?” she answered.

Glancing over my shoulder to make sure Travis Foster wasn’t on the balcony listening from above, I said, “I told you, I don’t need a man.”

“You found yourself a man? Shit, I guess Monica won that bet.”

I picked up my pace and rolled my eyes, glancing around to make sure no cars were coming. “Hardy har har. I didn’t find anything. He was already waiting inside for me, and, Sienna, he’s totally your type.” When I reached the car, I opened the trunk and started slinging bags over my shoulder.

“Really?”

“C’mon.”

“We didn’t leave you a man. Besides, I wouldn’t even know where to find a man to rent. And, for the record, I’m set to marry Gary, remember?”

I closed the trunk and locked my car. My brows pinched. “Then what did you leave me?”

“It’s in the fridge. A bottle of red. Your favorite.”

“Would Gary be mad if I sent you a photo of this guy?”

I fumbled my keys between my fingers and dropped them on the ground. Now I wished that I hadn’t called Sienna so soon with the news of Travis Foster, working without his shirt inside the condo I’d rented—alone.

“He’d have a fit. Send it to Monica. I can’t wait to see him.” She ended the call.

Bending over, I went to scoop up my keys. But before I could get to them myself, a man was there to do it for me. And this one was even better than the first.