“What is this?” Emma asked, wrinkling her nose.

Skylar chuckled. “It’s a mimosa. It has champagne and orange juice.”

“Champagne.” Realization dawned. Emma had known this wasn’t just orange juice. “For breakfast.”

“It’s our Sunday brunch specialty.”

As Emma and Aiden had walked through the lodge lobby at sunrise, she’d noticed that the restaurant was packed. Aiden had led her through the lobby to the stairs that led to the Hunter’s private residence. He’d keyed in a code and held the door for her to walk through. He’d pointed out the deadbolt that they typically used at night in addition to the code.

Skylar sipped. “We offer a complimentary champagne sunrise breakfast every Sunday.”

“It seems to be quite popular.”

“I like it,” Skylar said. “It’s also something we provide for honeymooners every morning.”

“Nice touch.” Emma felt her cheeks flush as the image of honeymooners reminded her of the night she’d spent in Aiden’s arms.

Skylar smiled knowingly, and Emma flushed even more. Emma didn’t have any siblings, so she wasn’t sure just how much one sibling might share with another, without even having to say a word. “Where are your parents?” Emma asked, in an impulsive attempt to distract Skylar’s attention away from herself.

“Paris… I think.” Skylar shrugged. “Or on their way to Germany. I lost track.”

“They’re on vacation?”

“I guess you could call it that.” Skylar gestured toward the large table covered with a white table cloth set for five. “Let’s go ahead and sit at the table.” They sat, and Skylar continued. “A few years ago, they started traveling. A little at first. Then after they saw that the kids could take care of everything here at the lodge, they started traveling more and more.”

“Aiden said there are what? Twelve of you?”

Skylar chuckled. “There are a lot of us.”

“None of you are married?”

Skylar looked at her glass, ran a finger along the rim of the glass. “Not at the moment.”

Emma was about to ask her what she meant by that, when a gorgeous brunette walked in with a handsome man. The man wore a Saint Louis Cardinals wool jacket, and the girl wore an emerald green sheath dress with spiky heels.

Emma forced a smile on her face, but inwardly she was feeling suddenly out of place. Both women wore dresses while Emma wore blue jeans and a sweatshirt.

Skylar jumped up and hugged the woman. “Riley, meet Emma. Emma this is Riley and her fiancé Tyler.”

Riley immediately set Emma at ease. Her smile was warm as she bent to hug Emma. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

Emma glanced at Skylar who wore an innocent expression. “I might have mentioned you.”

Riley smiled. “Aiden’s been needing a good woman.”

“I’m… I’m uh… just staying there because of the snow storm. I actually have to get back to Pittsburgh soon.”

“Of course.” Riley smiled and, taking her fiancé’s hand, sat at the table across from them. “Well, we’re happy you’re here now.”

Emma sighed. “Thank you.”

Listening to the easy banter among the three of them, Emma felt a tug at her heart. They belonged here. It must be nice to have a place to belong, where friends were comfortable with each other, and knew what to expect. Riley had known that Sunday brunch at her friend’s place was a special occasion. An occasion to wear a dress.

Emma rarely went anywhere that required anything dressier than blue jeans and a sweater – the uniform of a student and wildlife biologist.

But this. This was nice.

It was while she was in this envious emotional state that Aiden walked into the room. Tall, dark, and handsome were the words that immediately came to mind. He hadn’t shaved today, giving him a slightly rugged look.

Her breath hitched when his gaze immediately fell on her, and he smiled. Without even looking at anyone else in the room, he went to the chair next to Emma’s and sat down. He took her hand and bent to kiss her lightly on the cheek. Even though it had been less than an hour since she’d seen him, she felt whole with him back at her side.

She was in trouble. She was falling hard and fast for this man.

Aiden turned and grinned at everyone else. “Good morning.”