“Are you ready?” Jared asked as he parked their rental car in front of a snowy hillside house. It was a massive house, nothing like the small, cozy cabin Jared had described on the flight from Chicago to Denver.

She fidgeted in her seat. Jared’s parents were inside that house, and she was going to meet them.

“Ready?” She swallowed thickly. She was definitely not ready to meet Jared’s parents. The last month of November and part of December had flown by. She and Jared had managed to settle into a comfortable relationship. They’d gone to art galleries, Jared’s favorite museums by the lakeshore, and had managed to fit in time together between work and school. There had been nights where she’d fallen asleep before Jared had gotten home, and mornings when she’d had to slip out of bed early to get to work at Sabine’s, but being with him had been wonderful, a dream. But now she was at Jared’s parents’ home—or one of the three homes the Redmond family had. How was she going to face them? She was a small-town girl. What would they think of her dating their son?

“I…uh…” she stammered, balking when he exited the car and came around to her side of the SUV and opened the door.

“I thought you got all your nerves out on the plane ride,” he teased.

She scowled at him. “I’d never been on a plane before. Those peanuts were impossible to open.” It hadn’t been the packaging so much as her own jitters that had made the peanuts difficult to open, but in the end she had opened them—spraying everyone within a ten-foot radius with salty, nutty missiles as the package exploded.

Jared tugged at the edge of his black wool coat and then reached for her hand.

“Come on, princess. I swear they don’t bite.”

“I wish Layla and Tanner were here,” she muttered and climbed out of the car to join him.

Unfortunately, Layla had claimed Tanner for her own family Christmas since they’d spent Thanksgiving with the Redmonds. Jared had stayed with Felicity in Chicago, since Sabine had needed her at the gallery and Jared couldn’t get off work. They hadn’t had to worry about being quiet when they made love in case Tanner was in his room. Cooking and spending time together for two days, just the two of them, had been wonderful.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked as he played with a lock of her hair.

She peeped up at him through her lashes. “Thanksgiving, when it was just the two of us.”

He chuckled. “No scary parents. I know. I promise my parents will behave. Don’t let them worry you. We have plenty of other things to worry about.” This time his smile was rueful, as though he was plagued with thoughts of just what those worries were.

“I know.” Work. Always work. Not just for him, but for her, too.

They were so close to finishing the hotel transaction and remodel job. The closing for Jared would be in the middle of January, and then she and Sabine would take over. It would be huge for both of them. She tried not to think about how that would bring her one step closer to the job in Los Angeles—a job far away from Jared. And if he made partner, he wouldn’t leave Chicago, not to start over in California with her. The thought of leaving him made her sick. She suddenly couldn’t stop the churning in her stomach.

“Jared, I don’t feel so good.” She clutched her stomach and rushed over to the snowbank by the car and bent over, dry-heaving.

“Felicity!” Jared gently grabbed her shoulders, as though unsure what to do. She gasped, wiped a gloved hand over her mouth, and moaned.

“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s probably the change in altitude. You’re not used to the plane and the drive over the mountains. Besides, we spent several hours in the car. Let’s just get you inside and get some water in you.” He handed her purse to her, and Felicity dug around inside for a stick of gum and thankfully found one.

“This is not how I pictured meeting your parents.”

He had the audacity to laugh. “Princess, I’m sure something will happen to me when we meet your parents in a week.”

“Jared?” A woman’s voice intruded on their conversation as they headed toward the house.

Felicity glanced up and saw a beautiful woman in her late fifties standing in the doorway. Her brown hair was cut fashionably short, and she wore jeans and a warm sweater. Her eyes were warm and bright, so like Jared’s.

“Mom!” Jared squeezed Felicity’s hand and led her up the steps.

“Hello, sweetheart.” She kissed Jared’s cheek before turning to Felicity, her warmth flooding into her. “And you must be Felicity.”

Felicity held out a hand, but Jared’s mother grasped her in a hug before she could even think to resist. It reminded her of Layla. She relaxed, letting the warm and fuzzy feeling of comfort sweep over her. Maybe she’d gotten scared over nothing.

Maybe they will like me after all.

“What took you so long, boy? I know that drive is four hours, but it took you five to get here,” a deep voice boomed from inside the house.

“Oh, Gerald, hush. Come in, kids.” Jared’s mother smiled as she released Felicity. “I’m Nancy.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Nancy.” Felicity curled her arm around Jared’s as they entered the house, and she caught a glimpse of a fit, handsome man in his early sixties standing on a ladder before a twelve-foot Christmas tree, a shiny star in one hand as he stretched to reach the top of the tree. When he was done, he climbed down the ladder and walked over to them. It shocked Felicity to see such a strong resemblance between father and son. Jared was a youthful version of his father with the clear-cut, strong masculine features. But he had his mother’s eyes.

“You must be Felicity,” Gerald greeted her, with a warm smile and a handshake. “How was your flight?”

She shot Jared a look to silence him when he opened his mouth. The last thing she needed was for him to tease her about the peanuts in front of his parents. She wanted to look poised and elegant, not like a nutcase who spilled peanuts on a dozen people because she’d never been on a plane before.

“It was fine. Thank you so much for letting me stay here over the holidays.”

Nancy beamed at her. “Of course, dear, you’re the first girlfriend Jared’s ever brought home for Christmas. We’re thrilled to meet you.”

“Mom,” Jared warned softly.

Nancy raised a brow. “What? It’s the truth. She’s the first. That’s a big deal, honey.”

Felicity bit her lip to keep from laughing at the look on Jared’s face. His cheeks turned a little ruddy. It was nice for him to be the victim of teasing for a change.

“I’m the first?” She nudged him with an elbow. His full lips twitched, and there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“You are.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek and then whispered in her ear softly enough that his parents couldn’t hear. “The first in my bed…the first I plan to do a lot of deliciously bad things to that will make you moan once we’re alone.” When he lifted his head away from her face, she didn’t miss the searing heat in his eyes as he promised her silently just how hungry he was to take her to bed. She wanted that too, so much, but she didn’t want his parents to think poorly of her.

“Gerald, go get the bags,” Nancy muttered. “I’ll take them upstairs so they can settle in.”

“Right,” Gerald said. “I’ll get your bags. Nancy will show you to your rooms.”

Felicity didn’t miss the shared smile between Nancy and Gerald, as though they were having a secret conversation that only people who’d been happily married for a long time could achieve. It was a language of twinkling eyes, smiles, and subtle nods.

Jared and I won’t ever have that. The sobering thought fractured her heart. She was still planning to leave for Los Angeles, and he wouldn’t be coming with her.

“Rooms?” Jared asked. “Dad, we’ll be sharing a bedroom.”

Oh God. Felicity ducked her head and tried to use sheer willpower to drive away the heat that flooded her face. He was making this so awkward. Why didn’t he just tell his parents they would be having sex tonight?

“Stop embarrassing her, Gerald,” Nancy whispered, swatting her husband’s shoulder as he passed by her to get to the door. “It’s just the one room. He was kidding.” Nancy nodded at the stairs. “Let me take you up.”

The Redmond Colorado home was stunning. Felicity was mesmerized by the dark wood timber of the mountain cabin–style architecture and the gray craggy stones of the walls. It was warm and rustic while also being open and spacious. The walls, Felicity noted, lacked art and only had the occasional family portrait on the walls. She itched to contact Sabine and find some pieces to put in the noticeable blank spaces.

“I know that look,” Jared murmured. “You’re envisioning decorating the place, aren’t you?” He raked a hand through his dark hair and glanced about as though attempting to see the home from her point of view. “We could use some art, couldn’t we?”

“What’s that, dear?” Nancy asked, turning to look at them as they reached the top of the stairs.

“Mom, we need to put some cool art on the walls of this place. It’s a bit bare.”

With a curious gaze between Felicity and Jared, Nancy nodded. “I could certainly do that, if I had someone to help me figure out what would look good. I assume you’d be willing to help me, Felicity?”

“I’d love to.” She knew she shouldn’t start chatting art, because it was so easy to get lost in talking about it, but she had to share her vision of the place.

“You need warm tones, rustic pieces. I’m seeing cowboy photography and paintings of rivers and streams. There are several great modern artists who paint nature pieces, and I think they’d be perfect. I’d be happy to get you connected with them.”

“I’d like that,” Nancy said. “Jared, I figured you’d want to stay in your usual room,” Nancy explained as they reached the door at the end of the hall at the top of the stairs. “Gerald and I are downstairs at the back of house if you need anything.”

I survived. She nearly grinned.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Oh, the Maxwells are in town, and your father and I are dining out with them in an hour. You have the house to yourselves for a few hours.”

“Perfect,” Jared replied with a broad grin.

His mother chuckled. “Felicity, you better make him behave.” His mother laughed, and then she left them alone.

Jared held on to Felicity’s hand, and she was strengthened by that point of connection. Meeting the parents hadn’t been that bad. They were wonderful, and any awkwardness had come from her.

“Come on. I want you to lie down and rest until dinner. You still look a little pale.” He tugged her into their shared room, and she gasped.

The bedroom was as big as her entire apartment back in Chicago. A massive sleigh bed was against one wall, with a deep-blue comforter and white pillows. A red-and-white Nordic quilt was folded over the bottom of the bed. The Redmonds had made something luxurious seem cozy. A small fireplace was opposite the bed, with gas logs. On the far side opposite the door, a balcony opened up to a view of the ski slopes.

“This is incredible,” she whispered.

“I’m glad you like it.” He had his hands tucked into his jeans pockets and was watching her intently, as though trying to see how she was taking it all in.

She followed Jared deeper into the room and smiled when she saw a wall of photos nearby. She couldn’t resist looking. He didn’t have a ton of pictures of his family back in his apartment, and she wanted to see what his life had been like as a boy.

There were pictures of Jared and Tanner in the pool as boys, Jared dressed as an Eagle Scout holding a pinewood box car and standing proudly next to his father. A college-age Jared stood next to his mother dressed in ski gear and facing up a steep, snowy mountain. He looked so happy, so content.

The warm press of Jared’s body behind hers put her at ease.

“You must’ve had a wonderful childhood,” she whispered.

“I did. I was blessed.” He slid his arms around her waist and rested his chin on the top of her head, holding her against him. “But I lost that happiness somewhere between leaving for college and meeting you.”

It took a moment for his words to register with her.

“You’re happy now?” she asked softly, her heart beating faster than it had seconds ago.

“I am.” He rubbed his cheek against hers, and the quiet affection of that moment captured her, weaving spells of happiness about her heart.

“Are you happy?” he asked as he turned her around in his arms so she faced him.

The answer was already on her lips. “I am. So happy.” And so afraid to lose this.

“So, dinner tonight?” He slid his hands into her back jean pockets.

“And then…maybe…” She nodded toward the king-size bed behind her.

“And then…” He waggled his eyebrows playfully, but the heat in his gaze set fire to her blood. “Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to help my dad with the bags.”

“I can help,” Felicity insisted, but he guided her to the bed and sat her down.

“You are staying right here to rest. If you don’t, neither of us will be doing anything in bed besides sleeping.” He brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear and then left her alone in the room. She waited until she heard his feet descending the stairs before she got off the bed. She walked only a few paces before nausea struck again. Covering her mouth, she bolted for the door that looked like the bathroom. She collapsed on her knees in front of the toilet and gasped, trying to keep her stomach under control. Ever since they’d boarded the plane she hadn’t felt right.

Maybe the peanuts had done her in. She rested her forehead against the arm that she’d braced on the toilet seat. She closed her eyes, breathing slowly and trying to swallow.

I am so not flying after this trip. Never again.

“Princess?” Jared appeared in the doorway of the bathroom, and she waved him away.

“I’m fine, just need to have a minute to sit here.”

He joined her on the floor, and one of his hands settled on her back, rubbing lightly.

“I’m sorry. I’m really ruining your vacation.” She groaned and reached for a Kleenex to wipe her mouth.

“Honey, you aren’t ruining anything. I’d rather be right here with you on the floor of my bathroom than back in Chicago.” His gentle chuckle was a balm to her, and she exhaled slowly. The nausea was fading bit by bit.

“You need water?” His brows drew together as he watched her carefully.

“That would be nice,” she murmured, focusing on her breathing.

He pressed a glass of water into her hands, and at first she took small sips, but then she began to gulp it down. Her stomach finally settled, and she climbed to her feet. He was there, gripping her waist as she got up, and she was grateful for the support. Jared was always there for her when she needed him most.

“Why don’t we take you downstairs and you can rest by the fire and watch some TV. I think I’ll order us a pizza.”

Felicity followed him out of the bathroom. She took one look at the thick snow clouds outside and shivered.

“Won’t it be dangerous for the delivery guy to drive up the hill to the house?”

He chuckled. “This is Colorado. The delivery guys have snow tires. It won’t be a problem.”

Jared curled an arm around her waist as they left his bedroom and walked toward the stairs. She loved it when he did that, when he held her or touched her as though they’d been together for years, not a month and a half. She’d never forget that night in his bedroom when she’d woken up next to him and how his touch had soothed her. That night had changed her life. Jared had changed her life.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked when they entered the large, cozy living room. A fire was crackling and popping over a stack of logs, and through a large doorway she caught a glimpse of Nancy and Gerald in the kitchen, talking and smiling. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected when she’d thought a hundred times about meeting them on the plane flight over. They were warm and sweet, just like Jared. They were not at all like the rich clients she’d been forced to deal with while working at Sabine’s. The Redmonds had heart.

“I was thinking how wonderful everything has been since I met you.” Heat built in her cheeks, but she couldn’t help it.

Jared’s eyes softened, and his sensual lips curved in a half smile.

“I’m so glad you’re mine, princess.” He dipped his head and cupped her face in his hands as he kissed her. The press of his lips was heaven, and she could have let him kiss her for hours, days even.

“Ahem.” Gerald’s voice came from behind them. “Let her have a chance to breathe, boy.” That broke them apart, and they both laughed, completely embarrassed.

“Gerald!” Nancy admonished her husband from the kitchen. “Don’t tease them.”

Jared didn’t acknowledge either of his parents. He kept his gaze on Felicity. “Sit down and rest.”

Felicity let him guide her to the large dark-brown leather couch, and she watched him over the back of the couch as he joined his mother in the kitchen.

“Mind if I sit?” Gerald pointed to a space at the opposite end of the couch.

“Of course,” Felicity replied.

Gerald sat down and stared at her for very long moment, his focus not unfriendly.

“So Jared tells me you’re finishing up a master’s at the University of Chicago. You’re focusing on art history, right?”

“Yes.” Felicity turned her attention from Jared to his father.

“Art history…what do you want to do with a degree like that?”

It was a question she’d faced before, and thankfully she was prepared. “Museum curation. I’ve been working at an exclusive art and design studio called Sabine’s, and the owner is well connected to all the major museums around the country. She’ll give me a reference and help me with interviews.”

“So you’ll stay in Chicago and work at the Art Institute?”

“I’ll probably move out to Los Angeles next year. I’m applying for a job there in a few months at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art once I get my fall grades on the record.”

“Los Angeles?” Gerald’s eyes widened. “Does Jared know?”

“Yes, but…” She paused. “We haven’t really talked about it.” Because neither of us can face the future we won’t be together in.

“Ah…” The dawning comprehension on his face made her heart sink. No doubt he was mentally checking a box on her that labeled her as a fling for Jared, not someone who would be with their son permanently. It hurt, even if it was the truth.

“Gerald, honey, we need to leave if we’re going to be at the restaurant in time for dinner,” Nancy called out. Felicity watched her kiss Jared’s cheek before she left the kitchen.

“Have a good evening, Felicity.” Gerald’s smile was still warm, but she sensed that he had put distance between them.

“Good night,” she called out, feeling completely wretched. If only this wasn’t temporary…

She folded her arms on the back of the couch and watched Jared call for a pizza.

He leaned back against the marble countertop, his legs crossed at his ankles, his lean, muscular body so beautiful.

And he’s mine…for now.

She didn’t want to think about what it would be like when she moved to Los Angeles and he moved on to a new girl.

Jared ended the call and strolled over to the back of the couch, leaned down, and covered her startled mouth with his. The kiss sparked with eager heat, but a tenderness simmered below all that. It never ceased to amaze her how she’d found such a wonderful, sexy god of a man.

“We’re all alone now.” He gave her those bedroom eyes that made everything else around them fade away. All she could think about was their bare bodies entwined between the sheets.

“We are,” she agreed against his lips.

“The pizza will be here in an hour. Do you want to sit in the hot tub?” Jared suggested as he massaged her neck and shoulders, their faces still close enough that she detected his slightly quicker breathing.

“A hot tub in the snow? Are you sure?” It sounded insane. They’d freeze to death.

“Oh yeah, princess. You haven’t lived until you sit in a hot tub while it snows.”

“Okay.” She arched up for one more kiss before she got off the couch. “I’ll go change into my suit.”

“Good, I’ve got my suit down here. I’ll throw on my trunks and uncover the tub. It’s just outside there.” He pointed to a pair of doors just off the living room.

Felicity rushed up the stairs to where Jared had put her suitcase. It was a hideous, beaten-up old duffel, but she had no other bag. Jared’s own elegant black roller suitcase was tucked by the door. It made her wince when she looked at her own bag. She shoved the rush of negative thoughts aside and searched for the suit she’d packed, and then she cursed. The tasteful one-piece navy-blue bathing suit wasn’t there. In its place was a two-piece white-and-black polka-dot suit. The top and bottoms each had some creative ruffles that…well, they would look cute, but Felicity had never worn a suit like this.

“Layla…” she said with a growl and stomped all the way to the bathroom, cursing her best friend’s craftiness.

What would Jared think when he saw her in this itsy-bitsy, teenie-weenie, polka-dot bikini?