Slowly, I creep up the snow-packed driveway, thankful that I have my new Jeep to navigate the slippery terrain. As I put the SUV in park, Ted opens my door, his adorable green eyes sparkling in the last of the evening sunlight.

“Fancy new car you got here,” he says. Ted is my best friend, Willow’s, husband.

“Why, thank you. I did sign the biggest client my office had this year.” He takes my hand as I steady myself, planting two feet firmly on the icy ground. A chill runs through me, and I zip my coat. “God, it’s cold.”

“But beautiful,” he says, and we both look up at the shimmering white flakes coming down hard. “Come on, let’s get inside.”

I nod and open my rear door, handing him my bag. Then we walk up to the gorgeous winter retreat that Willow’s brother, Ari, rented for the week. Every year he puts together one of these trips, and it’s what I look forward to most in the wintertime. It’s the same group of people every year, and we’ve all become like family. Most of us went to college together and now meet to spend time catching up, skiing, and snowboarding somewhere in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It’s not far from where I live in Denver, and with how crazy my job and life can be at times, especially as the holiday’s approach, I can always use the time away…this year in particular.

Ted and I kick the snow from our boots as Willow and Kami greet us at the door. “Oh my God!” both girls exclaim. “You look so adorable,” Kami tells me and gives me a tight hug, followed by Willow.

“This place is stunning,” I say to them.

“Isn’t it? Ari did awesome this year. Come on, let us show you to your room.”

Kami’s boyfriend, Jacob, and Ari are zoned out on the TV, watching some sports game. “Hey guys,” I say as I walk by and they both nod their heads followed by a simultaneous, “What’s up?”

“Awesome place, Ari. Thank you.”

“No problem,” he says, still focusing on the TV, and the girls show me around and then take me upstairs. As we head down the hall, it’s clear Ari has the master; he’s paying after all.

“So, here you are,” Willow says opening the door to the rustic-inspired bedroom, with two twin beds made out of real trees. My room is right across from her and Ted, and next to Kami and Jacob’s room, so we’re all sandwiched in together.

“Wow, I’m totally gonna feel like a little kid sleeping in here,” I tell Willow and Kami, as I plop down on the couch in the room to take my boots off. My bag is already by the door. Ted is such a sweetie.

“So, how are you holding up?” Willow asks me.

“I’m okay,” I tell her, the tears already pricking the back of my throat, and even though I try and push them away, it’s hard. Kami gives me a huge hug, and through an exasperated sigh, I say, “I’m not even sure why I’m upset.”

“Breakups are always painful, babe.”

And they are, even though my ex and I were only together for a handful of months, it was a fast and furious romance. He’s that big client I signed through my work, and he literally swept me off my feet. Flying me around every weekend to be with him as we traveled all over, and I just went with it. I completely let my guard down and in the process made myself vulnerable. It really was an awesome few months of my life. Until the day he broke up with me for really no reason that I could see. The pain of thinking about it is still so hard to handle. My relationships always seem to end badly, this one included, which makes me feel like there is something wrong with me. I’m really hoping with this trip I can let it go, even if only for this week.

“Have you heard from him at all?” Kami asks.

“No, thank God. I’m sure he’s moved on,” I tell the girls, and I’m sure he has.

“Well, I say you forget all about that douchebag,” Willow says, and I smile, changing into a pair of sweats.

“I’d love nothing more than to forget about him.”

“What do you ladies say, let’s make this the best week ever? We are going to be completely relaxed, calm, and unplugged from the world, okay?” She looks at me with that look, and I know what she means. I take my cell phone from inside my purse. I’m reluctant to hand it to her…but I’m aware of the rules on these trips…so I do.

Kami and Willow hug me. Willow looks into my eyes, reading me, knowing me so damn well. “Let it all go, babe. This is a fresh start!”

“I will. Thank you both for picking my ass up.”

“Of course. Meet ya downstairs?”

“Yeah, I’m just gonna use the bathroom real quick.”

After I finish, I stare back at my reflection in the mirror. My dark blue eyes are tired and my straggly caramel colored hair is a mess. Christ, work really kicked my ass this week. I never knew managing other people’s money could be so much work. Now that I’ve been promoted to Investment Advisor within a huge financial firm, I realize how easy I had it before.

The snow made my hair such an unmanageable snarl that all I can do is use the hair band from my wrist to hold it in a messy ponytail.

My wool sweater looks ridiculous with my gray sweats, so I take it off, then go and dig through my bag for something more comfortable and less itchy to wear. One of the things I love about these trips is just being able to chill and relax and not care how I look. Ari is like a big brother to me, and the other guys are taken, so I have no one to look good for.

Suddenly the door opens. “Here you are, man,” Ari says, walking in with an unfamiliar guy, and I scramble to cover my breasts.

“What the fuck, Ari?” I yell, and both he and the new guy gawk at me. Looking back at his sexy face, I’m not sure what to do, so I storm into the bathroom and pull whatever t-shirt I’m holding over my head. Then I stand there trying to decide if I should walk out. Or maybe I should wait for someone to knock. Ari said, “Here you are?” What does he mean? This is my room! Who is that guy?

“Quinn?” Willow calls out and lightly raps on the door. I open it, and she says, “You okay?”

“I’m fine. What the fuck is going on, though?”

“I’m sorry, Ari invited a friend of his. They used to work together. He didn’t think he was coming…but he’s here.”

“And he’s staying in my room?”

“Well, if you’re okay with that. But if not, I can see if he can sleep on the couch or something?”

“No, don’t do that. I don’t want to cause any drama.” Ari puts this all together and is so cool about paying for everything. “He’s his friend; I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” she asks with a frown on her face.

“I’m sure.” We walk out into the bedroom. On the floor at the door is the guy’s bag. I follow Willow downstairs, and as I look around at everyone, I spot him bullshitting with the guys. He’s got messy brown hair and muscles for days. He senses me coming down and looks at me, making my heart thud. I glance away like I didn’t notice, but I can feel his eyes still on me. He keeps talking to the guys but watching me.

“I need a drink,” I tell Willow. My nerves are shot, having the two of them walk in on me like that. Thankfully Kami is making some sort of concoction in the kitchen. She’s our resident mixologist—literally—she worked at a high-end cocktail bar when we were all in college, and you can always count on her to make the best drinks.

“Here you ladies go,” she says, passing us some foofy pink drinks.

“Hey, Merritt, you want a beer, man?” Ari asks him.

“Sure,” he says and walks into the kitchen, stopping right next to me.

I swallow, sipping on my drink, gazing off, not sure why I’m so nervous. Minus the fact that he saw my tits, I don’t even know him.

“Hey, I’m Merritt, sorry about earlier.”

“It’s all good.” I sip on my drink again as he extends his hand to me. I look down at it for a moment and completely clam up. “You’re supposed to shake it,” he whispers, leaning into my ear. He smells good, and his warm breath on my skin makes me tighten my pussy.

I chuckle a little to myself, then take his hand in mine. “I’m Quinn,” I tell him.

“It’s nice to meet you,” he says, his brown eyes dancing in the low light of the kitchen.

“Here you go, man,” Ari says and hands him a beer. “You two get a chance to meet yet?” he asks us.

“Yeah,” I respond, watching Merritt’s lips and the way they mold around the end of the beer bottle, eyes still watching me. God, I don’t know what it is, but he’s so hot and alluring to me, which is the last thing I need right now. I can’t help but think by the way he’s looking at me that as much as I wanted this week to be about myself and relaxing, he’s going to make that very hard—if not impossible—to accomplish.