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CHAPTER ONE

OLD MAN WINTER huffed and puffed, rattling the doors of the Greene Summit Resort Kara Jaht She didn’t relish heading out into the declining weather to navigate her way ho day at work

She took ain the lobby of what had once been one of Pennsylvania’s prehts coreen and red decorations would norht Not even the rendition of “Jingle Bells” playing softly in the background could te

The resort had been sold The sohed heavily on her shoulders It didn’t help that rue replaced Why did it have to happen with Christmas only a feeeks away?

Everything ork out Everything ork out She repeated the mantra over and over in her ut said nothing would ever be the saain

“Kara?”

The deep baritone voice caaze remained locked on a red bell-shaped ornament as her mind processed the sound Even in the two syllables of her name, she knew that voice, knew the way her naue as sweet as candy

Jason Smith

It couldn’t be He’d sworn he would never come back

“Kara, won’t you even look at me?”

Her gaze shifted to the glass doors that led to the parking lot Her feet refused to cooperate, reolden pattern on the hotel carpet Seven years ago, she’d bolted out those exact doors after Jason had broken their engagement Back then she’d been unsure and confused by the depth of her erowing up Running was no longer her style

She sucked in a deep breath, leveled her shoulders and turned

Clear blue eyes stared back at her A slow, easy grin lifted the tired lines around Jason’s eyes She blinked, but he was still there

This couldn’t be happening The overti up with her

“Are you okay?” He reached out to her

She jumped back before he could touch her Words rushed up her throat, but clogged in her ether and willed her heart to slow Her pulse pounded in her ears as her fists clenched at her sides A breath in A breath out

“You’re so pale Sit down” He gestured to one of the overstuffed couches surrounding the stone fireplace “You look like you’ve seen a ghost”

She didn’t move This surreal host of Christe and he wasn’t an actor

She studied theto ma

ke sense of things The dark scruff obscuring his boyish features was a new addition, as was the two-inch scar trailing up the right side of his jaw His hardened appearance was a visual reers longed to reach out and trace the uneven skin of his jaw, but instead she gripped the strap of her tote even tighter A bit older and a little scuffed up, but it was most definitely Jason

Just pretend he’s a o, not the man who threw your love back in your face and walked aithout any explanation

“Jason S her best to sound casual