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Jacob stared at hi beat and then without another word, walked away He didn’t look back

When he realized his phone was vibrating with an inco But it was nearly a decade later, ti on Saturday and the job needed his attention, whichto cut it, but what choice did he have? He scrubbed a hand down his face, still feeling the loss of his twin as if no tione by at all

Dao day, Hud had nearly gone after him, but in the end he hadn’t He couldn’t leave his mom and he wouldn’t leave the rest of the fah an online bank, Jacob had set up an autole one

Which at times had been Hud’s only indication that Jacob was still alive

At first, hurting at one for the closest thing--the police acadeh the resort to run ski patrol

And it was ski patrol calling him

Mother Nature had dumped another six inches of snow since he’d fallen into bed, which et with his avalanche patrol crew and check the mountain

By dawn they’d deeuys off to breakfast before they had to be back out there setting lines and patrolling when the resort opened

"You’re not co with?" Mitch asked inside the cafeteria, surprised when Hud didn’t head toward the food with the to take care of," he said

Mitch’s easy s new to report on that front was better than bad news given that Jacob was still co that both frustrated and scared hi new," he said to Mitch "I’ll meet up with you"

He headed into the cafeteria kitchen It was hustling and bustling, people cooking and preparing food to support the resort for the day His nose was assaulted with the scent of coffee, bacon, cinna his mouth water

"Hudson," a female voice purred

He turned to find Quinn, one of the chefs and the ex Gray had mentioned the week before She s me," she said with her usual frankness Like it didn’t even matter that the last time he’d seen her, she’d chucked his own phone at his head Her siven

"Just busy," he said The utter truth She was beautiful and fun and he told hiht have taken her up on the promise in her eyes, even if it’d lead to another blowout But as of teeks ago and one blue-eyed ht

Quinn shook her head and called him on his bullshit "You’re such a liar, Hud No one’s that busy"

And that was an arguo there again with her "I just need to get so to the food

"Want me to take a quick break and eat with you? It’s been a while" She s your phone at your head when it goes off the whole time"

"Quinn, I’m on the run I’ed "You’re the oneout, Hud"

This he knew firsthand He selected what he wanted, put it all in a bag, and swiped his card He didn’t really knohy he was doing this It would let Bailey in on a little secret, tell her so that he didn’t particularly want her to know

That he’d been thinking of her That he’d hoped she’d show up and not give up--although he knew she’d at least indeed shown up, as he’d checked the e

Insanity, really, all of it He’d kissed her last week half hoping that it would burn out the embers Instead it’d done the opposite

Yes, he’d wanted her gone But now he just wanted her

"So who is she?" Quinn asked

No one he wanted to discuss