LITMIR.BIZ

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He’d done this descent hundreds of times himself, so it was simple enough to focus on her. The conditions were solid here even with the foot of fresh powder. A winter wonderland glittered all around them, dazzling white from the intense sun.

      “I won’t ask you about your family,” he began, hoping to put her at ease. “But I can tell you that living far from mine has improved my relationship with them.” Which still wasn’t saying much, considering they hardly spoke. But it was better than the hurtful exchanges they’d had all too often when he lived on the family’s ranch.

      “You’re fortunate you have that option,” she said tightly, breath huffing in the cold air.

      “I realize that. I’m often reminded how lucky I am to have a brother who has never made a misstep in his life at the helm of our family’s ranch.” Weston wasn’t exactly bitter. It was tough to hold a grudge against Miles when he’d never done a damned thing wrong. “But I found it frustrating to continually fall short of my parents’ expectations for me.”

      “You’re the black sheep?” She sounded surprised.

      “That’s putting it kindly.” On second thought, the tension in his shoulders just thinking about the Rivera family made him realize how much he didn’t care to unearth old pains, even for her benefit. “But it did help to put some physical distance between me and them. Do you have siblings?”

      “No. Just me.” She was quiet for so long he nearly replied, but then she continued. “And my mother isn’t someone I can leave alone for long. She has a hoarding disorder, in addition to some other issues that aren’t as obvious or well managed, and I worry about her safety when I’m not with her.”

      “That sounds stressful.” He didn’t know what he’d been expecting, but it hadn’t been that. “Is she getting treatment?”

      “Not as much as I would like.” April’s boots trudged a soft rhythm beside his, and he took in how she tucked her thumbs under the straps of her backpack as she redistributed the weight on her shoulders. “The condition was only recently reclassified as a distinct mental health issue, and I feel like her current doctor isn’t doing all she can to help with my mother’s specific problems.”

      “Is your father around to help?” Weston realized he was on more precarious terrain in the conversation than they were on the mountainside as the landscape evened out a bit more. He hadn’t meant to pry.

      “No. They divorced when I was in my teens, after the house started getting out of control with Mom’s purchases.” She gave an awkward shrug as they ducked into a thicket of trees. “I’m the only one Mom has.”

      “That’s a lot for you. For any one person.” It also said a hell of a lot about the burdens she carried. No wonder she was a fearless climber. Real life had thrown her plenty of other obstacles.

      “There are more and more resources out there. Even if I can’t get as much aid from her doctor as I would like, at least we have access to more programs as social awareness of the condition grows.” She glanced his way just as his all-terrain vehicle, completely covered in a mound of snow, finally came into view at the trailhead. “Is that yours?”

      “Yes.” He offered her a smile, grateful to be close to home again but regretting not getting to learn more about her while she’d been sharing her story with him. “We’re almost home free.”

      Reaching the vehicle, they worked side by side to brush off the worst of the snow. He noticed April gave herself completely to the task; apparently she was done talking for the day. While he understood that urge to shut down about family, he couldn’t help but ask one more question.

      “What set you on your career path? Financial forensics seems fairly specialized.” Once he could open a door of his ATV freely, he withdrew a compact snow shovel and dug around the wheels, just enough to get them going.

      They’d be fine once the ATV was in motion, but he needed some space around it to gain traction and momentum first.

      She smoothed her glove along the top of a tire, swiping off the snow with her hand since there was only one shovel. “I received an accounting degree but worked for a PI in college to make some extra cash. I sat on stakeouts, followed cheaters, took some pictures...just legwork. Being around his office helped me to see my path.”

      Standing up straight, Weston moved to the last tire as his brain shuffled through the new information.

      “Now you follow money instead of people.” He could see where the order of finances would appeal to someone who grew up the way she’d described.

      “People can try to create a smokescreen with their finances, but in the end, the numbers don’t lie.”

      Her assessment of her job stuck with him as he loaded their packs in the vehicle. He’d heard the note of pride in her voice. It was obvious she gained professional satisfaction from succeeding at her work. Which only underscored his certainty that she wouldn’t let this case go.

      Opening the passenger-side door for her, he asked, “Are you ready to return to civilization?”

      “Yes, please.” She pulled off her hat and goggles, her blue eyes a clear, deep sea as she peered up at him.

      Memories of waking up to her in his arms returned. The awareness of her hadn’t retreated, even with the reminder that her work was going to be a thorn in his side.

      “And you’re still staying at the main lodge?” He knew for a fact she hadn’t checked out. But he was curious what she’d say about her plans moving forward. As much as he resented her investigation, her work was being financed by Devon Salazar, Alonzo’s son. So Weston preferred not to ask her to leave outright.

      Ideally, she would give up on her own without anyone at Mesa Falls having to cross swords with the Salazar heirs.

      “I am.” She stepped into the ATV. “I’ll be at Mesa Falls Ranch until I find the answers I need.”

      Grinding his teeth, he closed her door, then slid into the driver’s seat and fired up the engine, trying to figure out what that meant for him.

      He really should be keeping track of her progress on the investigation since he had a vested interest in keeping his former mentor out of the public eye. If April uncovered Alonzo’s secrets—and he was beginning to think she wouldn’t give up until she did just that—Weston needed to be there for damage control. Or to spin the story more favorably.

      Just the thought of it made his shoulders tense up again.

      He debated his next move as he drove them down the mountain. He passed his house, pointing it out to April on the way to the main lodge. By the time he arrived at her accommodations and switched off the engine, he knew he couldn’t return to his old way of dealing with her by ignoring her. There was no denying they’d forged some kind of connection on that mountain. If anything, he was already thinking about what it would be like to wake up next to her again. In a much warmer bed.

      Mind made up, and intrigued by the prospect of seeing her again, he opened his door and retrieved her backpack before coming around to assist her. The snow wasn’t as deep here, telling him the storm hadn’t been nearly as bad in the valley as it had been on the peaks.

      “I can’t thank you enough for coming to my aid last night, Weston,” she said as she took his hand and allowed him to help her from the low vehicle.

      “You can if you have dinner with me tonight.” He liked the plan even more when he saw a momentary flash of feminine interest in her eyes.

      Awareness.

      The expression was fleeting, though, quickly replaced by a nervous nibble on her lip as she reached for her bag.

      “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, since my investigation is sure to put us at odds again.” She hugged her backpack closer.

      Did she feel like she needed a barrier with him? The idea gave him pause. He sure as hell didn’t want to make her nervous.

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