Don't Fall for a Fugitive: Strong Family Romances by Checketts Cami

Author:Checketts, Cami [Checketts, Cami]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Birch River Publishing
Published: 2019-11-13T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Heath made it into the lodge by one-thirty and found his family at a table in the restaurant. There was a cafeteria that was open during the busy season, attached to the ski shop next door, but his mama preferred the nicer restaurant and sitting down together.

Hazel had done pretty good skiing. With him guiding her down, skiing backwards while she held on to the pole, he could instruct her and help her more. Austin was right: it had been a lot more effective teaching method than having her ski between his legs, though he preferred the latter. She’d been tired and ready to take a bath when they’d gotten back to Gavin’s house. He’d offered to get her some food, but she’d kept claiming she wasn’t hungry. He’d hated to leave her there alone, but he needed to be with his family.

“There he is,” Ella called out. “The family ditcher.”

Heath bowed. “Thank you, thank you very much.” He took a seat that had a plate of food waiting for him: one of his favorite steak and gorgonzola pasta dishes. “Thank you, Mama,” he said, knowing only she would order for him.

“It’s probably cold,” she said.

He took a bite, loving the creamy sauce and the hearty steak. “No, it’s perfect.”

“Where’ve you been?” Stetson asked, swallowing a drink of his water. Everyone looked well into their meals, but at least they weren’t finished.

“I told ya,” Austin hollered, “Heath found him a girlfriend! She’s a soap opera smoochie star!”

Everyone stared at Heath in shock. Had they ignored Austin or not believed him? “You said you were staying behind to work but somehow … met a girl?” Ella asked.

Heath smiled smoothly. He’d practiced what to say, but it wasn’t easy to lie to his own family. Gavin gave him an encouraging nod. At least his brother knew the truth and was on his side. That felt good. The two of them had either been inseparable or at each other’s throats when they were younger. He liked the former.

Mama’s eyes narrowed as she looked from him to Gavin. “What’s going on, Heath?”

“I did stay back to finish some work.” He’d actually woken at four a.m. to catch up on any emails and deal with issues so he could spend the day with Hazel and his family. He’d even bypassed his morning workout to finish up. He hated lying to his family, especially Mama, but didn’t see how revealing Hazel’s identity would be good. They didn’t need the burden, and she didn’t need the risk of someone slipping and revealing her location. “Then I ran into a friend and skied some runs with her. Sorry to miss out.” He shoveled some food in so they wouldn’t have to wait for him. “What run are we hitting next?”

“The Waterfalls!” Austin yelled, referring to the falls that Angel Falls Retreat had been named after. The water was frozen in the winter, but the hiking trails and ski runs on its edges were steep, picturesque, and some of Heath’s favorites.

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