“How old is he?” she whispers, so neither Kate or Elliot hear us.

“Thirty-two. Why?”

“Curious, that’s all.”

“Don’t be curious about Hyde. I’m just glad the fucker’s locked up.”

“Do you think he’s working with someone?” She sounds anxious.

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe someone who has a grudge against you? Like Elena?”

For fuck’s sake, Ana. I check that Kate and Elliot aren’t listening, but they’re deep in their own conversation. “You do like to demonize her, don’t you?” I mutter. “She may hold a grudge, but she wouldn’t do this kind of thing. Let’s not discuss her. I know she’s not your favorite topic of conversation.”

“Have you confronted her?”

“Ana, I haven’t spoken to her since my birthday party.” Well, I haven’t spoken to her in person. “Please, drop it. I don’t want to talk about her.” I kiss her knuckles.

“Get a room,” Elliot interrupts my thoughts. “Oh, right—you already have, but you didn’t need it for long.”

“Fuck off, Elliot.”

“Dude, just telling you how it is.” Elliot looks so pleased with himself.

“Like you’d know,” I retort.

“You married your first girlfriend.” Elliot gestures to Ana.

“Can you blame me?” I kiss Ana’s hand again, and give her a smile.

“No.” Elliot laughs and shakes his head.

Kate slaps Elliot’s thigh. “Stop being an ass.”

“Listen to your girlfriend.” Maybe Kavanagh can keep him in line. She scowls at Elliot while Stephan announces our altitude and flight time, and tells us we’re free to move around the cabin.

Natalia appears from the galley. “May I offer anyone coffee?”

When the Gulfstream pulls to a stop at Aspen Pitkin airport, Taylor is off the plane first.

“Good landing.” I shake Stephan’s hand as the rest of our guests prepare to disembark.

“It’s all about the density altitude, sir. Beighley here is good at math.”

“You nailed it, Beighley. Smooth landing.”

“Thank you, sir.” Her grin is rightly smug.

“Enjoy your weekend, Mr. Grey, Mrs. Grey. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Stephan steps aside to let us deplane, and we descend the aircraft steps to where Taylor is waiting with our ride.

“Minivan?” I raise a brow. With an apologetic smile, he slides open the door. “Last minute, I know,” I offer. I turn to Ana. “Want to make out in the back of the van?”

She giggles.

“Come on, you two. Get in,” Mia nags from behind us. We climb on board, scrambling to the backseat, where we sit down. I put my arm around Ana as she cuddles into me.

“Comfortable?”

“Yes.” Ana smiles and I kiss her forehead, delighted that we’re here together. I’ve been on trips like this before, with my parents, to their place in Montana, and with Mia and Elliot when they’ve included their friends. But I’ve always gone solo.

This is another first.

As a teenager I didn’t have friends, and as an adult I’ve been too busy and too solitary to enjoy this kind of outing.

And I still don’t have many friends.

Once Elliot and Taylor have loaded the luggage, we set off toward town. As I enjoy the scenery, my thoughts drift to our house on Red Mountain. I wonder if Ana will like it.

I hope so. I love it here.

Aspen in late summer is as green as Seattle, more so at this time of year. It’s what I love about the place. The grass in the pastures is lush and tall and the mountains are smothered in forests in full leaf. Today, the sun is high in the sky, though there are dark clouds on the horizon toward the west. I hope that’s not an omen.

Ethan turns in his seat to face us. “Have you been to Aspen before, Ana?”

“No, first time. You?”

“Kate and I used to come here a lot when we were teens. Dad’s a keen skier. Mom less so.”

“I’m hoping my husband will teach me how to ski.” She peers at me.

“Don’t bet on it,” I mutter.

“I won’t be that bad!”

“You might break your neck.” A shiver runs down my spine.

“How long have you had this place?” she asks.

“Nearly two years. It’s yours now, too, Mrs. Grey.”

“I know,” she whispers, and kisses my jaw before settling in to my side once more.

Ethan asks me which are my favorite slopes, and I run through them. I’m not as fearless as Elliot, though. He could ski downhill, backward, with his eyes closed, anywhere.

“I can ski, too,” Mia pipes up, glaring at Ethan. He smiles indulgently at her and I wonder how her campaign to capture his heart—or his dick—is going. He says she’s not his type, but the way she’s making eyes at him, he’s definitely hers.

“Why did you choose Aspen?” Ana asks me as we cruise down Main Street.

“What?”

“To buy a place.”

“Mom and Dad used to bring us here when we were kids. I learned to ski here, and I like the place. I hope you do, too—otherwise, we’ll sell the house and choose somewhere else.” I tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “You look lovely today.” She blushes prettily and I cannot resist kissing her.

The traffic is fairly light, and Taylor reaches the center of town in good time. He turns north on Mill Street and we cross the Roaring Fork River and head up on Red Mountain. Taylor steers around the bend at the ridge and I inhale sharply.