Forsaking All Others
They are all wrong for each other…Jessica Harrington knows what she doesn't want for Christmas–to be roped in to her parents' matchmaking scheme. Ever since she and Weston Chamberlain were children, their fathers hoped they would marry and merge their families' fortunes. One problem–Jessica and Wes can't tolerate one another! But love can make everything right…Wes, who arrives in Aspen for the families' shared ski vacation, has grown up…in delicious ways. And beautiful Jessica is nothing like the awkward teen Wes remembers. The breathtaking setting fuels a sizzling attraction that surprises them both. But living on opposite coasts is only one of many obstacles ahead. Can romance last once they've left their winter wonderland behind?
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Dedication
This novel is dedicated to the loving memory of
Michael Bruce Randolph, my friend of 40 years.
Michael, your warm and loving presence will be forever
missed by all of us who love you. May you rest in peace, safe in the hull of God’s unchanging hands.
Sunrise: August 28, 1951
Sunset: March 18, 2007
This novel is dedicated to the latest addition to
the Smith family; a sweet little bundle of joy.
Our 6>th grandchild and 2>nd granddaughter.
Synia Justice Smith
Born: May 1, 2006
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 1
Stunning twenty-five-year-old Jessica Harrington couldn’t believe the beauty of the Aspen, Colorado, resort areas. She and her parents, Roman and Sahara, and her older sister, Jennifer, and her husband, Samuel Ellington, were actually spending the Christmas and New Year holidays in this wonderland. The other family members had been to Aspen several times, during different seasons of the year, but Jessica’s acrophobia, her fear of heights, had kept her away.
Jessica had finally learned to conquer her fear of heights and close spaces. There was no place or tight space on earth she wouldn’t now dare to venture to. Flying in an airplane had never been a problem for her. Driving up into the mountains and dealing with heights had been a major one, though, for as far back as she could remember. Just getting up on a six-foot ladder had once scared her silly.
The plush condominium/town house resort of Snowmass was located in the heart of Snowmass Village at Aspen. Base elevation of Snowmass Mountain was 7,870 feet, with a vertical rise of 2,030 feet.
Not so long ago those were heights Jessica wouldn’t have even considered taking on. Now, she couldn’t be happier to have made the trip to this winter paradise. She could hardly wait for all the festive holiday events to begin.
The Harrington family was joining up with Roman’s lifelong best friend, Jacque Chamberlain, his wife, Sandra, and their only son, twenty-six-year-old Weston. The two families would share separate three-bedroom town houses across the corridor from each other.
Jennifer and Samuel had leased a two-bedroom condo in the same resort, in the opposite building. A couple of other families were also joining the small group, good friends of the Chamberlains, who were not due to arrive in Aspen until the day after Christmas. The Carlyle and Holloway families and their two teenagers, a boy and girl, had also leased town houses at Snowmass.
Sahara stepped out on the balcony and lowered her arm around Jessica’s shoulder. “Isn’t it breathtaking way up here? Are you okay with the heights?”
Jessica reached up and patted her mother’s hand. “I’m fine. It’s a wonderful vision to behold. The stark whiteness is near blinding. Haven’t decided to try skiing, though. That may be a little too much bravery for my first trip up such a high mountain. Sledding sounds more interesting to me as an alternative to skiing. I think it’ll be fun.”
“Everything we do will be fun. The Chamberlains should be here any minute. Are you nervous about seeing Weston? You guys haven’t been together since your teens.”
Jessica shrugged with nonchalance. “Nothing to be nervous about. He’s probably the same nerdy guy he was back then. We never did see eye to eye. I don’t expect a different outcome this trip.”
“Oh, Jess, I hope you don’t act nasty with him. Pulling hair is what most boys do at that age. Are you still holding the pigtail incident against him?”
“Incident, my foot! He nearly scalped me, pulling my hair so hard. But I don’t hold it against him.” Jessica sighed. “Hope I meet an interesting guy up here, but there won’t be anything happening between Wes and me. That’s Dad and Mr. Jacque’s dream. Not ours. I’m only here out of all the guilt you guys made me feel about going away with my girlfriends for Christmas.”
“Guilt was not our intent. That’s nonsense. We’ve never been apart for Christmas. We’re not starting now. Just concentrate on having a good time. Don’t put restrictions on yourself. I’m going in to wake up Dad. He wants to be up and dressed when Jacque and Sandra arrive. Jenny and Sam will be over any minute. We’ll all go to dinner once everyone gets here. Besides, you and Wes might find something in common. Who knows?” Sahara kissed her daughter’s cheek before stepping back indoors.
“Fat chance,” Jessica mumbled under her breath. The only thing she and Weston had in common was their intense dislike for each other. She hoped he had at least grown up some. His immaturity had gotten on her nerves the last time they’d seen each other in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Jessica shivered as a blast of cold air hit her head-on, her hazel eyes watering at the shock. “Wow!” She didn’t waste another minute getting back inside where a warm fire roared in the stone fireplace. She hadn’t been used to this type of cold weather where she grew up, although California did get lots of snow up in the mountainous areas.
