Read Online Claiming Her Billion-Dollar Birthright by Maureen Child - Free Book Online Page B

had taken her to was a veritable wilderness.
    â€œAs his kids got older,” Christian said, “Don had the place rehabbed, building each of them their own suite and a few extras for guests.”
    It sounded as though Don Jarrod had done everything he could to keep his children at home. Yet each of them had fled Colorado. She had to wonder why.
    Erica took a breath and nodded. “Are they all living here now?”
    As if he could read the trepidation on her face, he smiled and said, “No. Right now, there’s only Guyin one of the suites and Guy’s twin, Blake, and his assistant living in two of the others. The rest of your family are here—staying in different lodges.”
    Only a couple of siblings to worry about facing every day then. That was good. Erica would prefer to settle in a little before she was forced to deal with Don Jarrod’s other children. But if Guy or Blake and his assistant were there at the moment, now was as good a time as any to get the first of the introductions over with.
    â€œAre any of them here now?” Erica tried to steel herself for meeting the first of her new family. Though now that she thought about it, she wished she had a minute to drag a brush through her wind-tossed hair and to put on some makeup and—
    â€œNo,” Christian said, interrupting her frenzied thoughts. “Blake’s gone for a few days at the moment. He and Samantha have been flying back and forth a lot to Vegas, wrapping up loose ends in the business and getting ready to take over here. Blake and your brother Gavin have been building hotels, mostly in Las Vegas and they’ve done exceptionally well out there.”
    â€œAnd they’re giving it up to come back here?”
    â€œYeah,” Christian said. “Like you, your brothers and sister have closed down their old lives and are here to start over again.”
    But they were returning to something familiar at least. She, on the other hand, felt as though she’d fallen into the rabbit hole. Nerves rattled through her again, but resolutely, she fought them down.
    â€œWhat about Guy?”
    â€œThis time of day, he’s probably downstairs in the main restaurant.”
    She drew a breath and let it go. “What about Gavin? Is he in Vegas with Blake?”
    â€œNo, he’s here. But he’s living in one of the private lodges on the grounds.” Christian shrugged. “He wasn’t interested in moving into the Manor.”
    Erica was beginning to understand that none of her brothers and sister were exactly thrilled to be back in Aspen. Yet, they’d all come, putting aside their plans and lives outside Jarrod Ridge to return and take up the family resort again. That told her that despite what were probably mixed feelings about their father and this place, their loyalty to family meant more than their reluctance to return. And that knowledge made her feel better, somehow. If family was everything to these people, then eventually, she might be able to have a relationship with all of them.
    â€œWhat about the others?” she asked. “Where are they living?”
    He led her down the hallway in the opposite direction from Blake’s suite as he continued.
    â€œWell, like I said, Trevor has his own place in Aspen, but he’s here most days. Guy stays here mainly because he’s working here at the Manor. And Melissa…” He paused. “She lives in Willow Lodge. It’s the farthest lodge from the Manor, but anyone here can tell you where that is. She also runs the hotel spa, and you’ll find her there most days.”
    â€œHow big are the family quarters?” she suddenlyasked, astonished at the length of the hallway in both directions.
    â€œAs big as the top floor of the hotel. Including wings,” Christian added with a smile.
    â€œAmazing,” she murmured as she followed after him.
    â€œYeah, it is. Down here is your suite, plus two more.