Finding Hope Read online

  “Oh, Missy’s hairstylist is ready for you.”

  “I’ll be right there. Thank you, Haven.”

  “Good.” Haven glanced up, and Adrian caught her gaze. She smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Adrian. I hope the department is treating you well. If not, I can always have my uncle drop in for a visit.”

  “Thank you, Haven, but Nashville PD is doing just fine by me.”

  “Great.”

  Another pasted-on smile. The heels of Haven’s shoes clicked on the floor as she nervously shifted back and forth. Is she just going to stand there?

  “Tell Missy I’ll be right there.” Addison’s voice cut through the silence like a bullet on a target range. Haven jumped at the sound.

  “Of course. See you in minute,” Haven squeaked. She turned and sashayed back down the hall the way she’d come.

  Addison slid her arm from Adrian’s, and he instantly felt the loss of the connection. Something about this woman made his mind wander.

  “Well, I’ve got to go get my hair done. I’ll meet you at the chapel doors.”

  “What! No!” He ran his hands through his hair. Chapel doors? What had she just asked him? “I mean… of course, yes.”

  Missy’s gorgeous blonde best friend laughed – at him. Not a giggle covered by a hand, a full-on laughing-your-butt-off kind of laugh. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were watering. He smiled and shook his head.

  “Easy…We just have to watch Tom and Missy get hitched.”

  God, what is wrong with me? My brain is just determined to turn to mush anytime I’m around her.

  “Go get your hair done!”

  “Oooooh, tough police officer voice. I’m terrified.” She raised her hands in mock surrender and marched down the hall.

  Adrian rolled his eyes. She was still laughing as she entered the bride’s room. Even though she was laughing at him, the sound of her amusement was pleasant. Nothing had done that in a long time.

  ***

  Aphrodite phased into a corner of the lodge and strolled down the hallway toward the chapel. Weddings were beautiful. Rich, poor, organized, spur-of-the-moment –she loved them all.

  Tom and Marisa’s match had happened naturally, without any coaxing on her part. Their souls were already bonded, having spent the last seven lifetimes together. This was the pair’s eighth reincarnation. It would be another long and fulfilling marriage.

  Adrian and Addison, however, were moving a bit slow for her taste. If something didn’t happen to allow their souls time to warm, the Wentworth wedding was going to be a strike in her scorebook. Their souls needed this. Both were wary of being hurt and both souls had gone nearly five hundred years without even coming close to finding each other. Thank the Fates they both still had a healthy libido. It was even harder to match souls that had become so jaded that nothing aroused them anymore.

  She paused outside the open chapel doors and peered inside. Marissa was beautiful, and Tom stood in awe of his new wife’s beauty. His open adoration of her was clear for all to see.

  A quick smile passed between Adrian and Addison. Good! Elpis’s blessing was starting to work. But not fast enough. One night at the reception was not going to cut it for thawing time.

  Aphrodite phased to her palace. The engraving of her flower symbol in the marble floor sparkled. Any time she phased from the mortal realm, she had to return to her palace first. Once grounded to her palace, she could phase anywhere on Olympus.

  She ambled down the main corridor of her palace and opened a large door inlaid with ivory. Wide stairs led down into her vault. Torches on either side of the stairwell flamed to life as she advanced.

  At the bottom she paused. Treasures from throughout history lined the walls and floor —collections of furniture, paintings, sculptures, objects of human legends, and lots of jewels. She rarely wore them, but diamonds really were her favorite gems. They were also Khione’s jewel of choice. The snow nymph would always do a favor if the reward sparkled enough.

  She plucked a necklace from a table. It had originally belonged to Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. The necklace held many painful memories. Ares was trying to rebuild their broken relationship, and Fates be damned, she wanted to move forward with him. It would be a good piece to let go of, and Khione would love the giant pink diamond drop in the center of the golden necklace.

  ***

  Aphrodite stood in a field a little distance from the resort where the Wentworth wedding was taking place. It was time to create a little extra time.

  “Khione I summon you.”

  “What does the great Titan desire?” Khione’s bell-like voice carried across the expanse of the human dimension.

  “I have a favor to ask of the sparkling snow goddess.”

  Khione’s form materialized. The snow nymph, or goddess as she preferred, was a beautiful creature —immortal like the gods, but daughter of a mortal Athenian princess. Her father, Boreas, was the North Wind.

  Like Boreas, her skin was smooth and white. Her hair was the palest silver blond and trailed down her back in a braid that reached nearly to her calves. Iridescent symbols, often likened to snowflake patterns, were sprinkled across her body like shimmering tattoos. Her high cheekbones and brilliant blue eyes announced her Athenian ancestry.

  She wore a sheer white robe over a shimmering blue sheath dress that stopped just above her knees. A diamond collar bound her neck and more diamonds sparkled on her strappy silver sandals.

  The nymph did not feel the cold and in fact became ill when exposed to warm temperatures for extended periods of time.

  Khione clapped her hands in excitement. “You brought me a diamond!” An outstretched hand beckoned for the trinket, but Aphrodite knew better.

  “I need snow, Khione.”

  A smirk spread across the nymph’s face. “You called the right person, Titan.”

  “I never call the wrong one.”

  The nymph’s tinkling laugh echoed across the frost-covered meadow. Since materializing at the lodge minutes ago, frost had already spread quickly across the entire area. The dry brown grass glistened in the late afternoon sun. A few flakes of snow alighted on Aphrodite’s face.

  “Is the diamond necklace for me?” Khione gestured toward the golden necklace Aphrodite held tightly in her hand.

  “I need a storm to blanket the area within hours. It needs to be enough that people will not leave their homes and planes will be grounded.”

  “It’s not supposed to snow that badly here for another ten years.”

  Aphrodite held up Cleopatra’s necklace. Khione’s eyes glittered in anticipation. “This is Cleopatra’s necklace, Khione.”

  “You shall have the snow you want.” A quick snap of her fingers and snow began to choke the sky. Dark gray clouds billowed in the north. “Give me Cleopatra’s Heart.”

  “Three days, Khione.”

  “Agreed.”

  ***

  Addison sipped the sweet red wine and leaned against the wall of the ballroom. The service for Missy’s wedding had been heartfelt and beautiful. The pastor they’d grown up with in their family church had married them and had told several funny stories about their antics growing up. It was interesting to think back to when they were kids. It seemed like Tom and Missy had always been friends —even back in elementary school.

  “I guess some people are just meant to be.” She took another sip of her wine and finished off the glass.

  “Can I get you another glass?” Adrian’s deep voice warmed her body as though she were sitting next to a roaring fire. He was so damn handsome. A man should not be so tempting that his appearance made her think only of removing his clothing and tasting his naked body.

  She shook her head. Damn, girl. Get a grip.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Another glass would be lovely,” she answered, handing him her empty wineglass.

  He took it from her and glanced inside the empty globe. “Red?”

  “Yes, please.”


  Addison turned and peered out the window. Snow covered the ground! In fact, snow was covering everything. How could it have snowed this much so quickly? It’s not like we are in Montana. She whirled around and nearly collided with Adrian and her fresh glass of red wine.

  “Whoa!” His deep voice calmed her frantic thoughts. She seemed to lose all sense of reason when he was near. That rich, velvety bass voice would be her undoing. I do not need this right now. “Something wrong?”

  “Have you looked outside?” She looked up and followed his gaze through the dark window.

  “No way.”

  Addison took the glass of wine from his hand and took a large sip. “Missy is going to have a cow.”

  “It looks like it’s been snowing for days. Where did it come from?”

  She rolled her eyes and took another sip. “Gosh, I don’t know. The snow gods?”

  “Ha ha, very funny. Storms don’t just come from nowhere.”

  “This one did. I predict chaos in five, four, three, two–”

  “Addi!” Missy’s screech preceded her dash across the dance floor toward them.

  Adrian laughed. Addison raised her glass in salute. “Told you.”

  “Addi, have you seen the snow? What are we going to do?”

  Addison set her glass down on a nearby table, sat, and pulled Missy into a chair next to her. “Missy, it’s going to be okay.”

  “But, with this weather, Tom and I won’t make back to town for our flight. Addi, we are going to miss the cruise and everything.”

  “Missy…” Addison paused. “What is a honeymoon for?”

  “To moon over your honey,” Missy answered, smirking.

  “Exactly! So, we will get you a fabulous suite right here at the lodge, and you and Tom can moon to your heart’s content.”

  “But all our plans—”

  “Can all be rescheduled. Don’t fret, Missy. Go back to the center of your party and have a great time. I’ll go check with the front desk and get everything resituated.”

  “Really?”

  “Of course.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Adrian will help move all your luggage from dressing rooms, too.”

  Missy beamed, and Tom nodded from where he was standing a few feet behind her next to Adrian.

  “You are the best friend in the whole world.”

  “Does this mean you finally forgive me for moving?”

  “No.”

  Addison laughed. “Well, I had to ask.”

  “The answer will be no until you agree to move back to Nashville.”

  “Go back to your dance! I have to go talk to the front desk.”

  Missy grinned, popped up from her chair, and moved quickly back to the dance floor. After only a few shimmies and shakes, Tom followed directly behind. Addison shook her head.

  So in love. It’s almost too much.

  Such affection would be nice to have, but it just didn’t seem to be in the cards for her. The last guy she’d been with had turned out to be a five-star jerk, and the whole relationship had left a sour taste in her mouth toward dating in general. She knew it broke her grandpa’s heart that she was still single, but she just couldn’t stomach dating to try and meet someone. When the right someone came along, if they ever did, a person would know. Right?

  Chapter Seven

  Addison walked next to Adrian out of the ballroom and down the abandoned hallway to the front desk. It was about ten o’clock at night. The reception would probably last until midnight, but Tom and Missy needed a suite as far away from the rest of the guests as humanly possible. She didn’t want their honeymooning over each other to be disturbed by anyone. She couldn’t help but giggle at her best friend’s interpretation of a honeymoon. It was actually quite perfect.

  “Where is everyone?” Adrian asked as they entered the front lobby.

  The desk was unmanned, and no one was around. It was unnatural, and the creepy silence was starting to make the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She could hear the music from the reception faintly in the background, but nothing else.

  Something is wrong.

  A man in a black hotel jacket rushed past them and tried the phone on the counter. He muffled a curse before looking up and seeing them.

  “Oh my. Please forgive me. I didn’t even see you there. Can I help you?”

  “What’s wrong?” Adrian spoke the words before they could fall from her lips.

  “Two boys are missing. A John and Jacob Swanson.”

  “Tom’s twin nephews!” Addison felt her heart climb into her throat.

  The hotel staffer continued, “Yes, the mother informed us that they were missing nearly two hours ago. We’ve scoured the resort, but we haven’t been able to locate them.”

  Her eyes trailed to the two large glass doors leading to the front driveway. It looked like January in Montana. Snowdrifts completely covered the cars, and the rented buses to take everyone back home the next morning were half covered as well. The snow was still falling, and the sky was black. No moon.

  “Adrian.” She tugged on his shirtsleeve.

  “What. I’m trying to find out what room they’re supposed to be in.”

  “Adrian. They aren’t inside the hotel.”

  “What?” His voice hollowed as he turned to meet her gaze. “How do you know?”

  The front desk clerk stopped and looked at her too.

  “The boys live in San Diego. They’ve never seen snow like this. What ten-year-old boy could resist?”

  Adrian’s face darkened. He closed his eyes and ran his hands through his thick, dark hair. When they opened again, his blue eyes were glassy. The sparkle of interest she’d grown used to seeing was gone. He glanced at the front door and then met her gaze again. Addison studied his face. There was a lot of pain behind his clenched jaw.

  “I’ve tried calling the police, but the roads are blocked, and everyone is stuck,” the clerk said, wringing his hands together so hard his knuckles were turning white.

  “Find four more people that can help us look and meet me back right here. And find some flashlights. I’ve got to go change clothes.” Snow was something she knew. But there was still a hell of a lot of snow out there even for her. And they would all be on foot.

  “Addison!” Adrian grabbed her arm as she turned to leave. “You can’t go out in this.”

  “Of course I can, and you’re coming with me.”

  “No.”

  Addison wrenched her arm from his grasp. “I held those boys when they were born. Carol and Richard must be frantic.” She sidestepped another attempt to recapture her arm. “The hotel should have heavy coats and gloves. Find me four other volunteers.”

  “No.” He lunged and caught her before she could back up enough.

  Damn high heels.

  “Adrian. I have a plan. I’ve done searches before.”

  “Storms don’t cooperate with plans.”

  He leaned forward, pressing her back against the marble countertop of the front desk. Her body warmed at his nearness. His breath smelled like peppermints, and for a brief moment, she wondered if he would taste like them too. She ducked beneath his arm, banishing the thought and started toward the elevators.

  “Freak’n hell!” she hollered when he snaked an arm around her waist and hauled her off her feet. “I am not one of your suspects to be manhandled, Adrian Colter.” A spiked heel to his shin elicited a curse and secured her escape from his grasp again. She turned to face him, fuming. “How dare you?”

  “You can’t go out in this. I’ll go, but you need to stay here.”

  His eyes were watering from the kick, but she saw determination there. She knit her brow and met his flashing blue eyes. “How many snowstorms have you been in?”

  He stood silent.

  The moment was interrupted when Carol, Tom’s sister, spotted Addison in the hallway. Adrian relaxed as she approached.

  “Addi! The boys are missing. It’s been two hours. I can’t lose my boys.”
r />   “Carol, take a breath. We are going to find the boys.”

  “They’re outside. I know they’re outside.”

  She nodded and embraced Carol. “We are going to find them.”

  “It hasn’t snowed like this since I was their age.”

  “It snows like this every year in Montana. They won’t have gotten far. I’ll find them. You and Richard stay here in case they find their way back on their own. Stand on the front driveway and holler for them.”

  She looked over Carol’s shoulder and saw Richard standing next to Adrian. Richard nodded. Missy and Tom were approaching now as well.

  “Be careful,” Missy said when she reached the group.

  She gave her friend a quick nod. “I’m always careful. I have to go change and grab some yarn.” A few steps from the elevator, she turned back. “Are you coming? Or are you going to search in that monkey suit?”

  Adrian’s eyebrows raised, but she knew he wouldn’t tell her what he thought with everyone standing there. As soon as the elevator doors closed, all bets were off. He marched toward her and pressed the elevator button. The doors dinged and opened. They left the two couples standing together, worry-filled and distraught.

  The doors of the elevator closed, and Adrian turned on her. “What the fuck?”

  She crossed her arms and stood her ground. Addison Connelly had never been bullied by anyone and wasn’t going to start now, even though every fiber of her being wanted to please this man. What was wrong with her? Two boys were missing and all her body could think about was that Adrian Colter had said he liked her.

  The elevator sat.

  “Press three.”

  “No.”

  “Oh my God, Adrian. Press the damn button!” Who was he to tell her what she could and couldn’t do? “Stop acting like you can order me around. I’m not yours.”

  He opened his mouth to answer, but sighed instead. A blank look fell over his face. He moved robotically to the panel and pressed the button labeled with a number three.