Page 26 of Mountain Man Santa

“I know,” I say, fighting hard to steel my voice. “There’s nothing I won’t do to keep your sister safe.”

“My gut tells me this is going to be bigger than taking down your brother or even his associates. And it’s going to involve multiple jurisdictions, undercover work, and plenty of danger over many months. So, get your affairs in order, and be ready to relocate at a moment’s notice.”

“Yep.”

“Do I have your promise you’ll cut all ties with Stacey? Not breathing a word of this to her? Because I know my sister better than you or anyone else, Jerry, and there’s nothing she wouldn’t risk for love. Even her life.”

I grunt, trying to keep it together.

“This requires a clean break. Forever. Understood?”

Swallowing hard, I fight back tears. “Yeah,” I manage, gripped by the hopelessness of the situation.

Soft,padding footsteps catch my ear, and I look up at Stacey, cuddled in one of my hoodies and rubbing her eyes sleepily. “Hey,” she says in a drowsy voice. “Why are you up so early?”

“It’s a tough habit to break after spending my whole life more or less up at the crack of dawn. I should already be exercising, but…I don’t feel like it.” I turn, putting my left leg on the couch and spreading my arms to make her comfortable. She scrambles between my legs, the feel of her soft flesh instantly lighting up my body and putting a lump of desire in my throat.

I don’t know what it is about this girl, but I can’t get enough of her, no matter how much I try. She giggles, feeling my rod firm up against her ass and back.

“That’s your fault,” I scold quietly.

Stacey looks over her shoulder at me. “What’s wrong?” My server knows me so well that she can pick up changes in my mood from how my voice quavers over a three-word sentence.

I marvel at its intimacy, feeling my heart bleed. No one has ever gotten me the way she does, but now it’s over. I have to take a sledgehammer and wrecking ball to all of the beautiful things we’ve built together over the past few days…all in the name of keeping her safe.

“The storm’s dying, and the weather forecast calls for clear skies today. No doubt, Hollister will start digging out, and I can work on getting you home.”

She grabs my hand, kissing it gently and snuggling against me. “What if I don’t want to go?”

I take a deep, shuddering breath. Fuck, I’m about to start crying.What the hell has she done to a tough guy like me?Steeling my voice, I say, “We made a deal, Stace. Now, it’s time to stick to it.”

“Wait, what does that mean?”

Even as I work to find the words to put distance between us, I crush her jealously in my arms, burying my head in her caramel-colored locks. She smells better than good these days. She smells like she belongs to me, and I love it. I love her. Fuck, this hurts so much.

In dark tones, I remind her, “You deserve a whole helluva lot better than me, baby girl. I’m not your future. I was just a quick detour…an amazing couple of days that both of us knew could never last.”

“Seriously? That’s it? After how we’ve connected? The things we’ve said and done with each other?” Tears pour down her cheeks. “So, I was good enough to sleep with in your secluded cabin and do every dirty thing your mind could dream up? But now that it might involve the rest of the world knowing about us, you’re pulling the plug? Do I really mean that little to you?”

She tries to pull away from me to stand up, but I won’t let her. Cuddling her against me, I let her fight me until she finally relaxes, her body dissolving into sobs. I stroke her silky hair, kissing the top of her head. I can’t let go of her yet, even though I gave Mark my word.

“You’re reading this all wrong. This has nothing to do with any shortcomings on your part. You’re sexier than hell. I mean, you’ve got me wrapped so tightly around your finger, I don’t see how I’ll ever get over you.” Despite straining to keep it together, my voice starts quivering, and tears streak down my cheeks. I am a big fucking baby underneath it all, just like Roxy said.

The thought of her thinking she’s not good enough for me kills me. She’s the most amazing woman on the face of the planet. I’d give anything to keep her, but I can’t.

“I don’t understand,” she cries, turning in my arms to touch my wet cheeks. “Why can’t we be together if you feel the way you feel about me, and I feel the way I feel about you? What in the world could stand in our way?”

I sigh long and hard. “Because this wasn’t meant to last. You deserve so much better, baby girl. I’m not the man who can give you that better.”

She shakes her head. “Jerr, what do you mean? Why can’t we hold onto this feeling and each other for much longer…even after the storm blows over? I’m not asking for forever or trying to rope you in or anything. But why does it have to end so abruptly?”

“Because it’s over. You have to go now.”

“How can you be so cruel?”

Hardening my heart and voice, I grit out through clenched teeth, “It’s in my nature and always has been. It’s who I am, Stacey.”

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