Page 29 of Mountain Man Santa

JERRY

Awoman’s voice comes over the sound system, warning about unattended baggage, followed by a last-minute boarding call for Dallas. I run my hand over my face, bone-weary and heartsick.

I haven’t slept since flying into California a week ago. Being little more than an hour away from Stacey fills me with a tumult of emotions I can barely control. I miss that gorgeous, curvy, caramel-haired server with every inch of my soul, and I’ve lost count of how many times I nearly drove to Hollister to see her. Without my packed schedule as a witness and the constant presence of Stacey’s brothers, I wouldn’t have been able to stay away despite the impossible promises I made to protect her.

The cruelty of what her brothers asked from me aside, I can’t disagree with their reasoning. Even though I’ve done everything I can to escape my family and heritage, the danger will never totally fade.

I’ve got a bullet scar on the left side of my torso to show for it. And if the cases I’m testifying in aren’t air-tight, I’ll face potential retribution as a snitch. That’s part of why I’m heading back to NYC to sell Dziadek’s restaurant and tie up loose ends.

Someone sits down next to me, and I cross my arms grumpily over my chest, trying to make my massive frame as compact as possible. The terminal continues to swell with passengers the closer we get to departure. I’m a big guy, and public seats barely fit me. That’s why I sprung for first class on the plane. I can’t wait to get on board and stretch out.

The smell of freshly-baked cookies catches my nostrils, and I close my eyes, letting my mind wander back to Stacey and the perfect couple of days we spent together last winter.

My heart bleeds in my chest, thinking about what I gained and lost with her. Despite the impossibility of making her mine, she’s all I think about…all I want.

A warm hand unexpectedly rests on top of mine, my arms still crossed over my chest, and I straighten up, staring at it. Who the fuck is touching me?

My eyes focus on the hand. I’d know that soft skin and those petite digits anywhere…and the small heart tattoo with a tail on her inner wrist knocks the wind out of my chest.

I shake my head, pulling my hand away. My imagination is having a field day with me or something. Looking to my right, Stacey sits beside me, her baby blues brimming with tears. I close my eyes and open them again, shaking my head. This has to be a dream or a hallucination. Insomnia has finally caught up with me. But even after rubbing my eyes, the sexy server still sits next to me, her gaze wide and questioning.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask gruffly, reminding myself not to get too happy too soon. I must keep her safe at all costs, respecting my promise to her brothers.

Holding up her ticket, she says, “I’m flying to Las Vegas this evening…apparently.”

My brows knit together. “Where’s your carry-on, then?”

“Oh, I don’t have one. I didn’t check luggage, either, because I only bought this ticket…” She glances at the clock on the wall.“Let’s see, about ninety minutes ago. It was the only way they’d let me past security and into the main airport. And because I wasn’t planning this little trip, I didn’t bring my passport. Silly me. So, I had to stick with a domestic flight. One that wasn’t fully booked like yours.”

My eyes narrow as heartache sinks back in. “You can’t be here like this with me. I have to keep you safe…and that means putting as much distance between us as possible. You have to go.”

She exhales, frowning. “Last time I checked, this is a public place, and I have a plane ticket and a boarding pass. So, I can sit wherever I want.”

I go silent, slowly letting her words seep into my heart. Driving to Sacramento, buying a plane ticket, scouring the terminals to find me. “You did all of this for me?” I ask in wonder, feeling my heart nearly bursting. “Nobody’s ever cared this much about me.”

“Yes, and I’ll keep following wherever you go until you realize we belong together…no matter what.”

I swallow audibly. “You don’t get it. I promised your brothers that I would never see or talk to you again. Remember what I told you about the Polish mafia and how dangerous they are? Don’t you understand? I’m not safe, either.”

“About my brothers,” she says, frowning. “I had plenty of time on my drive here from Hollister today to rip each one of them a new ass for destroying my one shot at happiness. Believe me, they have all revised their positions about your place in my life and our family.”

I can’t hold myself back any longer. Sitting here next to Stacey like this without touching her is impossible. My hand grabs her wrist, my thumb rubbing circles over her tattoo as tears fill my eyes.

“I can’t imagine they agreed to your demands so easily, considering the hell they’ve put me through to keep us apart.”

She replies firmly, “I made it abundantly clear that there was no other way. Maybe this is going to sound melodramatic, but it’s the truth. I can’t live without you, Jerr. I can’t do it. These past six months have been the worst time of my entire life. I can’t go on like this. Please don’t make me.”

My hand slides down, tangling my fingers with hers. I fight the urge to pull her into my arms, still trying to understand how this can be possible…if this can be possible after so many months of pain and self-denial. Tears streak my cheeks as I say, “I love you more than life itself, Shortie. Letting go of you was the single most painful thing I’ve ever done. Worse than getting shot?—”

“Somebody shot you?” she asks in a trembling voice, her eyes rounding.

I nod. “I told you. My family doesn’t play, and I’ve been locked in a life-or-death struggle with them for the past six months. Which is why I can’t take risks with you. I can’t let anything happen to you on account of me.”

“Well, I refuse to live without you. It’s that simple. It’s what I told my brothers and what I’m telling you. So, figure it out. Find some way for us to be together again because I won’t settle for anything less.”

I shake my head, feeling the thrill of her words in the depths of my chest. “How did you find out about any of this in the first place?”

“Dee.”

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