Page 8 of The Mountain Man's Chance

Camille

I can’t believehe kissed me!Again!

Who did he think he was? Where the hell did he get off thinking he could do whatever he wanted and kiss me whenever the mood struck?

We weren’t a couple, and he needed to understand that!

I barely felt the freezing rain or the wind whipping at my face. All I could focus on was the damn door, getting inside, and locking it behind me.

He could stand out there and get drenched for all I cared.

“Camille! Wait!”

“No! Go home, Zach!”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m driving you home, remember?”

He was hot on my heels, and I picked up the pace. Bad idea.

My foot snagged on a fallen branch, and down I went, my ass landing directly into a pile of mud. “Fuck!” My pants and shoes were soaked, and I was covered in mud.

“Shit, shit, shit! Are you okay?” Zach was above me a second later and lifted me into his arms without hesitation.

“I think so. My ass hurts.”

“I’ll massage it later.”

“Zach! Put me down right now! This is what I’m talking about! You can’t just do as you please and help yourself to kisses and say things like that.”

Zach remained silent as he carried me the rest of the way to the diner. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

“How many times are you going to say sorry? I don’t want your apologies!”

He placed me down gently in front of the door. He was caked in mud now like me, but he didn’t seem bothered by it. “What do you want from me, then?”

“To leave me alone!” I yanked the door open, and I wanted to slam it shut in his face, but I couldn’t. I knew he wouldn’t leave, and the weather was awful.

Sure enough, he followed me inside. “You don’t mean that.”

I closed the door and flicked the lock. I bristled past him and hurried into the kitchen. I couldn’t take the feel of mud on my skin any longer. “Yes, I do! Yet you’re still here. Following me around.”

He continued following me into the kitchen, and when I got to the sink, he came up next to me. “I was an idiot, okay? A young, dumb, stupid idiot with a broken heart. You think it didn’t kill me to do what I did? I hated it. But I only wanted what was best for you. And fuck, sweetheart, I was miserable. So fucking miserable. I never touched another woman because there’s no one else for me. I thought about you every day. Every damn day, Camille.” His voice became thick with emotion.

I shook my head in hopes of erasing his words.No, no, no!I couldn’t do this again. I couldn’t trust what he was saying, that he wouldn’t break my heart again. I wouldn’t survive another one. I wouldn’t.

Tears poured down my face, and I choked on a sob. I had to do it. I had to let him go and be free of this love once and for all. I forced the words out even though they made me sick.

“It’s over, Zach.”

* * *

The lookon his face sent a fresh wave of pain through me. What was happening? I wasn’t supposed to feel pain…I was supposed to be happy…to be free…

“Goddammit, Camille! It was never over, and it never will be! Now I’m going to kiss you, and you’re going to let me.”

I opened my mouth to say no, but the word wouldn’t come out.

“Please?”

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