Page 12 of Mountain Man's Christmas Gift
“Why not?”
The question seemed to throw her. She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, then shook her head.
“Because that’s not how real life works, Keaton. People don’t just throw away their whole life because they had one good night with someone.”
One good night. The words stung, even though I knew she didn’t mean them the way they sounded.
“Is that what this was to you?” I asked. “One good night?”
“I—” She looked around the room again, taking in all those happy couples, all those people who belonged. “I don’t know what this was. But I know I don’t fit into your world.”
I stepped closer, close enough that I could see the flecks of gold in her brown eyes. “You don’t get to decide that,” I said quietly. “You don’t get to decide what fits in my world. That’s my call.”
“Keaton—”
“I’m not letting you walk away because you’re scared.”
Her chin came up, a flash of the fire I’d seen at her booth. “I’m not scared.”
“Bullshit.” I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. I hated pushing her, but I couldn’t let her run from this. “You’re terrified. But not of me, and not of this. You’re terrified of wanting something you think you can’t have.”
Her breath hitched, and I knew I’d hit the mark.
“But here’s the thing, Camilla. You can have it. You can have me, and this town, and whatever life you want to build here. Hartsville’s twenty minutes away. You could keep your job, keep your apartment, and still be part of this. All you have to do is say yes.”
Tears gathered in her eyes, and for a moment I thought I’d gotten through to her. Then she stepped back, breaking contact.
“I need some air,” she said, and before I could stop her, she was walking toward the door.
I watched her go, every instinct screaming at me to follow. But I forced myself to stay put. She needed a minute to process, to realize that running away wasn’t going to solve anything.
Because I meant every word I’d said. I wasn’t letting her go. Not after tonight. Not after I’d finally found the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Even if I had to convince her one day at a time that she wanted the same thing.
