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“I never want to hurt you.”

“I wanted to be close to you. There’s something about you that makes me feel safe and secure.” She looked out at the backyard as a fresh coat of snow fell over the lake. “Two weeks ago, we didn’t know one another, and now I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but I hope whatever happens, you won’t disappear.”

“That’s not as optimistic as I would hope.”

“I’m just saying that there are some obstacles in our way and I don’t want them to come between us. If we hadn’t met the night we did, we would probably be rivals.”

“No.” I laughed. “I would already have your property.”

“There’s that arrogance again.”

“Here’s what I think we should do,” I said. “I’m going to put this project on hold for a few weeks. I still have to work on other deals, but I want to focus on us as much as possible. Let’s make this holiday a memorable one for both of us.”

“It isn’t often someone gives me an opportunity to forget life for a while. But this project is so important to you. How can you abandon it?”

“I’m not abandoning anything. This project is still extremely important to me, but I haven’t taken time off in months.” I turned her to face me, positioning her so she straddled my hips. “I can allow myself to enjoy the holiday season in my new house with my new friend. I’ve earned that. In January, I’ll regroup and we can discuss your plans for your inn. If you honestly believe you can keep it, and that’s really what you want, I won’t press you on it.”

There was no way she could afford to keep that property. And if I hadn’t developed feelings for her, I would have gone after her until she had no choice but to give me what I wanted. I would have offered her a deadline and I would have stuck to it. I was willing to back off because she deserved some compassion.

“I’ll support your decision and I’ll work around you,” I said.

“Why?”

“I have my reasons.” Even if I wasn’t completely sure what they were. “Let’s table this conversation until after the holidays.”

“You’re not the Scrooge everyone says you are.” She gently kissed me. “Who knew?”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“What about Angelica?”

“She already knows I’m a bastard.”

“Won’t she wonder why you’re taking a break from the project? She’s not going to leave you alone. She seems determined for you to succeed.”

“Not anymore.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“I let her go.”

“Oh.”

“You don’t look too disappointed.” I swiped the damp hair from her face. “Why is that?”

“No woman likes when another woman wants her guy.” She ran her fingers along my jaw. “Your attorney has a thing for you.”

“I’m your guy?” Dating a twenty-three-year-old was more refreshing than I could have imagined it to be, even if she was a little difficult to figure out. But I never backed away from a challenge.

“We’re not talking about that right now,” she said.

“I guess Angelica’s feelings were more obvious than I realized.”

“Is that why you let her go?”

“She admitted having feelings for me, and I thought it best to end our professional relationship.”

“How did she take it?” Ivy asked.