Stay with Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte 4)

“I have somethin’ to say to you, and you’re gonna listen to me.”

“I already told you I don’t want to hear it.”

“That’s only because you think you know what I’m gonna say, and you don’t. You don’t have any idea.”

She folded her arms across her chest.

If he weren’t about to tell her how important he thought it was for them to wait until they were both ready, he’d pull her into his arms and kiss the daylights out of her. Instead he took a deep breath.

“You mean a lot to me, Bree, more than you know, or at least, more than you’ll allow yourself to believe. When the time is right, I want the chance to see where this thing between us is going. But the timing isn’t right. It isn’t right for you, but more importantly, it isn’t right for me.”

He saw her arms relax, even if she didn’t drop them completely. Her stiff shoulders softened, as did the glare she’d been giving him.

“I am not proud of what I did to Tucker. In fact, I’m downright ashamed of it. I could blame it on my youth, but that would be taking the easy way out. Instead, I’m gonna take responsibility for what I did, and I’m gonna do whatever it takes to get Tucker to forgive me. In order for me to do that, I have to believe I’m worthy of his forgiveness.”

That made her drop her arms.

“There’s a lot I need to work on, the same way there’s a lot you need to work through. And when we’ve both done that work, I’d like to come back together and see if this overpowering thing between us could turn into something real. Something lasting.”

She looked at him but didn’t speak.

“Now tell me, Bree Fox, is that what you were begging me not to say?”

“No, it wasn’t,” she murmured.

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you,” he prodded.

“I said it wasn’t.”

“You were so sure I was going to tell you that I didn’t want to make love to you, because I’m in love with your sister. Am I right?”

“Yes, Jace.”

“Speak up, woman, I can’t hear you.”

He was having a hard time keeping a straight face because the look on hers, like she was ready to belt him, was so damn cute. But he knew, if he started to laugh, she just might follow through and slug him. Worse, he might hurt her feelings, and that was something he definitely didn’t want to do.

“So, about tonight…”

“Yes?”

“Will you stay?” she whispered.

6

As if she could get him to leave. He hoped that, since he assured her they would not be taking the physical side of their relationship any further, she would relax.

“How would you feel about taking a drive with me?”

“That sounds nice.”

He liked that she didn’t ask where. He wanted to get her away from the ranch for a little while. Not that he minded the place, or Red, or anyone else who worked there; he just wanted to be alone with her.

They walked to the truck, and he opened the passenger door. Before he could help her up, Bree put her hand on his shoulder and climbed in. Part of him wanted to tell her she had to keep her hands off of him if he was going to honor his commitment to remain just friends with her.

The view of the Sawtooth Mountains, as they drove south, was breathtaking. Jace hadn’t spent much time in Idaho and was awed by its beauty. He’d had no idea.

He asked Bree if she’d ever been to Sun Valley, and she shook her head, lost in thought.