Texas Heroes_ Volume 1(118)

But tonight had proven deadly. He’d opened the lamp and let the genie out for moments of beauty so sublime he knew he’d feel the loss for the rest of his life. He’d unleashed passions and let down his guard—and now the genie didn’t want to go back into the lamp.

Staring at the woman who had turned his soul inside out and then dropped it on the ground like so much trash, Mitch couldn’t believe he’d been such a fool. Jerking on his jeans, he scooped the rest of his clothes off the floor, shoving away pain sharp as a dagger sliding into an unprotected chest.

He had to get away. Before it was too late.

“You’re right,” he said. “It won’t happen again.”

He left the room.

Perrie watched him go, knowing a grief so keen she didn’t know how she would bear it. Wanting to call him back, wanting to explain. But she couldn’t falter now.

He would never know it, but she did this for him. Tearing out her heart with bare hands would hurt less. Her body still hummed from the splendor of his loving, yet her mouth tasted only of ashes.

When she heard the door to his room click shut, she sank to the floor and buried her face in her hands.

And silently wept.





Chapter Eleven





When Perrie awoke, the sun was high overhead. She and Davey were alone.

In the bright light of day, it all seemed a dream—but the memories were too sharp, too pungent.

Too painful.

She could still feel him inside her, still see him rising above her like a warrior god. Still feel the earth-shattering power of her release, the sense of safety in his arms.

The sense of heaven found…and paradise lost.

He had offered his help—and she had answered him with lies. She didn’t know which of them she had hurt worse.

Perrie vaulted from the bed to escape the guilt that pounded away at her. Padding into the kitchen, she saw his dark scrawl on the scrap of paper.

Gone to town for supplies. He hadn’t wanted to see her after last night. His metamorphosis from generous, breathtaking lover back to closed-in loner had been heartbreaking to watch.

Because she knew it was squarely her fault. Perrie paced the floor, gnawing at her knuckle. She knew how alone he was, had seen how hard trust came to him, yet when it came time to answer his trust, she had not. She had wanted to—oh, how she had wanted to spill out her story, to accept his strength…his aid and comfort.

But he deserved better.

She’d seen what Simon could do to anyone who got in his way. Mitch was big and strong, but Simon had a hundred men at his back. And Simon had something else Mitch did not—enough cruelty and ruthlessness for a thousand.

So no matter how much she wanted to ask for Mitch’s help, she could not. He had earned better repayment for all he’d done for her and her son.

Whatever had happened in his life to make him close down as he had, it must have been very bad. What she could bring to his doorstep would be worse. For the sake of his kindness to her, for his gentle care of her child, for the life he had saved…and for showing her the woman she could be, she would not yield to the temptation to lay her troubles on his shoulders, no matter how broad.

They had to leave. Today, while he was gone. She would keep heading west. They had to go before the next snow came. Before she spent any more time with Mitch and let her heart take the lead.

“Wake up, Davey,” she touched his shoulder gently. “Rise and shine, sleepyhead.”

Trusting blue eyes opened slowly, lit from within. “I’m still sleepy,” he yawned.

“How do you feel, sweetie?”

His eyes popped open, and he sat up, a little less agile than normal. “Ow—sore.” His head swiveled toward the door. “Where’s Mitch? I gotta ask him something.”

“He’s not here.”

Davey’s shoulders sagged. “I wanted to go out in the woods with him today. I thought he could show me how he climbed that cliff.”

Perrie resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his obviously intact sense of adventure, grateful for anything to stem the ache in her heart. “I don’t think you need to be doing anything like that for a while.”

“Mitch would take care of me. When he gets back, I’ll ask him if we can do it tomorrow.”

This wouldn’t be easy. “Sweetheart, we can’t stay here, now that Grandpa Cy is gone.”

His gaze was clear and trusting. “Sure we can. Mitch likes us.”

“Well, yes, Mitch is very fond of you, but he won’t be staying, either. He has jobs waiting for him. He has to travel a lot.”

Davey frowned faintly. “Then we should go with him.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. It would interfere with his work.”