Page 16 of Frosty Mountain Man

That day, I would have taken the document and driven off this mountain thrilled. Now. Now my heart was breaking for so many reasons.

The worst one of all was that somehow, I’d fallen in love with Harrison Cole.

“Take it, Elle. That’s what he needs. He doesn’t need me.”

“Oh, you arrogant man. Of course he needs you.”

I need you, I whispered to myself, but didn’t let the words escape me.

“I have my own life now.”

“A lonely, cold sad one if you ask me.”

“Well, no one asked you.”

I wanted to stomp my foot in frustration. “He needs you, Harrison. The board’s going to oust him, and you know exactly how ruthless a board gets when it smells blood. You don’t need me to tell you that. You ran that company. You know how this ends if nobody stops it.”

I let the words, if you don’t stop it, hang in the air between us.

“It’s his company.” His jaw was tight enough I could see it working. “Not mine. Not anymore. And more importantly, I don’t want it.”

“I know that.”

“Then what exactly are we arguing about?”

“How do you not know what we’re arguing about?” I threw back at him, and I hated how much my voice shook. “How do you know you don’t want any of it — the company, people — when you’ve been up here for ten years being perfectly happy all by your arrogant self?”

“You already called me that. Several times.”

Another piece of my heart died. Because if that was true — if he really was fine, completely, entirely fine, alone on this mountain missing nothing — then last night hadn’t been what I’d let myself think it was. I had been a warm body to hold. Nothing more.

I took the folder out of his hand because despite everything, his grandfather still needed it.

“Congratulations,” I said. “You got exactly what you wanted.”

He just stood there, arms crossed. “What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I didn’t look at him. Couldn’t look at him. “I’m going back to my life so I don’t disrupt yours anymore. And I’m taking this,” I almost shouted as I took the coat I’d worn yesterday and struggled to put it on before opening the door and walking outside.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Harrison

For about four full seconds, I almost let her leave.

She’d said her piece, stolen my coat, and walked away. Some stubborn part of me insisted this was exactly how it was supposed to go. She’d leave. I’d let her. The house would go quiet again, just like I liked it.

Except, I didn’t like it anymore. “Elle!”

She didn’t turn around. Just kept walking, headed for her car, her beautiful hair whipping around her face. And those damn shoes sliding with every step. I went after her, barefoot with no shirt on.

“Elle, stop!”

“I called a tow truck! I’m going to sit in my own car and wait for it like a grown woman, because I am not doing this with you right now!”

“Your car won’t start. You’ll freeze.”

She didn’t stop. She half-ran, half-stumbled down the driveway, until her shoe caught on something and she went down hard, disappearing into snow up to her elbows. “Damn it.”