Page 35 of The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Mafia Princess

“I’m not demanding anything.”

“It sounds like you’re deciding what my choices mean.”

“I’m asking what they mean to you.”

“They mean I chose not to call for a ride today.”

“Because you wanted to stay or because you wanted to beat your father?”

Heat rose beneath my skin.

“Both can be true.”

“They can.”

“You’re acting like one reason invalidates the other.”

“I’m trying to understand where I fit.”

Jonah leaned back in his chair.

I looked toward the bedroom.

The red dress hung from the door. My stilettos stood beside Jonah’s dresser. New clothes occupied one of his drawers.

“You’re part of why I’m staying,” I said.

His breathing changed.

I heard it in the quiet room.

“How much of the reason?” he asked.

“I haven’t decided.”

“That’s convenient.”

“It’s honest.”

“People call me when something breaks,” he said. “Trees, engines, roads. I help, then I come home to a life that’s mine. I don’t want to be responsible for choices I never asked you to make.”

“You think I’m using you.”

“No. I’m trying to understand what you want from me.”

I pushed away from the table.

Jonah stood too.

He filled the narrow space between the table and counter.

“I know exactly what I want right now,” I said.

His eyes dropped to my mouth.

“Do you?”

“Yes.”