Mountain Man Santa (Naughty and Spice)

Chapter 17

JERRY

A woman’s voice comes over the sound system, warning about unattended baggage, followed by a last-minute boarding call for Dallas. I run my hand over my face, bone-weary and heartsick.

I haven’t slept since flying into California a week ago. Being little more than an hour away from Stacey fills me with a tumult of emotions I can barely control. I miss that gorgeous, curvy, caramel-haired server with every inch of my soul, and I’ve lost count of how many times I nearly drove to Hollister to see her. Without my packed schedule as a witness and the constant presence of Stacey’s brothers, I wouldn’t have been able to stay away despite the impossible promises I made to protect her.

The cruelty of what her brothers asked from me aside, I can’t disagree with their reasoning. Even though I’ve done everything I can to escape my family and heritage, the danger will never totally fade.

I’ve got a bullet scar on the left side of my torso to show for it. And if the cases I’m testifying in aren’t air-tight, I’ll face potential retribution as a snitch. That’s part of why I’m heading back to NYC to sell Dziadek’s restaurant and tie up loose ends.

Someone sits down next to me, and I cross my arms grumpily over my chest, trying to make my massive frame as compact as possible. The terminal continues to swell with passengers the closer we get to departure. I’m a big guy, and public seats barely fit me. That’s why I sprung for first class on the plane. I can’t wait to get on board and stretch out.

The smell of freshly-baked cookies catches my nostrils, and I close my eyes, letting my mind wander back to Stacey and the perfect couple of days we spent together last winter.

My heart bleeds in my chest, thinking about what I gained and lost with her. Despite the impossibility of making her mine, she’s all I think about…all I want.

A warm hand unexpectedly rests on top of mine, my arms still crossed over my chest, and I straighten up, staring at it. Who the fuck is touching me?

My eyes focus on the hand. I’d know that soft skin and those petite digits anywhere…and the small heart tattoo with a tail on her inner wrist knocks the wind out of my chest.

I shake my head, pulling my hand away. My imagination is having a field day with me or something. Looking to my right, Stacey sits beside me, her baby blues brimming with tears. I close my eyes and open them again, shaking my head. This has to be a dream or a hallucination. Insomnia has finally caught up with me. But even after rubbing my eyes, the sexy server still sits next to me, her gaze wide and questioning.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask gruffly, reminding myself not to get too happy too soon. I must keep her safe at all costs, respecting my promise to her brothers.

Holding up her ticket, she says, “I’m flying to Las Vegas this evening…apparently.”

My brows knit together. “Where’s your carry-on, then?”

“Oh, I don’t have one. I didn’t check luggage, either, because I only bought this ticket…” She glances at the clock on the wall. “Let’s see, about ninety minutes ago. It was the only way they’d let me past security and into the main airport. And because I wasn’t planning this little trip, I didn’t bring my passport. Silly me. So, I had to stick with a domestic flight. One that wasn’t fully booked like yours.”

My eyes narrow as heartache sinks back in. “You can’t be here like this with me. I have to keep you safe…and that means putting as much distance between us as possible. You have to go.”

She exhales, frowning. “Last time I checked, this is a public place, and I have a plane ticket and a boarding pass. So, I can sit wherever I want.”

I go silent, slowly letting her words seep into my heart. Driving to Sacramento, buying a plane ticket, scouring the terminals to find me. “You did all of this for me?” I ask in wonder, feeling my heart nearly bursting. “Nobody’s ever cared this much about me.”

“Yes, and I’ll keep following wherever you go until you realize we belong together…no matter what.”

I swallow audibly. “You don’t get it. I promised your brothers that I would never see or talk to you again. Remember what I told you about the Polish mafia and how dangerous they are? Don’t you understand? I’m not safe, either.”

“About my brothers,” she says, frowning. “I had plenty of time on my drive here from Hollister today to rip each one of them a new ass for destroying my one shot at happiness. Believe me, they have all revised their positions about your place in my life and our family.”

I can’t hold myself back any longer. Sitting here next to Stacey like this without touching her is impossible. My hand grabs her wrist, my thumb rubbing circles over her tattoo as tears fill my eyes.

“I can’t imagine they agreed to your demands so easily, considering the hell they’ve put me through to keep us apart.”

She replies firmly, “I made it abundantly clear that there was no other way. Maybe this is going to sound melodramatic, but it’s the truth. I can’t live without you, Jerr. I can’t do it. These past six months have been the worst time of my entire life. I can’t go on like this. Please don’t make me.”

My hand slides down, tangling my fingers with hers. I fight the urge to pull her into my arms, still trying to understand how this can be possible…if this can be possible after so many months of pain and self-denial. Tears streak my cheeks as I say, “I love you more than life itself, Shortie. Letting go of you was the single most painful thing I’ve ever done. Worse than getting shot?—”

“Somebody shot you?” she asks in a trembling voice, her eyes rounding.

I nod. “I told you. My family doesn’t play, and I’ve been locked in a life-or-death struggle with them for the past six months. Which is why I can’t take risks with you. I can’t let anything happen to you on account of me.”

“Well, I refuse to live without you. It’s that simple. It’s what I told my brothers and what I’m telling you. So, figure it out. Find some way for us to be together again because I won’t settle for anything less.”

I shake my head, feeling the thrill of her words in the depths of my chest. “How did you find out about any of this in the first place?”

“Dee.”

“I should have known,” I grumble.

“She said she was tired of watching you and me lead miserable lives apart. And she pointed out that nobody will keep me safer than you.”

I counter, “But I can’t break my promise to your brothers.”

“My brothers may have suspicioned you the first time they met you, but each one admitted today that your level of bravery and valor is unmatched. And they gave us their blessings, agreeing to what Dee said—that only you can truly keep me safe.”

For the first time, I really let myself look at her again, taking in her stunning beauty. Her symmetrical, oval face and baby blues, her shapely pink lips and flushed cheeks, her gorgeous caramel-colored hair, which she cut into a shoulder-length bob.

“If you don’t believe me about my brothers, check your phone. I made them swear they would text you, providing their permission and blessing for our relationship. And they also agreed to put in a good word with Dad.”

I run my big hand through her short, silky hair, drawing closer and breathing in her delicious scent. “You cut your hair, baby girl.”

She nods, tears filling her eyes. “And you’ve lost a lot of weight.” Her hand comes up to stroke my cheek. “Are you sick?”

“No, just not a big fan of hospital food.”

Her brows shoot up, and her face tightens with concern.

“It’s okay, Shortie,” I reassure her, palming her face and stroking her cheek with my thumb. “Just recovering from the gunshot wound I mentioned earlier. I kinda wasted away in the hospital and rehab facility because, without you, there was no fucking thing to live for…except irrational hope.”

Raising her wrist to my lips, I kiss her heart tattoo tenderly, savoring the feel of her warm flesh on mine and the instant sparks of desire flaming between us. Bending my left leg over my right, I pull up my pants leg, flashing the words she wrote on me during the blizzard. “I got this tattooed on my leg before the ink faded because I needed a way to keep you with me…always. And I kept hoping we’d somehow figure this shit out, and these could be our wedding vows.”

“Jerry,” she sighs, covering her mouth with her hand. “You had the artist trace my handwriting and everything.”

“I wanted to remember everything about you for as long as I live…and I secretly hoped somehow, someday, destiny would bring us back together.” The light sparking in her eyes tells me everything I need to know.

Before she can say another word, I grab her hand and drop down on one knee. “I know this may not be the right time or the right place. But here it goes. There’s not much I want in this world. So, when I do find one of those rare and special things or people, I never let go. I’m loyal, Stace, and I’m looking for one girl to see through thick and thin for the rest of my life. I want you to be that girl. I promise to love you, care for you, and keep you well-fed and safe for as long as I live. Stacey Sutherland, will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Jerry Lee?”

She covers her mouth with her hand, tears welling in her eyes. “Yes, Jerry. Nothing would make me happier.” Looking up, I realize a crowd has gathered around us. I search in vain for something I can use for a ring, asking, “Does anyone have a pen or something?”

A white-haired man beside me pulls a gray and black pen out of his pants pocket. “All I have is a permanent marker. Will that do?”

My eyes lock with Stacey’s, and happy tears flow down her cheeks. “See, baby girl, that’s a sign from God that this is meant to be. I remove the cap, scrawling a messy black band around the ring finger of her left hand. She smiles from ear to ear, staring at the silly mark like it’s made of gold. Returning the pen to the man with a “thank you” and a nod, the terminal breaks into applause as I sit back down, gathering my future bride in my lap and holding her close.

“It’s perfect, Jerry. Everything about this moment is better than I could have ever imagined because I get to be with you. I love you so much. Please don’t ever make me live without you again.”

“I promise to stay by your side and be your man for as long as I live.” I palm her cheek, staring happily into my future wife’s face. I’ll never get tired of this sight. She sits in my lap for a long time, and we make out until a begrudging security guard comes over, scolding us to keep things decent because there are kids in the terminal.

“That’s the most scrutiny I’ve had from a man in uniform in years, Stace. You’re a bad influence on me.”

She nods, laughing. “So, what do we do now, Jerry? Do you still have to go to New York City and leave me?”

“Nah, that shit can wait. I’ve got a realtor handling everything. It’ll be fine. Here’s my idea, and tell me if you like it. I say we turn my ticket in and see about getting two first-class flights to Las Vegas instead.”

“What are we going to do in Vegas?” she asks, her eyes still bright with tears.

“Well, for starters, we’re getting married—just like the dream elopement you told me about during the blizzard. And then we’re getting our wedding bands tattooed unless you want to ring shop? After that, we’ll spend a week honeymooning and making up for lost time. I need you so much. There aren’t words to describe it. We could start another naughty list because I will never run outta ideas when it comes to your voluptuous body. Or we could just lie in bed cuddling. I’m down with anything and everything so long as your body is never more than a few inches from mine. Skin-to-skin contact preferred, of course. What do you think?”

“Yes, Jerry. Yes to everything,” she says breathlessly.

“But before all that, I need the old guy’s permanent marker back.”

“Why, baby?”

I smile seductively. “Because I already have an idea for the first item on the new naughty list for your back—the mile-high club.”

“You are so dirty,” she says, swatting at me playfully.

“And you love it.” I nod, feeling my face flush.

Palming my cheeks, she says, “I do. But I love you even more.”

I pull her into my arms, kissing her long and hard. “I love you, too, Shortie. You’re mine, whether you like it or not. Forever .”