Page 18 of Auctioned to the Mountain Man

“Then what’s the problem?”

I scrub a hand over my beard, wondering if this conversation is even worth it. As soon as we leave Christmas Day, Alida’s free to go back to her life with a fattened bank account. She’ll probably tell me to stay the hell away. I’ll keep an eye on her from a distance—just to make sure she doesn’t sign up for any more sex auctions or some stupid shit like that. But I’ll respect her wishes if she doesn’t want me around. Even though it’ll gut me to do so.

“You love her.”

“What?”

“Ah, I thought so.”

“Grandpa Eddie, that’s a pretty strong accusation.”

He raises an eyebrow, that simple gesture calling me out. “You’d bring a woman youdon’tlove to meet your family at Christmas?Thisfamily?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Doesn’t have to be.”

“I served with her brother overseas.”

“And?”

“He didn’t make it home.”

“You feel guilty.” Not a question. A statement from a man who’s been to war himself. “That shit will eat you alive if you don’t make peace with it, Fox.”

“He wasn’t supposed to go on that patrol.”

“How’s that your fault?”

“Because he asked me to take his place, and I said no.” Brett wanted to mail a present for his youngest sister, Kayleigh, so it’d make it in time for her eighteenth birthday. I hadn’t had a day off in a month. I was exhausted. Too tired to guarantee the safety of soldiers under my command. I offered to mail the package for him instead, after a long-needed nap.

The package made it home.

Brett never did.

“Brett asked me to watch after his sisters if anything ever happened to him, but I don’t think this is what he meant.”

“And why not?”

Looking after someone and fucking them are two different things. And I’d damned near given in when Alida offered herself to me. Hell, I was supposed to stop with one flick of my tongue. Instead, I’d eaten her pussy like I was a starving man enjoying his first feast in weeks. “It’s a helluva way to repay him.”

“If she’s your fuck buddy, sure. But not if you love her.”

“What if it doesn’t work out?” I ask instead.

“What if does?”

My shoulders shake with a silent laugh. Alida hates me. She’ll always associate me with the man who came home from warinsteadof her brother. “That hasn’t really been my track record in life,” I say, taking a swig of eggnog, the sting of brandy burning my throat. Guess I forgot to mix the alcohol in.

“Your dad’s the piece of shit. Not you, Fox.”

The mention of my late father makes me shudder. I wonder how many auctions he attended. How many dirty deals he made. How many people suffered in his heartless pursuit of wealth. “I know.”

“Do you? Because you’re worthy of her.”

“I don’t know if any man is worthy of her.”

“See, youdolove her.”

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