Page 131 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
So why was she denying herself the joy of being around them?
The coffee cup paused halfway to her lips as the question sank in. She turned to face her office building with a start.
So… what?
What did that mean?
She stood like a statue, unable to drink, unable to take a step forward.
It meant she wanted to go back to Montana, that was what. It meant she missed JJ, yes, but…
She looked around her with new eyes.
Because now she’d seen another way of life. And maybe she no longer needed this world of strangers and crowds to feel like she belonged.
Maybe she’d needed this place once, but maybe she’d changed.
Maybe she wanted to change.
And maybe, finally, she wasn’t afraid to do it.
She headed toward the office building again, and this time she didn’t stop. She wasn’t entirely sure what she intended to say, but she’d know it when the time came.
Walking to her office, she dumped her stuff on the desk and smoothed down her dress.
Time to go for it.
That soft voice was in her head again.
She drew in a breath and held it.
You can do this. Trust yourself. Trust your heart.
Laying a hand on her chest, she let herself breathe in and out a couple more times.
She was no closer to having figured it all out, but those quiet words propelled her out of her office. She knocked firmly on her bosses’ door and pushed it open the moment she was invited in.
Marian was sitting behind the desk, Jason just beside her. They looked annoyed by the interruption.
“Hey, guys. Can I have a minute?” Dahlia asked.
Jason’s eyebrows dipped together, but he nodded. “What’s up?”
Irritation flared at their dismissive looks, the irritation they didn’t even try to hide.
She pictured JJ’s smile and the way his face lit up whenever he was around her, and she felt a surge of strength.
Clearing her throat, she started by saying, “I’d like to request a few days off to head back to Montana.”
Jason tutted. “Are you kidding me? You’ve already had so much time.”
“Well, I’ve had days away, but I was still working throughout. I want actual vacation time. My sister’s getting married, and I’ve never taken my allocated vaca—”
“No.”
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
They looked at each other before Jason spoke again. “Permission denied. We’re coming into a really busy patch, and we need you here.”
