Page 53 of The Mountain Echoes

CHAPTER 12

maverick

“Celine, I don’t think that’s going to happen.” I step away from her as she corners me outside the restroom.

“But, Mav, I love you.”

Jesus Fuckin’ Christ!

“I’ve been in love with you since?—”

I cut her off. I just don’t want to hear it ‘cause if I do, I may say some things that I’ll regret. “We’re friends; that’s all we’ve ever been, darlin’.”

She licks her lips, looks at me with baby blue eyes. There’s hurt and affection in them—and before Mac read that damn will, I’d believe what I saw, now I’m not sure. I’ve always thought she was harmless. Now….

“Only because I’m married,” she argues. “Hudson and I are getting divorced, I told you. We’re not even sharing a bedroom, Mav.”

“Look—”

“He’s sleeping withher,” she hisses. “She wantshim. She can have him. I’m not even remotely interested in him.”

I narrow my eyes. “She?” I ask even though I know who she’s talking about.

Celine’s eyes widen. “You know who!”

I regard her with quiet consideration and then shake my head. “Your sister’s been here a minute, Celine. I doubt she’s sleeping with him.”

She gives me a wounded look. “I saw them?—”

I wave a hand to silence her because I can tell she’s about to lie to me. “It doesn’t matter who he’s sleeping with.I am not sleeping with you.”

She smiles wanly and puts a hand on my chest. “That’s not what I want either, Mav…well, I do, butafter. I want us to”—she lets out a long breath—"have a relationship. Buildus.”

I take her hand, walk her out of the hallway, and into the piano room, which is now empty.

I move away from her and hold my hands palms out so she knows I don’t want her touching me.

So much for my plan to keep itcopacetic!

“You deserve to be happy, Celine. I’m not the man who can make that happen.”

“You make me happy,” she insists. “I know I can makeyouhappy.”

Her eyes shine with hope. She steps forward.

I step back.

It’s a sad dance, one I know well. Celine isn’t the first woman who’s wanted more than I’ve wanted to give.

I have not met a woman yet whom I want to commitmyself to. When that happens, I’ll be all in, but until then, I’m not going to compromise, pretend I feel something I don’t.

I may play all the games I need to when it comes to business, but when it comes to relationships, I’m pretty simple. I have many friends, very few of them I consider family. Friends come and go. Family stays.

Celine is neither.

“Mav, please. Give us a chance.”

I don’t want to hurt her, but she’s not giving me a choice. “I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want to pursue anything more than friendship, Celine. I never have.”