When they got back to the motorhome, Jess turned on the stove. She wanted a nice warm drink. It had been a beautiful day, but over the last hour as they made their way back down, the sun had dropped below the horizon, and it had turned cold. She was chilled.

She smiled at Sully. “Hot chocolate?”

“I’d love one. Is it okay if I use the bathroom?”

“Of course. That’s what it’s there for.”

He smiled. “I didn’t know if you had to be hooked up or how it worked. I’ve never been in one of these things before.”

She laughed. She could see that it wasn’t exactly his style. “It’s fine. You only need to hook up to empty the tanks, and in most places you can hook up to the electric supply. I have a generator, too.” She waved him toward the bathroom. “But I can tell you as much as you want to know when you come out.” She pulled two mugs down from the cabinet and emptied the sachets of her favorite cocoa into them.

While the water boiled, she fetched two camping chairs from the storage cupboard and set them up outside. It was chilly, but now she had her jacket and hot cocoa, she wanted to sit out and watch the stars come out as the sky turned dark.

Sully appeared and stood framed in the doorway. She couldn’t quite get used to just how gorgeous he was. He had to be over six feet tall, and he was just the kind of broad shouldered and narrow hipped that got her all hot and bothered when she saw it on TV. When it was standing in the doorway to her motorhome, and looking at her as though it wanted to undress her and spend the night exploring what was going on between them, it left her speechless and a little light headed! “What’s up?” she asked. Trying to get back to normal.

He smiled. “Nothing’s up. Nothing at all. Just thinking how beautiful you are sitting there like that.”

“Seriously?”

He laughed. “Seriously. You don’t take compliments well, do you?”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t like them.”

“Why not?” He came out and squatted down beside her chair.

“I guess I’m just not used to them.”

“Then you’d better start getting used to them, Jess. Because you truly are beautiful, and I don’t think I’m going to be able to stop telling you that.”

She smiled. Was all this too good to be true? It certainly seemed it. She reached out and touched his cheek. “You’re too sweet; do you know this?”

He shook his head. “I’ve been called many things in my time, but sweet was never one of them.”

She laughed. “I can imagine a few other things you might have been called.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? Like what?”

She lowered her eyes. “Sexy for starters.”

He swaggered his shoulders making her laugh again. “I’m glad you noticed.”

“Hmm, a little big-headed, too, maybe?”

He hung his head with a mock sorrowful look. “On occasion, maybe.”

“And a genuinely good, decent guy,” she added.

He nodded solemnly. “That’d be me. Duty bound if you must know.”

“You say that like it’s a shortcoming?”

He shrugged. “I never used to think so, but lately, I’ve been questioning it.”

She waited as he stared away into the dusk. She wanted to ask why, but she had the feeling he was asking himself that very question.

Eventually, he turned to look back at her. “I’ve devoted my life to duty, to doing what I believe to be right.” He shrugged. “I guess I wanted to be a hero, or at least to see myself as one.”

“But you don’t?”

“I don’t.” He sighed. “Yes, I do a necessary job, but it comes at a cost. If you give the job everything it needs, there’s no room for a normal life outside of it. I watched Patrick give his whole life to the job, and I admired him for it. But it came at a cost, a cost to him and his family. His reasoning was always that he’d make it up to his family when he retired. He only saw three weeks of retirement before he died.”

Jess waited, not sure what to say, not sure whether he’d finished.

“You said you thought I was at a crossroads, and you were right. I have to decide if I want a life or just the career.” He held her gaze for a moment. “I’m reaching the conclusion I’d like to have a life, but I don’t see how I can turn my back on the career, turn my back on my sense of duty.”

“Surely there’s a way to do both?”

He sighed. “If there is, I don’t know anyone who’s found it.”

She wondered how it must feel. She couldn’t imagine being torn by two conflicting needs. Everyone needed to have a life, at least she thought so, but how could someone so driven by duty give it up? How could they enjoy life if they had to stop being all of who they were to live it? It was her turn to sigh as the realization dawned on her that he wouldn’t be able to give it up. Whatever magic was happening between them, it was simply a moment in time for him. She needed to stop her silly imaginings of a happily ever after. She felt suddenly certain that after their little interlude here in Hope Falls, Sully would return to his work and never look back. She might be a fond memory to keep him warm, but she wouldn’t be anything more than that. She just knew it. The understanding saddened her, but she was glad she’d reached it now, before she let herself get any more carried away than she already was. She knew she couldn’t allow herself to fall for him. Yes, she’d enjoy whatever time they got to share, but she must not fall.

~ ~ ~

Sully watched Jess’s face. He wasn’t sure she could understand where he was coming from. Hell, he wasn’t sure he did. He was finally waking up to the fact that there was more to life. He didn’t know how he could find a way to have it all, but he was damned if he wasn’t going to try.

He raised his mug to her in a toast. “Anyway, right now we’re both on vacation. I don’t have to figure it all out. I’d rather just enjoy this time.”

She smiled, but it didn’t light up her eyes in the way he’d already grown used to. “You’re right.” She raised her mug. “Here’s to enjoying today, no one ever knows what tomorrow will hold.”

He wanted to believe that she was talking about them, that she meant that good things might be possible between the two of them, but somehow it didn’t quite feel like she was. If anything, there was an edge of sadness to her words. He shrugged it off. He didn’t need to go looking for problems; he’d deal with any that arose when he met them.

When their cocoa was gone, and full dark had descended, she smiled at him. “I suppose we’d better get you back.”

He nodded slowly. He’d been hoping that they could just camp out here tonight. He was loving sitting out under the stars, the feeling that there was just the two of them with no one else for miles around. “I wish we could stay here.” The words were out before he could stop them.

She smiled. “I do, too, but there are big fines for overnighting where you’re not supposed to.”

“Ah.” He was a little surprised that she was the one wanting to play by the rules. Or maybe she just wanted to take things slowly. After all, if they did stay here it would mean both of them sleeping here—and they both knew that would mean sleeping together. He wanted her; he had since he first laid eyes on her. He’d spent far too much time today adjusting his pants, trying to hide just how much he wanted her. He was pretty sure from the way she kissed him, the way she melted against him and the needy little moans that escaped her lips when he held her to him, that she wanted him, too. But this was all moving so fast. Maybe she needed more time. He stood quickly, his decision made, but still needing to go through with it before desire changed his mind for him. “I guess we’d better get going then.”

She got up and started folding the chairs and storing them. Her mood seemed to have changed and not for the better. He stopped her before she got into the camper, putting a hand on her shoulder and turning her to face him.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded without meeting his gaze.

“What is it, Jess?” He knew there was something.

Eventually, she relaxed and smiled up at him. “I guess I’m tired. It’s been a long day. It’s been a long few weeks if I’m honest. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

He smiled back. He knew that feeling, and was happy that she would admit it. “Me neither. I lay there all night thinking about this girl I met.” Her smile was still a little sad, and he didn’t understand that. “I guess I’m going to be doing the same thing again tonight, aren’t I?”

She nodded.

So that was it, she didn’t want to rush into bed with him. He could understand that. Hell, he respected it. “Can I see you tomorrow?”

She nodded again. “I’d like that.”

“Do you want to meet me at the café for breakfast?”

She smiled. “I’ll meet you at the café, but I want to take you out for breakfast.” Her smile was more genuine again now; he had to wonder what she had in mind. He laughed when she waggled her eyebrows at him. “You’ll just have to trust me.”

“Oh, I do.” It was true. He did trust this woman that he barely knew more than he trusted most people. As he followed her back into the motorhome and she drove them back into town he had to wonder why, and more importantly what he was going to do about it.

When they pulled up back at the café, he looked across at Jess. She was the most beautiful woman he knew. He wanted more than anything to take her up to his room and spend the night with her. She turned to smile at him.

“Don’t tempt me, okay?”

He laughed. “I didn’t say a word!”

“You didn’t need to; you were thinking too loudly.” She smirked and nodded toward his lap. “And besides, your friend there is giving you away.”

Sully looked down and shook his head ruefully; there was no concealing his hard-on. He shrugged. “No excuses, I’m afraid. It’s what you do to me.”

Her cheeks were slightly flushed. “You have the same effect on me, but I don’t think we need to rush this.”

Part of him wanted to rush it. Who knew how long they would have together? Some crazy part of his mind was yelling that they should have the rest of their lives together and they didn’t need to waste time; they should get started right now. He had to question whether that wasn’t his little head talking. He got up. He had to go while he still had the willpower to do so.

“What time in the morning?”

“Will you be up at six?”

He nodded and looked back down at the bulge in his pants. “I think I’m going to be up all night.”

She chuckled. “Well, then I guess I’ll see you at six.”

He almost made it. He was turning the handle on the door to let himself out when she came to stand beside him. The feel of her small, cool hand on his shoulder made his cock jump in his pants and throb even harder. Damn. If she wanted him to go, she had to let him go quickly.

He turned and saw raw desire on her face. Dammit! How was he supposed to walk away from that?

Her hands came up to his shoulders and in what was already a familiar move, his arms reached around her waist of their own accord. He crushed her to his chest, and she thrust her hips against his. A low growl escaped from his lips as his aching cock pressed between her legs. He backed her against the wall and ground his hips into her, encouraged by the needy little moans coming from her lips and the way her hands were grasping his ass, urging him on.

In an instant, bright light flooded the camper as a car turned out onto Main Street, its headlights momentarily illuminating them. It was enough to bring Sully to his senses. He let go of her and stepped back, running his hand through his hair as he blew out a big sigh. “I’m sorry.”

She shook her head and reached out for him. “I’m not.” She still sounded breathless.

It was going to half kill him, but Sully knew what he needed to do. He had to get out of here; he had to leave her wanting. That would make sure that any hesitation she was feeling would be gone by tomorrow. Far better to make her wait and spend the night regretting it than to rush in and leave her regretting it. He lowered a quick peck on her lips. It was all he could risk. “See you in the morning,” he breathed and then got the hell out of there. He didn’t dare look back before he let himself into the café and sprinted up the stairs to his room.