Alexander awoke the next day to the sound of someone outside scraping ice. Was that Charley? Was she leaving already? He jumped out of bed and quickly dressed. Had she purchased plane tickets? He had thought maybe she was staying another day.

He rushed outside, not bothering to put on a coat. Charley blushed when she saw him and held up the ice scraper. “I borrowed this from your truck. I hope you don’t mind.”

“You’re leaving?” He didn’t mean to sound angry. It just came out that way.

“Yes. I’m sorry. My flight leaves in three hours, and I don’t want to have to rush in the Denver traffic. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

She had, but that wasn’t the point. He stared at the exhaust puffing out of the tailpipe. Why was he feeling so blindsided? He knew she was going to leave. “I didn’t realize you’d already purchased a ticket.”

She nodded. “I got one last night. It was the last seat on the plane. I was lucky to get it.”

“I see.” He folded his arms. He had a sudden urge to beg her to stay, but that was stupid. She’d only been there for one reason. He had no hold on her. He couldn’t even get upset that she was leaving. He knew she would leave all along. He peered into the passenger seat and saw the cat carrier. “You have Milly all ready to go?”

“Yes. She didn’t fight me getting into the carrier. Hopefully she won’t be too nervous on the plane.”

“That’s good.” He looked around at the snow-covered trees. “I’ll go get your check.”

She continued to scrape her car. “Thanks.”

He went inside the house, his gut twisting. Was he going to just let Charley walk out of his life? After what they’d shared? He pulled out his checkbook, working his jaw. What else could he do? He couldn’t see an alternative. He had no reason to ask her to stay.

He wrote the check and went back outside in the cold. Charley took it from him and put it in her pocket. “Well, I guess this is it.” She stood there, looking awkward.

He wanted to give her a hug, but that was odd, so he took a step back and shoved his fists into his pockets. “Travel safely.”

She lowered the windshield scraper, staring at him. Suddenly she threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. “Thanks for making this Christmas memorable,” she said, her voice holding emotion.

He put his arms around her, unable to think of a response. She let go and stepped back. “Bye.”

“Good-bye, Charley.”

She handed him the scraper and got into the rental car. He stood there and watched as she drove down the driveway and disappeared into the trees. He didn’t feel the wind whipping through his sweater. He only felt the sting of loss as the most amazing woman he’d ever met left him.

He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. There was nothing he could do. She was not his. And he could not claim hold on her. He walked slowly back into his house, the emptiness echoing though his chest.

***

CHARLEY GRIPPED THE steering wheel, her heart in her throat. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to see Alexander before she left. She didn’t know if she could take saying goodbye to him. Her crush on him had grown into astronomical proportions. She was completely fixated on him and she needed to get a grip on reality.

As she drove, she told herself she wasn’t going to think about him anymore. She had to get back home and grow her appraisal business. Sitting around and wishing she were back at the mansion with Alexander wasn’t going to do anyone any good.

Besides, if her father found out she’d kissed him—repeatedly—he would be livid. She had acted so unprofessionally. Her face burned as she tried to get the image of him in the hot tub out of her head. Why had she insisted he go in it with her? She had been so stupid. She’d acted like a silly schoolgirl.

And now she was paying the price. Her heart ached as she pulled out onto the highway. She had seen such a change in Alexander. He’d gone from a grumpy, mean man to actually joking around with her. When they had gone caroling to the neighbors, she thought she was going to laugh for a week at his antics. He really had surprised her.

But the job was done and she would never see him again. She couldn’t spend her time wishing things were different. If only she had met him at a different time in her life. If he lived in Florida. If she were older. These thoughts swirled around in her head as she passed by semi-trucks.

She needed to stop. She had to get back to real life, and that meant going home and forgetting about Alexander. She turned on the radio but only felt the loss even more dramatically as a love song came on. She clicked it off and let the silence fill the car.