Maybe she’d needed more time. He’d been unable to give her that.

He put the mop away and turned off the Christmas lights behind the bar. Shutting off the music, he locked up and headed home. He hadn’t driven there that evening, knowing he’d be drinking along with everyone else, and now the streets were quiet, empty, haunted with memories of Erika everywhere he looked. Light from the streetlamps illuminated his path and a soft snow fell in big flakes, covering his tracks as he walked. The Christmas displays in the store windows held reminders of everything that was important in life. Themes of family, love, connections were all around him.

He loved it here. This was the life he knew. But how much would he have to give up if he wanted to hold on to it?

He stopped and took in the snow-covered mountains. He breathed in the fresh air and let it fill his lungs with new hope. There was very little he’d give all of this up for...but one feisty, sexy brunette who held his heart might just be it.

* * *

HER CONDO HAD never felt so lonely. Void of any holiday decorations was the way she usually preferred it, but she couldn’t help but wish she’d at least put up a tree.

The sound of her neighbors’ Christmas Day festivities coming from down the hall wasn’t helping.

She wasn’t scheduled to be at the hospital for another two hours. Normally, she’d go in early, but being taken off the clinical trials still stung. How could her father do this to her? She’d obviously given him more credit than he deserved, hoping some part of him still cared about family. About her. But it was all about the job.

And here she was turning out just like him. Almost thirty and the only future in sight was a mirrored image of this lonely holiday.

Sitting on her sofa, her coffee warming her hands, Erika stared at her cell phone.

She’d already called Cassie to say Merry Christmas, but the call had gone to voice mail. It was only just after nine. Her friend was probably still sleeping.

Resisting the urge to call Reed was killing her. She willed the phone to ring.

But he wouldn’t call. Christmas or not, she’d hurt him.

Picking up the phone, she opened her photo gallery and scrolled through the pictures she’d taken of him shirtless in his bedroom.

Damn, he was hot. And more important, he was kind and caring and strong and everything she could ever hope to find in a man. She’d thrown it all away. Had losing him been worth it?

She stared at his gorgeous face.

She was an idiot. And there was only one thing that could begin to make her feel better.