With her heart calling the shots, her mind had no control to stop what came next as she closed the distance. Tenderness surged between them while a whirlwind of past and present emotions swirled in her mind. Their hearts connected, touched, entwined. Jack deepened the kiss until he left her breathless. Terra broke away to catch her breath but lingered near, her heart beating erratically.

“We have unfinished business, you and I,” Jack said.

Did they?

The tenderness, longing, and desire pouring from him could draw her deeper, if she wasn’t careful. Putting up the wall required to walk away would take every ounce of her strength.

She eased away, her heart cracking, breaking all over again as the whirlwind of their past died down, leaving her with the memories of brokenness. “I’ve lost people too, Jack. Whether by an avalanche or by choice, people I love have left me, and I don’t have it in me to set myself up to feel that pain again. I’m sorry.” Owen, Gramps, Alex, and Erin made up the small circle of people she could trust. But as far as giving over her heart like she once had to Jack? No.

I can do this. I have to do this.

She took a full step back and stiffened her backbone. “Now that I know you’re going to be okay, I should go. Our business, Jack, our personal business, is finished. It’s over. You left me, walked out on us before, and I won’t let you do that again.”

Terra gathered her bag and headed for the door.

“You don’t understand. Terra, wait—”

In the predawn hours, Terra sat in her vehicle, Jack’s last words to her as she walked out of his hospital room still echoing through her mind and heart. What had she done? Had she just wanted to be the one to walk away this time?

She swiped at the tears. She had plenty to distract her from the pain. Staring at her grandfather’s ranch house, she tried to work up the nerve to go inside. Worry had kept her company through the night while staying in Jack’s room. She had also wanted to head to Gramps’s house to speak with Owen. To warn them both. Terra believed that Owen had nothing to do with his friend’s crimes. What’s more, he had to be devastated at the news.

Owen . . . was a hero.

She was half surprised no law enforcement vehicles were at the house now. She’d known the sheriff’s department would want to talk to Owen because of his association with Leif. Maybe he had opted to answer their questions at the county offices rather than upset Gramps. Or bring potential issues into a political campaign that was only beginning.