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container. “You draw that line and close that door and that’s that?”
    “Yes.” He accepted the cookies from her. “It’s best not to dwell on things that become tiresome. Cut the problem out of your life and move on.”
    She studied him for a moment. “And that’s your philosophy in life?”
    “It’s worked well for me.” He picked up his cup and carried it to the sink. Cookies in hand, he headed for the door and slipped back into his coat. “Thanks for the tea and the cookies.”
    “It’s the least I could do. You saved me from a run-in with Lalo and got me home safely.” Her sensual mouth curved with a playful smile. “It wasn’t quite the sleigh ride of Christmas carols, but it’ll do.”
    He laughed. “I’m pretty sure the sleigh from those Christmas carols didn’t have heated seats or luxury leather.”
    “No.” She grinned. “The heated seats were a nice touch.”
    He chose not to make a flirtatious remark about heating up the leather. There was a reason Shay was so tempting to him—and it was because she was different. She deserved so much better than what he had to offer, and he wasn’t about to insult her by coming onto her and plying her with gifts and trinkets in exchange for a few hours of affection every week.
    “Thank you very much for coming to my rescue tonight.”
    Coming to her rescue? Jesus, he was nobody’s hero!
    Still he couldn’t stop himself from offering help.
    “If you ever need anything, Shay, you come to me first. I’ll take care of you— it ,” he hastily amended. “If Lalo’s men bother you, I want to know about it. I may not be in that life anymore but I have friends who are.”
    “Thanks, but I can handle it.”
    “It’s good to be brave, Shay, but it’s better to be smart and safe. Let men like me deal with men like Lalo. You’re above that and should stay out of it.”
    Her gaze drifted to the open neck of his shirt where the tops of the onion domed churches inked on his chest were visible. Did she know what they meant? He wanted to know what she was thinking but wasn’t courageous enough to ask because he feared the worst.
    “All right,” she said softly. “I’ll come to you if I need help.”
    “Don’t ever hesitate to ask me for anything. My door is always open to you.” He shut his mouth before he went too far.
    “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”
    He opened the door and stepped out into the cold, dark night. “Merry Christmas, Shay.”
    “Merry Christmas…Alexei.”
    She spoke his name in that gentle voice of hers, and it did crazy things to him. It took every ounce of willpower to drive away from her house. His brain told him to keep his foot on the gas, but the lust and need unfurling within him like a blazing fire urged him to turn around, knock on her door and claim her with a kiss that would leave her breathless and trembling. A few sweet words and promises of money and pretty things would get him through the door and into her bed. That tactic had never failed him.
    But he couldn’t do that to her.
    He wouldn’t do that to her.
    Shay had escaped an entanglement with a dangerous drug dealer tonight. The very last thing she needed was an ex-con and former mobster complicating her life and tarnishing that promising future she was working so hard to build for herself. She was going places, and he refused to be the millstone around that beautiful neck of hers.
    As he let himself inside his house and moved through the quiet, empty space, Alexei tried to avoid the painful conclusion about his life that lingered in the far reaches of his brain. Like the house, he was empty inside.
    Alone.
    After splashing some whisky into a glass, he dropped into his favorite chair and switched on the news. He had just gotten comfortable when his phone started to ring. He glanced at the screen and saw Marissa’s smiling face. She was a breathtakingly beautiful woman and looked so utterly tantalizing in that photo, especially with the tanned