Page 12 of Wild Promise

A startled laugh burst out of me, and the tears I’d been holding back ran from the corners of my eyes. “Please!” I shoved her shoulder. “Never say anything like that again.”

Lucy giggled and blushed. “It really isn’t an awful idea. A boyfriend, I mean. Not sex.”

One mention of sex and an irresistible image of Zane popped into my head—his wicked grin and heated gaze warming me from the inside out.

“Trust me,” I muttered, pushing past my lust-tinted thoughts. “It’s all a very bad idea.”

Chapter Four

Zane

The threat of snow did some amazing things for business at the resort. There wasn’t a flake in sight, but when the weather station said there was a chance, no matter how slim, people lost their minds.

We were slammed, but I liked the hustle. The chaos of it. The busier I stayed, the less time my thoughts had to wander.

Didn’t stop my head from turning every time a dark-haired woman walked through the door, though.

Melina was still lodged in my brain, and I couldn’t dig her out. I’d tried everything. Cold showers. Longer shifts. Enough push-ups over the last three days to qualify as self-inflicted torture.

None of it worked.

She still invaded every waking thought, and since I’d slept like absolute shit after my spectacular fuckup, I’d had plenty of hours to replay her rejection on a loop.

“Hey,” Colin said, hitting the floor to start his shift. “Looks like I’m going to have a busy night.”

“Yeah, ten percent chance of snow,” I muttered while pouring drinks for a loud table of women. One of them wore a glittery sash that read Bride to Be.

Colin stopped behind me long enough that I could feel him staring.

I glanced over my shoulder. “What?”

He blinked. “Did you seriously just talk to me about the weather?”

“What’s wrong with weather?”

“The room’s full of women.” He motioned toward the bachelorette party. “Women who look extremely interested in making bad decisions. And you’re talking about snow.”

I huffed, turning back to the drinks. “Guess I’m not in the mood.”

“Are you feeling okay? You’ve been acting weird for days.”

“I’m fine.” I grabbed the tray before he could keep digging. “Larissa’s on break. I need to run this order out.”

I left him with his mouth hanging open, but I was too aggravated to care. I strode toward the table of women. Their conversation fell to hushed whispers and giggles as I approached, but the ache ate at me despite their attention.

“Here you go, ladies.” I balanced the tray in one hand, passing out drinks with the other. “I’ll be off the clock in the next few minutes, but Colin will be taking over for me, and our server Larissa will be back shortly.”

A chorus of disappointed awws rose around the table.

“Don’t worry.” My smile was tight. “We’ve got a great team at Copper Ridge Resort. They’ll make sure you’re all taken care of.”

“But what if I want you to take care of me?” The blonde to my right ran her hand up my arm, setting off another round of giggles from her friends.

She was pretty, with sparkling blue eyes, pink lips, and a low-cut top that showcased a lot of skin. The kind of woman who no doubt turned a lot of heads.

And I felt absolutely nothing.

I pulled my arm out of her reach. “Sorry, I can’t stay. I’ve already maxed out my overtime this week. Have fun, ladies, and stay safe.”