Page 43 of Wild Promise

“So there you have it, my friend.” He slapped me on the back, cementing my thoughts. “She’s worth more to you than any of your other conquests, and you’re treating her the way she deserves. Sounds like the start of a beautiful relationship if you ask me.”

A smile crept across my lips. “But what the fuck do you know? You’re as single as me, remember?”

“I’m not so sure you can call yourself single anymore. Sounds to me like you’re pretty well taken.”

Fuck, he was right. I didn’t understand it, and just the idea made me lightheaded, but that didn’t make it any less true.

No one had ever held my attention or made me feel the way Melina did. Maybe that wouldn’t last. Maybe it was just a year’s worth of deprivation that needed to be let loose. Regardless, it didn’t change the fact that she had me. For her, I was willing to try.

The thought was intimidating as hell, and I wasn’t sure I could trust it.

But fuck, I still really liked it.

“Thanks for further injuring yourself for me,” I said once we’d made it back to the hotel. “I hope you’re going home now.”

We hadn’t hiked all the way out to the Bay, but I still felt refreshed. Talking about these things—something that only weeks ago I wasn’t sure I could ever do—was easier than I’d expected. Maybe that meant something, too.

“Yeah.” His tone was harsh, despite our heart-to-heart. “Just remember what I said. Trust yourself.”

A feeling of hope bloomed in my chest. “I’ll try.”

“And hey.” He stopped me with his hand on my shoulder before I could leave. “About Becky. She was poking around again today. Asking questions about you and Melina. I don’t think anyone caught on, but you really gotta be careful. She’s up to some shit, and I guarantee it’s nothing good.”

Fucking Becky. She was going to become the bane of my existence, wasn’t she? I’d have to deal with her sooner rather than later, and I’d have to be sure the blowback didn’t hit Melina.

“Thanks, man,” I said, slapping him on the back again. “For everything.”

“Anytime.”

“Oh, and Nate,” I called, walking backward toward my truck. “Next time, to avoid injury, remember to thrust with your hips, not with your back.”

Chapter Fifteen

Melina

Dead. My poor old Honda was completely fucking dead.

I turned my key in the ignition for a fifth time, stomping the gas pedal repeatedly like that would somehow help. But I didn’t need to hear the lifeless clicking noise again to know exactly what would happen.

Nothing.

“Come on, you stupid piece of shit,” I cried, trying it one more time, praying for a different result.

But no such luck.

I clenched my fists around the wheel and squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to slow my rapid pulse. How was I still breathing when it felt like there was no oxygen? I fumbled with the handle, pushing the door open to the fresh burst of winter air, and dragged in the largest lungful I could manage.

Get yourself together, Melina.

I was going to be late for work, there was no way around it, but it didn’t have to be the end of the world. How many times had this ever happened, besides never?

After a few more cleansing breaths, and with my nerves under control, I fished my phone out of my purse and dialed the guest services office, hoping Lydia would be there to pick up.

The phone rang twice before someone answered, “Hello?”

“Becky?” Damn, why her? Why now? And where the hell was her professional greeting?

“Oh hey, Melina,” she cooed as though happy to hear from me, which was at the very least a lie, and at worst, a trap waiting to spring shut on me. “I thought you’d be here by now. Don’t you start at eight?”