Page 57 of Wild Promise

“Believe it or not, I really do.”

She surged up and kissed me, her mouth soft and open, and I wanted to get lost in her again. But with daylight streaming through the curtains, we already risked running late.

“Come on,” I urged. “Let’s get you home so you can get ready for work.”

It wasn’t until we pulled into her driveway and I put my truck into park that I noticed how stiff and unsure she’d become. After an incredible night and an even better morning, I’d gotten used to her being relaxed around me, but now the tension was creeping back. It was there in the worried lines around her eyes and the way she curled in on herself.

Like she was already preparing for this to end.

Before she could open the door to get out, I grabbed her hand. “Do me one favor?”

Her breath caught and she stared me down, waiting.

“Just remember what you told me last night…don’t overthink it.”

“Zane,” she groaned, the light returning to her eyes. “That was in the heat of the moment. This is different.”

“It’s not. Every moment I’m with you is filled with some kind of heat. It may not all be sex and passion, but your fire always burns.”

She shook her head, a coy smile playing on her lips. “Not the same thing, and you’re incorrigible.”

“No, firecracker. I’m serious. You’re strong, fierce, determined—a fucking smoke show—and there’s no need to worry about things burning down around you, because you are the fire. Don’t ever forget it.”

She leaned across the cab to give me a quick peck on the cheek. “Thank you,” she said as she pulled back. “Just do me a favor and don’t talk like that in front of my family.”

“Promise.” I crossed a finger over my heart.

When we walked into her house, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d never been in this position before. I’d never met a woman’s family or stood in their home the morning after. It wasn’t something fun-time guy had ever needed to worry about. But Melina had two sisters I’d never met, a father who’d called me her boyfriend to my face, and every reason to change his mind after I’d kept his daughter out all night.

Despite our talk, Melina still seemed like she was trying to sneak me past her family. “Come up and wait in my room.”

“I don’t…think so,” Vic’s voice rumbled from the next room.

I leaned down, kissing the shell of her ear. “Go get ready. I’ll hang out with your dad.”

The look she gave me was pure shock, maybe mixed with some light terror. But I swatted her ass playfully and walked away, heading to the living room to face Vic.

“Good morning,” I greeted him with what I hoped was a natural smile and not a shit-eating grin. I wanted to make a good second impression, not rub it in his face that I’d just rolled out of bed with his daughter.

“Sit.” He motioned to the couch across from him, a newspaper spread across his lap.

I sat. The couch was lumpy, the cushions thin, and the room was filled with the kind of clutter that only comes from people actually living in a space. The carpet was worn, the curtains were faded, and family photos were crammed onto every surface. It should have felt shabby. Instead, it felt more like home than any room in my own house ever had.

These people had so little but held on so tight. My family had everything and couldn’t hold on to each other at all.

“My friend said Melina’s car won’t be a problem to fix.”

Vic’s laughter was labored but loud. “You’re so full of…shit.”

I laughed with him. He was right. I was completely full of shit. The car was a disaster, and fixing it was going to cost me a small fortune. But some things were worth lying about.

The sound of pounding feet coming down the hallway interrupted before I could dig myself in any deeper.

A head of shoulder-length dark hair popped around the corner. “Oh!” She shifted the rest of her body into the room, hesitating in the doorway. “I wondered what you were laughing about.”

“Zane was telling…a story.”

“Okay.” Uncertain brown eyes met mine, and she smiled meekly. “Hi.”