Page 59 of Wild Promise

Zane was in my home, talking to my father, and I still had no idea where this relationship was headed. If it was headed anywhere at all.

I wanted to believe it was. Wanted to believe it was possible that it even could. But part of me still doubted.

Sure, we were great in bed, and I liked him with his clothes on as well, but we were still worlds apart in so many ways. His family owned the resort, for fuck’s sake. Zane owned his own home and had more money than he’d probably ever need, while I had more debt than I cared to admit. He chose to bartend. I had no choice but to work myself into the ground.

Would he still want to call himself my boyfriend once he understood what he was getting into? Or would he look at me with pity in his eyes—the one thing I couldn’t stomach from anyone, least of all him?

The stairs seemed never-ending as I raced down them, my coat and purse clutched tightly in my hands. I rounded the corner to the living room, my heart in my throat, but the sight and sounds that greeted me stopped me in my tracks.

They were laughing.

All of them.

My sisters both seemed enchanted by him. Or maybe even halfway in love, judging from their bright, mooning smiles. Even Dad looked happy with one corner of his mouth tipping up as he struggled through a laugh.

I leaned against the doorframe and let myself just watch for a second. My father, who’d barely left his room for months, was sitting upright and laughing with a man he’d met yesterday. Lucy was perched on the arm of the couch, giggling. Olivia was in full performance mode, probably saying something wildly inappropriate.

And Zane was right in the middle of it all, looking like he belonged there.

Something swelled in my chest—too big and too fragile to name.

But really, what else had I expected? Everyone who met Zane loved him.

Maybe even me.

“Ready to go?” I called, pushing off the doorframe before I could sit with that thought too long. What good was falling in love with him if I’d only have to watch him walk away eventually?

But when his eyes met mine, his smile intensified, and something deeper sparked inside me. “Whenever you are.”

Damn him.

The ride to work was quiet, but my nerves were still running amok. Zane didn’t say anything. He just held my hand, his thumb stroking over mine with a steady reassurance that said more than words could.

I tried to pull away as we drove under the sign that welcomed us to Copper Ridge Resort, but he refused to let go.

“Don’t worry,” he murmured with a sly smile. “I don’t expect a kiss goodbye, but I don’t want to let you go until I have to.”

Every time he opened his mouth, he managed to say something more romantic than the time before. Things that made me feel special and wonderful. Things that made Becky’s cruel words seem distant and inconsequential.

Zane pulled up to the front doors to let me out, and I didn’t even argue. A coworker giving me a ride was not a big deal. There were no rules in the employee handbook about that.

He gave my hand a squeeze. “I’m working tonight, but I can take you home on my break.”

“You don’t have to. I can find a ride.”

His lips drew into a thin line, and he inhaled deeply.

“Unless you really want to,” I said, giving in to my growing desire to solidify this thing. This relationship.

Because that’s what it was, wasn’t it? A real relationship. One I wanted to nurture and watch grow.

His breath let out in a heavy rush. “Yeah, firecracker.” He turned to me with a look of longing. “I really do. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but I like doing things for you.”

“I might have noticed a little.” Or a lot.

How could it escape me? He seemed to be constantly doing things for others—his neighbor, my sister, our coworkers, and me. But it made me wonder when the last time was someone had done something nice for him. And not as a return on a favor, but just because he was worth it.

I still couldn’t risk kissing him in public, but I squeezed his hand back and puckered my lips, sending a smack through the air. “See you later, Zane Alexander.”