Page 60 of Wild Promise

“Get your sweet ass out of my truck before I change my mind about letting you go.”

With a lightness in my chest that I hadn’t felt in over a year, I slid out of his truck and went to work.

The day went by without too much hassle. The decorations for the Winter Festival Dance were almost hung in the wrong room, but I caught it just in time. One of the weddings on the docket got canceled but was quickly replaced with another, and the honeymoon suite somehow got double-booked. But I handled it, just like I always did. Only today, it felt easier.

And when the end of my shift rolled around, I didn’t even think about staying. There was nothing urgent enough that needed my attention, and maybe more importantly, I couldn’t wait to see Zane.

So, I didn’t.

With a confidence I didn’t know I possessed, I did the one thing I’d avoided for almost a year. I intentionally walked into The Summit with my head held high and my hopes even higher.

For early on a Wednesday evening, the place sure was busy, but the lively hum of the room seemed to dim when my gaze landed on him.

Dressed in a standard black button-down, Zane stood behind the bar, his dark hair curling at the ends and his bright smile standing out against his scruffy jaw.

Why did he have to look so good? Especially when I could do nothing but stare.

Gathering my recently discovered courage, I sauntered toward the bar. The closer I got, the warmer I felt, and I had to bite the inside of my lip to try and distract from my surging hormones.

I was only a few steps away when the blonde woman he was serving caught my eye. She was leaned in close, chin propped on her hand, eyes locked on Zane like he was on the menu.

“I’ve got an entire suite to myself.” Her expertly manicured fingers toyed over her glass. “And you should see the view. Maybe when you’re done with your shift?”

My lip stung where I’d been biting it as I clenched my teeth hard together, but I didn’t slow my stride. I pulled up a stool, a few down from the blonde, and rested my elbows on the bar top, crossing my arms over each other.

Zane’s eyes landed on me just as the other bartender approached. “Hey, Melina.”

“Hi,” I greeted, looking up to his cheerful face and feeling like a jerk for not knowing his name. But when I heard Zane mumble something to the woman about already having the best view imaginable, I smiled.

“You want a drink?” the other bartender asked, placing a hand on the bar in front of me.

“Take a hike, Colin. She doesn’t want anything from you,” Zane growled as he stalked toward us.

“Oh, it’s like that, then, is it?” Colin’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Are you sure you want to put up with this guy?”

My eyes locked on Zane’s as heat coursed through me. “It’s really not much of a hardship.”

With a light chuckle, Colin glanced to Zane. “Good. I was getting tired of his mopey ass.”

Pushing Colin aside, Zane leaned close to me with his elbows on the bar, mirroring my posture. “Hey there, my sexy little firecracker,” he murmured low enough so that only I could hear.

“Hey.” I stared into his intoxicating gaze, and for a moment I almost forgot where we were and the rules I was trying to follow. My mouth went dry as I licked my lips, tempted to close the short distance between us and kiss him.

“You ready to go home now?” He shifted his arms, moving even closer, his pinky finger grazing over mine.

“Yes, please.”

We’d barely made it into his truck, parked in the back corner of the lot, before he was pulling me in for a scorching kiss.

He hummed against my lips. “Missed you.”

My heart soared as he carefully drove us away from the hotel. “How much time do you have on your break?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got enough time to get you off and then get you home before I need to come back. Colin will cover for me if I’m late.”

“What?” My breath caught as he turned his truck away from the resort exit and toward a back service road instead.

“You heard me.”