Page 75 of Wild Promise

Nate’s head snapped toward me. “Quit?”

“The bar. The resort. I’m going to walk away.” My voice sounded steadier than I felt. Inside, everything was crumbling. “I can’t be an Alexander here and be with her. One of those things has to go, and it’s not going to be her.”

“Zane, think about this. The resort is your whole life.”

“No. She’s my whole life. The resort is just the place I’ve been hiding.” The words hit hard. Because they were true.

The resort had been my sanctuary, my constant, the one place that always felt like mine. But without Melina, it was just property. The hotel was a beautiful building full of people who loved the version of me I’d been performing for years.

She was the only one who’d ever seen the real me. And I’d rather lose everything than lose her.

Nate nodded. Not with enthusiasm or approval but with understanding. “What do you need from me?”

“A favor. A big one.” I swallowed hard. “When I’m gone, the staff are going to need someone. The ones who come to me when shit goes sideways, when they need a shift covered or a problem solved or just someone to listen. That’s not going to be me anymore. I need it to be you.”

Nate stared at me. “You’re serious about this.”

“Dead serious.” I swallowed hard. “Which is why I’m calling my father and accepting his offer. I’m going to New York.”

“Zane…” Nate’s expression didn’t change, but something shifted behind his eyes. “You sure that’s the right move?”

No. I wasn’t sure about a damn fucking thing, except the fact that I loved her and I was the thing standing in her way.

“I’m sure,” I lied.

He clapped a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Then go do what you need to do. I’m here. I’ve got it covered.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“And Zane?” He didn’t let go of my shoulder. “When this is over, however it plays out, you better come back. Even if it’s just to visit. This place isn’t the same without you. And neither am I.”

Somehow, I held my shit together long enough to get in my truck and close the door.

I sat in the dark for a while, watching the snow pile up on the windshield, Green Mountain looming behind me in the rearview mirror. The dream my great-grandfather had built. The property my grandfather had invested not only his life savings but all his time and energy into making great. The place that had raised me when my own parents couldn’t be bothered.

And now I was walking away from it.

For her.

I picked up my phone and stared at the screen. Then, with hands that wouldn’t stop shaking, I pulled up my father’s number and hit call.

It rang twice.

“Zane.” His cold, professional tone was laced with a hint of smug satisfaction. “This is unexpected.”

“I need to see you. I’m coming to New York.”

He paused before asking, “When?”

“Tomorrow.”

He paused again, longer this time, like it gave him a thrill to keep me waiting.

“I’ll clear my schedule,” he said, finally. And hung up.

Snow now covered my windshield completely. The resort hotel had disappeared behind a curtain of white.

I hit the ignition and turned on the wipers. The snow cleared, and there it was, lit up and glowing against the dark sky like it was daring me to leave.