Page 51 of Wild Promise

“Yeah, that’s what I figured.” I sighed into my phone, my free hand tapping impatiently over my truck’s dashboard as I waited in the resort parking lot. “Problem is, she’d never accept a gift like that. She’s too stubborn.”

Reid’s laughter rumbled in my ear. “Aren’t they all?”

“I have no idea,” I admitted, unconcerned with any woman other than Melina. “Listen, man, you know the cost doesn’t matter to me. Fix anything and everything, without making it too obvious, please. And feel free to take your time with it.”

“Stealth mode. Got it,” he agreed.

“Gotta go,” I said when she appeared at the side door of the hotel, her hands in her pockets and her head down. “My woman looks like she’s had a rough day.”

He wished me luck and clicked off, but I’d already tossed my phone on the dash and was hopping out of my truck to grab the passenger door.

“Hey, my sad-looking little firecracker.” I wanted to pull her close and kiss away whatever had put that look on her face. But the crammed parking lot wasn’t the place.

“Hey.” Her eyes remained stuck on the ground as she accepted the open door and lifted herself into the seat.

My stomach twisted. The meeting must not have gone well, but she didn’t seem to want to discuss it. Should I push her to talk or give her space?

Indecision gnawed at me as we drove away from the hotel and down the main road, toward the front gates. I kept my hands on the wheel and my mouth shut, even though every instinct I had was screaming at me to do something.

“I have to say it.” She broke the silence, her voice trembling.

I didn’t know what the hell she was talking about, and at that moment I was almost too terrified to find out, but I took a deep breath and remembered what Nate had said.

I needed to trust myself.

“Sure. Say whatever’s on your mind.”

“I really don’t want to. It makes me look like such a hypocrite. But I owe you an apology.” She turned in her seat, the weight of her gaze resting on my profile. “Zane? I’m sorry.”

If her tone wasn’t so serious, I’d be tempted to laugh, even if just to dispel the tension, but something about the way she said my name split me right down the middle.

“Hey, it’s okay.” I reached a hand over to her. “Let’s get to my place first. You can explain the whole thing over a plate of cookies. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered, slouching back into her seat.

My foot hit the accelerator as we passed through the gates, leaving Copper Ridge Resort in the rearview. I loved the place, but right now, I couldn’t get away fast enough.

We pulled into my driveway just as more snow started falling. The lights I’d left on made my house look warm and inviting, but I noticed Mrs. Walker’s driveway still hadn’t been shoveled, and I made a mental note to hire someone for her this year.

“Remind me to check on my neighbor later,” I said, meeting Melina at her door.

“Why don’t you just go check on her now?”

I looked back over my shoulder, to the house which was normally lit like a Christmas tree but now seemed dark and deserted. “You don’t mind?”

“Please, Zane. I’ll go with you.”

We stood on Mrs. Walker’s porch, waiting for her to answer, my hand gripping tight to Melina’s. I was just about to give up and call emergency services when the door cracked, and a head of white hair popped out.

“Oh goodness,” she rasped. “You gave me a fright.”

“Is everything okay, Mrs. Walker?”

“Yes, dear. I was just in bed, reading a novel. Completely lost track of the time.”

“We’re sorry to bother you, then,” Melina offered, the word rolling easily off her tongue.

“No bother. But since you’re here, would you like to take home some cookies?”