Chapter Five
Melina
Normally, I loved mornings. This one, however, could go straight to hell.
Instead of hopping out of bed, ready to take on the day, I hit snooze three times before finally dragging myself into the shower. I rushed through my regular routine, trying to save water and time, and mentally cursing the power company for taking longer to reconnect us than they’d promised.
No electricity meant no hair dryer. No hair dryer meant extra time wrestling my cold, damp hair into a bun that made me look like a successful event manager and not an exhausted single mother.
Although, with the way my dad had acted last night, it did feel a bit like I was caring for a child.
Tired and cranky, I was not in the mood for the full day of client meetings ahead. Three new weddings were on the schedule, and I still hadn’t solved my catering staff problem. At some point today, I’d have to get creative. Maybe even perform a miracle.
But first, coffee.
No, I couldn’t really afford four dollars for a small latte. Yes, there was free coffee at work. Still, Java Junction was calling my name, and I just couldn’t ignore it.
It was the best coffee shop in Copper Ridge, and not because it was the only true café in town, though that certainly helped.
The décor was simple and cheerful, they had the most amazing homemade cinnamon rolls on the planet, and every fall they served my favorite pumpkin spice latte—one of the few little luxuries I allowed myself.
And since it was almost out of season, I’d take as much of it as I could get.
My phone buzzed as I walked through the door, the bell overhead jingling. Olivia’s name lit the screen.
The electricity is back! Thanks miracle worker.
Finally. Sure, throwing the overdue bill onto my credit card only delayed the disaster instead of fixing it, but picturing my sisters waking up to heat and lights made it worth it.
I stepped into the short line, still smiling at my phone, and typed out my reply.
Sorry it took so long. Love you, O.
The line moved forward, bringing me face-to-face with the beaming barista, and I made the spontaneous, and maybe slightly irrational, decision to change my order. “Can I get a medium pumpkin spice latte, please?”
Why not? Miracle workers deserved to treat themselves occasionally. And it could’ve been worse—I could’ve ordered a large.
I stepped aside to wait for my drink, glancing back down at my phone as the little typing dots beside Olivia’s name appeared and disappeared.
“Hey, Melina.”
My entire body lit up at the sound of his voice. A shiver rolled over my skin, down my spine, straight between my legs, and suddenly breathing became something I had to think about.
Zane stood a few feet away, his forest green eyes laser-focused on me. The ends of his damp hair curled around the collar of his flannel, and his sun-kissed skin glowed despite the gray November morning outside.
It should’ve been illegal for a man to look this good. Especially this man. Especially when I was completely unprepared for him.
The warmth in his gaze hit me low and hard, turning every shameless tingle into a slow, needy ache.
“Hi.” God, why did I have to sound so breathless?
“On your way to work?” The corner of his mouth lifted as his eyes roamed over my face, tracing my lips and making me feel strangely exposed.
It was an intoxicating feeling.
One that I liked far too much.
Someone brushed past us on their way out of the café, bumping my shoulder and knocking me forward. Zane caught my elbow, steadying me and guiding me away from the crowded pickup counter. Even through the layer of my old wool coat, his touch set me on fire.
How long had it been since someone made me feel this way—warm, wanted, and alive?
Too damn long.
But we were in a busy coffee shop in the middle of town, and my body was a damn traitor.
Taking a giant step out of his orbit, I forced my brain back online. He’d asked me a question about something…
Work. Right. The thing I should be focused on, and the reason staring into his enticing, forest-colored gaze was a bad, bad idea.
“Yes, I’m actually running a little late.” I sounded a hell of a lot more confident than I felt. “And I think my order might be up.”
“Melina, wait.” His hand closed gently around my elbow again. “Listen, about the other day…” His gaze dropped away from mine.
Was he nervous?
Couldn’t be. This was Zane all-the-ladies-want-me Alexander. A man with effortless charm.
Yet when he reached back to rub his neck, there was a tremor in his hand. And he hesitated before meeting my gaze again through his thick lashes. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
Sorry.
The word was a cold slap against my ridiculously overheated skin. He was sorry, and I was so very, very pathetic.
“Me too.” My spine snapped straight. “Sorry I made myself your charity case. But don’t worry, it won’t ever happen again.”
Screw this. I needed his pity like I needed another overdue bill.
Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away from him, shoving through the café door and hurrying toward my car, my pulse pounding so hard it hurt.
The engine sputtered when I turned the key.
“Seriously?” I hissed.
It finally roared to life a second later, and I peeled out of the parking lot before I could completely lose my mind.
Breathe. Just breathe.
I forced myself to ease off the gas. I couldn’t afford a speeding ticket. Or an accident. Or a full emotional breakdown on my way to work.
But God, I was furious.
At Zane for making me feel so weak and pitiful. At the universe for making my life so hard. At myself for reacting so explosively again. And most of all, at my unhinged body, because despite all the hot, uncontrolled fury brewing inside me, I was still inexplicably turned on.
By the time I pulled into the resort parking lot, I’d managed to wrestle myself into something resembling control. Sort of.
I still had weddings to coordinate, a catering disaster to solve, and a noon meeting with Eric Alexander about the Winter Festival promotion schedule. He’d already sent two follow-up emails since yesterday, each one polite yet urgent in that infuriating way only an Alexander could pull off.
If I could focus on my to-do list, everything else would be fine. I’d make damn sure of it.
Losing my composure at work, especially over a man, would not happen again.
The second I walked through the lobby doors, chaos slammed into me. Cassandra was once again alone at the front desk, but this time, the lobby was not a quiet oasis. The open space was buzzing with activity, and the poor girl looked ready to bolt.
“I was promised a view of the Bay,” a woman complained, her voice the loudest in the room. “All I can see are trees.”
I hadn’t even taken off my coat yet. Still, I couldn’t leave the new girl to drown.
“Excuse us a moment,” I said to the complainer before pulling Cassandra aside. “I’ll handle this one. You can help the next gentleman in line.”
“Oh my God, is that Cole Beckett?” she whispered, her eyes growing wide.
“I have no idea who that is.”
“He was in that Netflix series everyone was obsessed with last year.” She looked personally offended by my confusion. “And he’s even better looking in person.”
On reflex, I glanced over.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, wearing an expensive coat and an expression like he knew every woman in the place was staring. Probably because they were. And right now, that included me.
Okay, so he was objectively attractive. In a traditional sort of way.
But he still wasn’t Zane.
Which was honestly becoming a problem.
“Well,” I said, trying to rein Cassandra in. “We do get famous people staying with us from time to time. Just remember to act professionally. Treat him as you would any other guest—be warm, friendly, and most of all, respectful.”
She nodded so aggressively any hope for professionalism was already gone.
Turning back to the upset guest, I slipped into customer-service mode while she repeated her complaint about her luxury cabin. She was being rude about it, but I could still empathize. Not because it was my job, but because something about the reservation had snagged my attention.
The booking had originally been for two guests. Now it was one.
And being alone sucked.
I handled the issue as quickly as possible, promised complimentary wine I was now deeply jealous of, and smoothed over another guest complaint before finally checking back on Cassandra.
She was one step away from climbing over the desk and proposing marriage to the actor. But at least the line was gone. And for now, she was staying put.
I finally shrugged out of my coat and headed toward the guest services office, exhaustion weighing down every step. It wasn’t even midmorning, and I already felt wrung out.
Maybe that’s why I was completely unprepared when I walked in on Becky rifling through my files. “What are you doing?”
She jumped, her panicked gaze colliding with mine before she smoothed her expression into one of exaggerated boredom. “I was looking for your list of catering companies.”
My stomach knotted. “What for?”
“I was trying to do you a favor.” She pursed her bright-red lips and stood taller to face me.
“A favor?”
“Yes, Melina. It’s a thing people do to help each other.” She crossed her arms. “The rep from Noma called and threatened to pull their sponsorship of the Winter Festival if you didn’t have the additional catering staff in place by tomorrow.”
The breath stalled in my lungs. “But that’s impossible.” Wasn’t it? “I just checked in with them a few days ago.”
“Really?” Her eyes narrowed to an evil glare. “You’re not going to thank me? God, Melina, way to prove everyone right. You really are the ice queen.”
Becky was over-the-top dramatic, and I’d already suspected some of my coworkers thought of me this way, but I’d always passed it off with no time to worry about gossip. Still, her words stung.
I wasn’t cold. I was efficient. Well organized and professional.
And right now, completely defeated. Why would Noma want to pull their sponsorship?
A knock sounded on the open door behind me. Startled, I whirled to find Zane looking like a pissed-off superhero come to save the day. He was standing so close I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin, and once again, my body erupted with tingles.
“Hey, firecracker,” he murmured, his expression more ferocious than I’d ever seen. “You forgot your latte.”
He held out a paper cup with the Java Junction logo and my name scrawled across it. But all I could manage was to stand and stare.
Until he pushed the latte a little closer.
I reached for it, my fingers brushing over his, and a jolt of electricity rushed through me from the contact, lighting me up and making me shiver.
His green eyes flared.
And then he was kissing me.
There was no warning. His mouth came down hot and possessive, like a lightning strike, and sent pure bliss shooting through me.
It was unexpected. Uncontrollable. Completely wild.
And when I kissed him back, so was I.