Chapter Nine
Melina
Zane might not have known where he was leading me, but after sending a quick text to Olivia telling her not to wait up, I followed him anyway.
It was probably foolish. But after another brutal week of work and worry, all I wanted was one night to breathe. One night without thinking about my promotion, my plans, or the constant fear that I was letting everyone down.
Maybe it was a lot to expect from a single night out. Especially since the date itself was one of the things causing me so much stress. Still, I wanted to try.
One date with Zane one-night-wonder Alexander.
What could it hurt? Being careful didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun. Right?
Besides, I owed him. The catering company he’d found to fill my staffing needs was local, way under budget, and had completely salvaged the event. The Noma rep hadn’t mentioned pulling their sponsorship again. In fact, they hadn’t complained at all—almost like Becky had made the whole thing up.
A date was really the least I could do to repay him. Plus, I’d given him my word, and as much as I’d second-guessed it, I would never go back on that.
“You hungry?” he asked, guiding me toward the back exit.
“Not really. I had a late lunch. But give me a few hours and I’ll be starving.” I pressed my lips together before I could keep rambling. If I wasn’t careful, my mouth was going to get me into trouble.
Trouble like admitting I’d wasted an entire week dodging this date because the thought of being alone with him terrified me more than any overdue bill or angry client ever had. Or that I’d spent the last year fantasizing about him. My cheeks heated at the thought.
“Okay.” He smiled, holding the door as we stepped into the chill of the early evening. “Then I’ve got the perfect plan.”
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it. “You really weren’t kidding about making this up as you go.”
His arm hooked around my shoulders, drawing me gently to his side, and close enough for his breath to brush my ear. “I was really hoping to impress you, but I’m kind of new at this whole dating thing. So, can you please do me a favor and just play along, even if I screw it up?”
My heart stuttered.
He was trying to keep things light, but the sincerity underneath the teasing hit harder than the joke. Hard enough that instead of pulling away like I should’ve, I leaned into him even more, soaking up the warmth of his body against mine.
“Don’t worry. My last date took me to Rusty’s, so I shouldn’t be too hard to impress.”
His arm tightened around me. “Rusty’s Bar? What kind of idiot takes a woman like you to a dive like that?”
The sharp edge in his voice sent a spark of heat through me.
Was that a hint of jealousy?
God help me, I liked the sound of it. And even though this thing between us was temporary, that feeling was something I could get used to. A feeling I wished could last.
“It wasn’t a real date,” I said, smiling despite myself. “My friend Avery took me there for drinks last Saturday. We might have had a few too many.”
“That’s disappointing.” His voice dropped to a low, teasing rumble. “I was hoping you remembered our conversation that night. Or at least the part where you begged me to come over.”
Shit. There it was. The one topic I’d hoped to avoid. But instead of embarrassment clawing up my throat, something inside me loosened.
“I did not beg,” I choked out through a laugh.
“I’m pretty sure you did. I believe the exact words you used were, I want you to come over and I’m willing to beg.”
“No, I did not!” I argued, even though I remembered damn well that I had.
His laugh was bold and infectious. It traveled through me, burning away another layer of my resistance.
“It’s okay, it’ll be our little secret. I promise not to tell anyone how badly you want me.”
“Zane.” I nudged him in the side. “I was drunk.”
“Sure, I know.” He brushed a kiss against my temple before his lips grazed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “Doesn’t mean it wasn’t true, though.”
Damn him.
How was I supposed to survive an entire night with him when I was already fighting the urge to start begging again?
“I think we should keep alcohol off the menu tonight.” I pushed away from him and immediately felt the cold rush in to fill the space between us.
He let me go without protest, but reached out to take my hand, lacing our fingers together. “No alcohol,” he agreed. “I’m taking you on the official tour.”
“Tour? Of what?”
“Copper Ridge Resort.” He flashed me his gorgeous smile and winked. “I’ve got insider VIP access.”
“Um, Zane.” My pace slowed, and I tugged back on his hand as I scanned the area around us to see who might be watching. “I’m pretty sure I know about all our amenities…it’s kind of my job.”
“Trust me, the things I’m about to show you are not on the brochure. And don’t worry,” he said, seeming to catch the apprehension in my tone. “There won’t be any management around. We’re keeping it discreet, just like you asked.”
With a deep, shaky breath, I gave in, allowing him to lead me toward the ice rink, hand in hand.
“First up is our one-of-a-kind skating rink.”
I shook my head, trying hard to chase away my ever-present worry. But damn those feelings were a stubborn bitch. “It’s just a frozen pond. I’ve seen it before, and there’s really nothing too special about it.”
“Oh, but you’re wrong. Follow me.”
Without further explanation, he pulled me around the side of the skate rental shop and knocked on the Employees Only door. A moment later, a cute teenage boy with white-blond hair and ice-blue eyes answered.
“Jasper!” Zane greeted with a blinding smile. “How’s it going, my man?”
“Hey, Zane. What’s up?”
My gaze flashed back and forth between them.
How did they know each other? I’d worked at the resort for almost five years, and Lucy had taken free skating lessons here since I’d started, but I’d never seen this kid before.
And was it even possible this was the same Jasper who’d asked her to the Winter Festival Dance?
“Brought my girl Melina to see the hidden attractions.”
My girl.
God, those two little words…
Said so casually, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Not like he was trying to impress me, but like he meant it. I wasn’t ready to unpack what those words did to me.
And I definitely wasn’t ready to admit how much I wanted them to be true.
“That’s cool. I owe you one anyway.” Jasper tipped his chin toward me. “What size do you take?”
“Huh?”
“What size skate, firecracker?” Zane’s thumb stroked over the back of my hand.
I told him, and within seconds, Jasper was handing us each a pair of brand-new-looking ice skates. Still a bit confused, I followed Zane’s lead, changing into our borrowed skates and heading out to the frozen pond.
There were a few other couples circling around the rink, some graceful, some wobbling through uneven turns beneath the floodlights. But the second my feet hit the ice, everyone else seemed to fade away.
Once again, Zane linked his fingers with mine, and we glided across the slick surface together. At first, my legs felt stiff with nerves, but before we’d even completed a full loop, my body had found the right rhythm, and my mind started to let go.
“This was a great idea,” I said through a sigh.
The floodlights suddenly snapped off.
I gasped as we were plunged into darkness. But just as quickly, the glitter of twinkle lights sparked to life around us, lighting up the night. Hundreds of strands of golden lights were strung between the trees and through the branches, creating a canopy of glowing stars overhead.
I slowed to a stop without meaning to.
How had I never noticed this before? Green Mountain rose in silhouette against the moon, the warm glow of the hotel barely visible through the trees, and the rink—this simple frozen pond I’d dismissed only minutes ago—had been transformed into something out of a fairy tale.
“Zane,” I breathed. “This is beautiful.”
“Told you it wasn’t on the brochure.” His voice was soft. Maybe even pleased. Like watching my reaction was the whole point.
Music drifted through hidden speakers, the beat low and smooth. Before I could think too hard about it, I let go of Zane’s hand and raised my arms, letting the melody carry me across the ice.
For the first time in weeks, I felt light and relaxed.
Then Zane’s hands settled around my waist from behind.
A laugh escaped me as I startled, my feet slipping out from under me. But he caught me effortlessly, rocking with me to the beat and turning my stumble into part of our rhythm. I dropped my hands to cover his, and we slid around the ice in a seductive slow dance.
When he started singing along under his breath, the sound wrapped around me like heat. The lyrics were a little suggestive, but coming from him, they became something hypnotic. His chest vibrated against my back. His breath brushed my neck.
My pulse kicked hard.
And when the lyrics turned to love, and he sang them without hesitation, something inside me tipped dangerously off balance. A crack ran through the wall I’d spent the last year building, and for one terrifying, exhilarating second, I didn’t want to fix it.
I was in trouble.
Really big, very bad trouble.
Eventually the song ended, blending seamlessly into the next, and we continued moving around the rink in a slow, steady glide, my blood still pumping hard.
“You’re really good at this,” he murmured, his voice low and close enough to undo me.
“Thank you. You’re not too bad yourself.”
“Wow, I think that was almost a compliment.” He laughed.
Twisting in his arms, I looked back at him over my shoulder. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Too late.”
I grinned. “It’s not even the first one I’ve given you…I seem to remember sending you a text along the lines of, you are the best.”
“Ah, so now the truth comes out. You do remember that conversation.”
“Nope.” I winked, the corners of my mouth tugging even wider. “Don’t remember a thing.”
His laugh broke free again, and while he was distracted, I spun out of his hold and pushed harder against the ice. I picked up speed until it felt like I was flying. My hair whipped around me, the wind rushed in my ears, and my heart raced with exhilaration.
It was like a game of chase. The same sort of game we’d been playing all week. Him in pursuit, and me escaping. Only now, I wanted to be caught.
Feeling brave, I used my momentum to test a spin. Then another and another. I was spinning and floating and feeling like nothing could hold me back.
For one perfect, breathless minute, I was untouchable.
Light and happy.
Happy.
When was the last time I could say that?
Then my skate caught awkwardly beneath me, and pain exploded through my tailbone as I hit the ice flat on my ass. Tears sprang instantly to my eyes, but I laughed instead, even while the ache radiated through me. Because if I stopped laughing the irony might break me.
This was exactly how it felt to fall for Zane too-good-to-be-true Alexander.
Briefly exhilarating.
Followed by inevitable doom.