Chapter Fifteen
Melina
Dead. My poor old Honda was completely fucking dead.
I turned my key in the ignition for a fifth time, stomping the gas pedal repeatedly like that would somehow help. But I didn’t need to hear the lifeless clicking noise again to know exactly what would happen.
Nothing.
“Come on, you stupid piece of shit,” I cried, trying it one more time, praying for a different result.
But no such luck.
I clenched my fists around the wheel and squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to slow my rapid pulse. How was I still breathing when it felt like there was no oxygen? I fumbled with the handle, pushing the door open to the fresh burst of winter air, and dragged in the largest lungful I could manage.
Get yourself together, Melina.
I was going to be late for work, there was no way around it, but it didn’t have to be the end of the world. How many times had this ever happened, besides never?
After a few more cleansing breaths, and with my nerves under control, I fished my phone out of my purse and dialed the guest services office, hoping Lydia would be there to pick up.
The phone rang twice before someone answered, “Hello?”
“Becky?” Damn, why her? Why now? And where the hell was her professional greeting?
“Oh hey, Melina,” she cooed as though happy to hear from me, which was at the very least a lie, and at worst, a trap waiting to spring shut on me. “I thought you’d be here by now. Don’t you start at eight?”
One more deep breath filled my lungs as I pushed the corners of my unwilling mouth into a stiff smile. “Yes, but I’ve run into a bit of car trouble, and it looks like I’ll be late.”
“Geez, that does sound like a difficult situation.” Her tone was sugar sweet, and I disliked her just a tiny bit more because of it. “But do you really think you can afford to be late? Today of all days?”
It took a moment for her meaning to register.
Carriage rides, snickerdoodles, and everything Zane best-distraction-ever Alexander had dominated my thoughts all morning. I’d completely forgotten this was one of the most important days of my career.
This was the day I was scheduled to present the details of my final plan for the Noma event, including the Winter Festival Dance, to my bosses.
They’d give their seal of approval, and I’d move on to the next step of my career.
It was a formality, really—my proposal was already approved by the client, and Lydia had checked in with me every step of the way—but it was my chance to make a good impression and set myself on the fast track to promotion.
I wanted to wow them. But first, I needed to get there.
“I won’t be that late,” I told Becky, silently panicking over what to do.
I could call a cab, but even with the short distance from town to the resort, I couldn’t afford it.
Payday was still four days away, and I was already flat broke.
I could try calling Avery, but she’d probably still be sleeping, and with the crazy hours my best friend worked, I’d hate to wake her.
But I’d have to pick one of those options because they were the only ones I had.
“It sounds like you have your hands full to me,” Becky said with a little more bite to her tone. “But if it’s too much for you to handle, I can take over the presentation for you. We’ll call it a favor. What else are coworker friends for?”
Friends? I couldn’t hold back my laugh. “Call it whatever you want, you’re not stealing my presentation. I have plenty of time to make it there before the meeting starts, so please, do not do me any favors.”
She made a noise of offended protest, but I was done with her fake courtesies and every other fake thing about her.
“I’ll be there, Becky,” I growled. “I can handle a hell of a lot more than you think.”
With nothing left to say to her and no more time to waste, I hung up.
My hands were shaking. Not from panic this time—from anger.
Hot, righteous, long-overdue anger. I’d spent months tiptoeing around that woman, swallowing her snide comments and underhanded jabs, and for what?
She wanted to take credit for my work. She wanted my promotion. And she’d take both if she could.
No way in hell would I let her.
I popped the hood of my car, deciding to take a quick peek, hoping the problem was something simple. But after a few minutes of inept poking, I knew even if the issue was the most obvious thing on the planet, I still wouldn’t have the first flipping clue. Hell, I barely knew how to check the oil.
It was hopeless.
I wiped my hands on my coat. The car would need a professional, and by the time it was fixed, I’d need to find a second job to pay the bill.
What was I going to do?
“Need a lift?”
I spun around. Zane’s truck was parked across the street, and he was already jogging toward me, his breath fogging in the cold air. The sight of him—broad shoulders, easy grin, that effortless confidence—sent a rush of tingles straight to my most sensitive spots.
“What’s going on?” His brow furrowed as he looked from me to the open hood.
“I have no idea.” I waved toward my broken-down car, but also meaning his magical appearance. Because really…what were the odds?
He leaned over the exposed engine, taking a cursory glance. “Yeah, me neither. Cars aren’t really my thing.”
“I only know how to drive them.” I shrugged, still feeling like I was lost in a dream. A vivid, ridiculous fantasy where the most handsome man I knew had just ridden in to save the day.
“I’ve got a buddy who can look at it for you if you want. He can probably get you in today.”
The bubble popped, bringing me back to the cost of reality.
My list of expenses kept growing. How much room did I even have left on my credit card? Even split into monthly payments, I had no idea if I could afford the repair. But I couldn’t afford not to fix it, either.
“Don’t worry,” Zane said, as if he could see exactly where my mind had gone. “It won’t cost you a dime to have him take a look. He’s honest and won’t rip you off.”
“Zane?”
He angled his body toward me, crossing his strong arms over his solid chest, and hit me with a panty-melting smile. “Yeah, firecracker?”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
He chuckled, the deep sound making my entire body shiver, and took a step closer. And then another and another. Until we were standing toe to toe.
He leaned down, his mouth brushing across my cheek. “You are adorable when you’re feisty, and I like it a whole hell of a lot.” His lips grazed my ear, and a shiver rolled through me. “Nate called. Said he overheard your conversation with Becky and thought you could use a hand. So here I am.”
“You drove across town before eight in the morning just to help me?” But even as I asked, I already knew the answer.
This was the man I knew him to be. The man who, under the playboy reputation, had a heart of gold. Zane swoon-worthy Alexander. And he’d come to my rescue, not even knowing what he was saving me from.
His smile softened, a look of wonder crossing his features. “Melina, I would drive across the country all day and all night if I thought you needed me.”
The words hit me square in the chest. For a second, I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t swallow. Couldn’t do anything but stand there and feel the weight of what he’d just said settle over me.
No one had ever said anything like that to me before. Not once.
“That was not the answer I was expecting.” I blinked hard, willing myself to hold my shit together. “But it’s a good one.”
He slipped a hand around my waist, pulling me tight to his sturdy frame, and dropped a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’m glad you like it.”
Did I ever. With my body, heart, and soul. Hell, if I studied it hard enough, I might even say I loved it. But I didn’t have time to get lost in emotion or to allow my physical desire for him to get carried away.
My promotion was on the line, and if I wanted it, I’d need to focus hard and grab it.
“Can you drive me to work, please?” I asked, moving back out of his hold and away from temptation.
“Sure, I can. But you might want to change your coat first.”
I looked down the front of me where a giant grease stain was prominently displayed in two long streaks down the center of my coat. Right where I’d wiped my hands.
“Shit,” I cursed, mentally chastising myself for being so careless. “Stay right here. I’ll be two minutes.”
I dashed toward the house, leaving Zane’s light laughter behind me. As I was partway up the step, the front door opened and my dad shuffled onto the porch, his cane tapping out his awkward stride.
“Car…t-troubles?” he stammered as I rushed toward him, but his eyes weren’t on me or the Honda. His unsteady gaze was zeroed in on Zane.
“Yeah, it won’t start.” I hesitated beside him for a moment. “I need to get a new coat from my room. Please be nice.”
He cocked his head toward me, raising the one eyebrow he seemed to have the best control over. “When am I e-ever…not nice?”