“What?” she asked innocently. “Just checking on yourerrand.”
Fiona fanned herself dramatically. “That was no errand.”
Beck lifted his drink. “That was a community event.”
I tried to hide a smile and failed.
The waitress reappeared, setting new drinks in front of us. “Second round’s on the house,” she said cheerfully. “Management says any kiss that gets the whole room clapping is worth celebrating.”
Sienna held her head in her hands.
I touched her elbow lightly. “Hey.”
She looked up, eyes wide, flustered, and devastatingly endearing.
“You okay?” I asked.
“No,” she whispered. “Yes. Maybe. No. Definitely no.”
I smiled, and her eyes steadied on mine.
“But also… maybe yes?”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Me too.”
For the first time since arriving in Buttercup Lake, I felt something shift under my feet. It wasn’t dangerous like the ridge, the bears, the wolves, or the unexpected snow.
It was something gentler and warmer.
It was something I’d stopped letting myself imagine years ago, a beginning.
She caught me staring and blinked quickly, flustered again. “We’re never living this down.”
“Probably not,” I said.
Her lips curved, and mine did too.
Chapter Nineteen
Sienna
By the time I made it to the main lodge kitchen the next morning, I had convinced myself,truly convinced myself, that last night’s kiss had been blown entirely out of proportion by everyone except me.
Sure, the entire Hungry Buck supper club had applauded.
Sure, Beck had posted something cryptic on the lodge group chat.
Sure, Violet texted me twenty-seven heart-eye emojis at 11 p.m.
Sure, I barely slept.
But none of that meant anything.
We were coworkers.
Coworkers who had accidentally kissed.
Coworkers who had kissed in public because I wasn’t thinking straight, and he smelled good.
