Zack saw the pause as she thought of what to say next.
“His family’s farm provides a lot of the produce we use here. When we open the restaurant next year I’m hoping they’ll be the main supplier.” Her face flickered with concern. “And he’s a friend too. A good friend.” She bit her lips together, her go-to tic when she was nervous.
Zack felt the man’s eyes assess him. “Lucky man to have you as a good friend.” He gave a slight nod. “I’d best get packed. I’ll make sure I’m booked in again for a return visit. It’s been superb.”
“Thank you,” she said, this time her smile was more relaxed. “Hey.”
He gave her a nod. “Hey.”
The silence was awkward.
No one else was in the room. He took two paces towards her and dropped his head so he could be closer to her.
“I really want to touch you but I don’t know if that’s what you want. I’m worried I’m going to scare you away,” he said quietly.
“Oh,” she said. “I…”
He put his hands on her waist and gave her a light kiss, not a quick one, but not enough to make anyone who walked in walk back out again.
“You should’ve woken me. I’d have made you coffee,” he said. Waking up alone was not something he wanted when he’d gone to sleep with her in bed with him.
Her hands went to his shoulders, to hold, not to push him away. Her face was free of make-up, leaving her looking young and fresh-faced.
“It was really early and you were sleeping soundly. And,” she paused, “I needed some space. Are you heading to the farm?”
He nodded. “I’ll give Jake a hand then come back here if you still have time to come with us for your tree?”
“You’re sure it isn’t illegal?”
His arms went a little bit tighter around her waist. “Have you got a spare room for five minutes?”
“Sure. Room three down there,” she said, gesturing to the room that had once been two bedrooms that had belonged to twin sisters who had since passed away.
She opened the door with a master key, leading him to a suite he’d not seen before. It was a huge space with a four-poster bed and then a sitting area, complete with a corner sofa and a wall mounted TV. There were French doors leading out onto what was currently a snow covered patio. In spring and summer it would be spectacular, as the view was of the peaks in the distance.
“I feel like we’re sneaking around so our parents don’t catch us but I don’t want to embarrass you. Or scare you off. I mean,” he stumbled, “if last night was just a one-night thing for you, then that’s fine… You know…”
“Zack,” she said, walking closer to him and putting her hand on the side of his face. He turned his head so he could kiss her palm. The gesture suggested she didn’t want this to be a one-night stand. “I’m not a one-night stand person. Not that I think there’s anything wrong with that…”
“Good to know. Two nights?” He wondered if he sounded desperate.
“Is that your way of asking me out again?”
“Yep.” His arms were back round her now, one hand on her ass. “But you’re coming tree cutting with us?”
“Yes.” She was relaxing in his hold, her tits pressing against his chest.
“And tonight, will you come into the town for the Christmas light switch on?” he said. Most towns and cities turned their lights on early, some in November, a lot on December first. Severton left it late although most houses were already decorated, the official lighting up was always a couple of weeks before Christmas Eve.
“Abby has said she’d cover here,” Sorrell said. “So I can have the night off. We’re quiet anyway this weekend.”
“What’s the new definition of quiet?” he said. They’d talked about how she had booked out more rooms than she’d anticipated and how she needed to reevaluate her business plan to allow for more staff to be introduced sooner rather than later.
“Ten rooms full tonight. But next weekend we have twenty-three full. And then I have some peace,” she said. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“I can give you a hand next weekend.” Zack wondered where the words had come from and why he hadn’t thought about them first. Imposing himself on her was not the plan.
“I should be okay. I have it covered staff-wise. I hate staying at places that are understaffed; I think it looks bad,” she said. “But we’re talking about work.”
