Page 17

Chapter 17

AMBER

“Zack…” I whisper, but the words catch in my throat. Everything he told me is still sinking in, shifting how I see him—and how I see us. I had no idea. Of course, I didn’t, and that was the whole problem.

My heart aches for him, now that I have the context for his past behavior that I had assumed was just carelessness.

Zack won’t look at me, but he hasn’t let go of my hand. That’s a good sign, I think. I reach over and take his chin gently, turning his face toward mine. His eyes flicker up to mine, shining and sad.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” I tell him firmly. “And I appreciate your honesty. I know how hard it is for you to be open about these things, but you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

I offer him a small, encouraging smile. It’s returned just as gently.

“That’s good to hear.” Zack’s voice is shaky, and my heart breaks all over again as I realize how much this must have been weighing on him. How deep the pain of his childhood reaches.

Then a mischievous look crosses his face. “We have the day off tomorrow, right? Let’s get dinner.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Zack Colt, are you asking me on a date?”

“It doesn’t have to be, if you don’t want it to be,” Zack says, looking suddenly unsure. “I was just thinking that I wasn’t going to see you tomorrow, and I didn’t like the sound of that.”

I melt inside. “I would love that.” Then a thought occurs to me. I bite my lip nervously. “But what if someone sees us? I mean, Red Oak is a small town. I bet word travels fast around here.”

Zack waves off my concerns. “I know a place, don’t worry. When you get followed by paparazzi, you start to learn a town’s secret spots.”

“We have to worry about paparazzi ?” I gasp. The thought hadn’t even occurred to me, but it makes sense.

Whoever’s doing the PR for the Blades is really on top of it. I’ve seen a lot of promotional material around Red Oak and online. The top players, like Zack, are the team’s big stars. I bet he’d get recognized as far away as Detroit.

“No, we don’t.” Zack laughs and brings our joined hands to his mouth, kissing mine quickly. It sends heat sizzling through me, and I bite my lip again. “I’ve got it all under control. I’ll pick you up around six?”

I nod breathlessly, unable to form words for the moment. Zack smiles crookedly, pleased with the effect he has on me. Then he tugs me to my feet. “Come on. Let’s get back before anyone misses us.”

Tomorrow can’t arrive soon enough.

An hour or so before my date with Zack, I stand in front of my closet in my underwear, completely at a loss. I mostly packed work clothes for Red Oak, but even if I had my full closet, I still wouldn’t know what to wear. It’s been so long since I’ve been on a date.

I cast my mind back, trying to remember the last time I went out with anyone, even a friend. I land on my senior year of college, going to a restaurant to celebrate my roommate’s twenty-first birthday. But that doesn’t help me much, because it was the spring, and I’m pretty sure I had borrowed the sparkly pink dress I wore.

I sit down on my bed, frustrated. It’s a little embarrassing that I haven’t been out in almost seven years. But I’ve been so focused on work, and before that I was focused on school… but I got my dream job, and that job led me here. So in the end, it was worth it.

But none of that gets me any closer to figuring out what I’m going to wear tonight.

With a groan, I get back up and dig through my closet for the third time, hoping something will miraculously appear.

At the very back is a dress that I haven’t worn since I got here – it’s plain, deep green with gold buttons all the way down the front. And short sleeves, which is why it hasn’t made an appearance at the hockey rink. It’s not very sexy, but it’ll have to do.

I pull the dress over my head and add a pair of black tights before slipping on the sensible tan ankle boots I wear to work every day. I only brought two pairs of shoes, but I don’t think my ratty gym sneakers are the right choice to go with this outfit.

I stand in front of the mirror, smoothing down my collar and fussing with the way the skirt hangs. I feel like I’m going to the office, but it’s the fanciest I’m going to get. I make sure to add my biggest gold hoops and some lipstick, but I still look the same way I do every day.

Well, that’s what Zack likes, I remind myself. It’s not like he’s never seen me before. And I’ve made an effort to dress up for our date. Surely it’s the thought that counts.

There’s a knock at the door, and I run to get it. Rising up on my toes to check through the peephole, I see Zack standing outside in a leather jacket, and my heart catches in my throat.

He’s leaning against the doorframe like he belongs in a movie—dark hair falling into his eyes, leather jacket perfectly rumpled. Then he looks right at me, almost as if he can see me through the door, and smiles.

I let out an involuntary squeak and drop back down to the floor. The effect this man has on me is honestly unfair. I yank the door open, looking up to meet Zack’s gaze. “Hi,” I say a little breathlessly. “Let me just get my coat.”

Zack takes a few slow, meandering steps into my apartment while I grab my coat off the back of the couch. I glance over at him, and he gives me another mind-erasing smile, almost making me drop my purse. But I manage to pull myself together and follow Zack out to his car.

He takes us to a little restaurant, definitely off the beaten path in the next town up the highway. When we go inside, the atmosphere is warm and cheery. Zack purposely started our date later in the evening to avoid other diners.

The hostess takes us back to a private seating area in the corner behind a decorative screen. This all looks very planned.

I smile at Zack as he takes off the beanie and scarf he'd put on before getting out of the car — part of his "privacy" garb. I really am impressed with all the measures he's taken to protect our off limits date by keeping "us" out of the limelight.

Our professional futures, especially mine, depend on it for now.

My mouth immediately starts watering at the scent of bread and spices, and, once at our table, I see a giant metal pot sitting in the middle of it.

I glance at my menu, which has Melt written across the top in a swirling yellow font. “What is this place?” I skim the menu and am immediately overwhelmed by the options.

I exclaim, “Oh, I get it…I didn’t know there were so many kinds of fondue !”

“Do you trust me?” I glance up to find Zack looking at me with a sparkle in his eye.

“Yes, of course,” I answer immediately. To my surprise, it’s completely true. I don’t know if it’s just because of our talk yesterday, but I’m finding it easier and easier to be around Zack.

“Then let me order, and you can just come along for the ride.” Zack reaches across the table and squeezes my hand gently. “Sound good?”

I normally pride myself on being a strong and independent woman who would never let a man order her food, but this menu has gotten the best of me.

“Absolutely. I can’t wait to see what you have planned.” I smile widely at Zack, and he smiles back.

It turns out that what he has planned is a massive amount of delicious food. We start off with a hot honey cheese with cubes of toasted bread, followed by a salad with cranberries and walnuts. For the main course, we get a pile of meats and vegetables that we cook at the table in a spicy garlic broth.

We talk about everything and nothing.

Having to do something while we eat helps keep us both at ease. We laugh together when Zack’s perfectly coated red pepper falls into the cheese pot, and I help him fish it out with my tongs.

I cut every piece of chicken in half to make sure it’s cooked all the way through, while Zack is tossing bites of rare steak into his mouth and sighing with pleasure.

Finally, they bring out the melted chocolate for dessert. I’m full to bursting, but when Zack holds out a chocolate-dipped strawberry with a boyish grin, I can't resist. He remembers they’re my favorite.

Afterwards, we decide to walk off some of our delicious dinner. Zack’s hand finds mine immediately, and we head down the street to a nearby park. Our conversation has trailed off, but I find myself content with the silence, enjoying Zack’s company.

“Amber…” Zack stops, turning to face me. “This is the nicest night I’ve had in a really long time. And I’m so happy you’re here with me.”

He reaches down to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, and his hand lingers on my cheek. “Me, too,” I whisper. “I can’t remember the last time I felt like this.”

Zack leans in slowly, like he’s giving me time to pull away—but I don’t. I close my eyes, and when our lips meet, the rest of the world fades. All I feel is warmth– steady and sure–curling through me like something I’ve been waiting for.

I wind my arms around Zack’s neck and pull him closer, never wanting this moment under the moonlight to end.