Page 31 of The Hotshot's Prize
She’s short, wiry, with a shock of wild ginger curls, thick eyeliner, and a clipboard tucked under one arm like it’s part of her anatomy.
“Don’t stop on my account,” she chirps, clearly enjoying every second of our awkward scramble.
Ella groans. “Tessa.”
“Yup,” the redhead says, popping thep. “That’s me. Hi.” She flashes me a look up and down, and then shoots Ella a thumbs-up. “You must be thehothotshot slash mountain man.”
“Zack,” I say with a smirk, already liking her. “You must be the infamous best friend.”
“The one and only. I’d shake your hand but—” She gestures to the flowers I’m still holding, the bandage on my other hand, and Ella’s death grip on my shirt. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full.”
Ella practically hides her face in my chest.
I can’t help the grin tugging at my mouth. “She’s not wrong.”
“I hate you,” Ella mumbles into my jacket.
Tessa waves her off. “Sure you do. Anyway, I came to check if you were alive, and clearly you are. So. Carry on.” She turns to leave with a dramatic flair, but pauses and glances over her shoulder. “Unless Romeo here is planning on stealing you away?”
“That’s actually what I came for,” I say, shifting to face Ella. “Come with me.”
“Right now?” she asks, her eyes widening.
“Right now,” I say, nodding. “I want time with you. Just us. Let me take you out.”
She glances down at her jeans and oversized flannel. “I’m not exactly dressed for a date, Zack.”
I smile. “What you have on is great—you look amazing. I know just the place.”
Her brows draw together like she’s about to argue again, but Tessa throws her a look, waving her clipboard. “Go. I’ll cover your shift. If I see one more photo of a goddamn owl I’m gonna scream anyway.”
Ella hesitates. Looks between the two of us. Then sighs and throws her hands up. “Fine.”
But I catch her smile before she turns, and my heart lurches. I take her hand and lead her out of the building. We don’t speak as we walk, but the silence is full…comfortable, tense, charged. Like something’s building again.
At the truck, I open the door for her, watching her slide into the passenger seat with a soft flush on her cheeks. I lean in, drop the bouquet in her lap, and kiss her. Quick, firm, but full of promise of what’s to come.
She looks dazed when I pull back.
I shut the door and jog around to the driver’s side, grinning like a fool.
Once I start the engine, she looks at me sideways. “So. Where exactly are we going?”
“My place,” I say casually.
She blinks. “Your place?”
“I’m cooking for you.”
A nervous little smile tugs at her lips. She fidgets with the flowers in her lap. “Are you…good at that?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” I smirk. “I wanted to take you out somewhere more exciting—a real date. But I figure we’ve both had enough excitement for now.”
She goes quiet for a beat, then murmurs, “You’ve really been thinking about this?”
“Baby,” I say, glancing at her with a grin, “I’ve been planning this since the minute I woke up in that hospital bed.”
Her blush deepens.
