Zack says, glancing back at the image. “Nancy said he was so ramped up it was hard to get the full story, but it sounded like he went upstairs to the attic and saw something up there. Something that scared him so badly that he ran for the stairs, fell down one flight, and then hobbled down the rest with a sprained ankle before limping across the grass to crash in the studio.”
My brows slide higher on my forehead. “Really? You think he saw something? What did Nancy say?”
“She apologized profusely and swore no guest has ever reported an experience like that before, but I told her not to worry about it.” He shrugs and tosses his phone on the mattress. “I figure each guest gets the ghost experience they deserve, right?”
I tilt my head, studying him out of the corner of my eye, debating how much to tell him. “Yeah, Chip wasn’t…very nice last night. He’s a big part of the reason I left. He painted such a dark picture of our future.”
“I figured,” Zack says, his jaw going tight. “I fired him via text this morning. Just the way he was looking at you before I went into the studio… I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I was trying to sleep last night. I don’t want a man who looks at women that way representing me or my business.”
Warmth rushing in my chest, I sit up and lean over to kiss his temple. “You’re the sweetest man. I love that about you. So much.”
“I’m sorry I left you alone with him.” Zack curls his hand around my knee. “That was stupid of me.”
“No, it wasn’t. You should be able to leave your manager alone with your girlfriend. That isn’t something you should have to second-guess.”
“But I knew he was a slimeball.” His voice is dark with guilt. “I thought he would behave himself because he wanted to keep me on as a client, but I shouldn’t have taken that for granted. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I assure him again. “I’m fine. He said some rude things, but he didn’t hurt me.” I smile. “And it sounds like he got his. Ghost karma seems pretty brutal.”
“Yeah, it does.” Zack hesitates, chewing his lip for a beat before he adds, “Is it crazy that it kind of makes me more excited about spending another week there?”
I laugh. “No, it isn’t! Me, too! I can’t wait to get back. I mean…assuming you want me to stay the rest of the week.”
He gathers me into his arms and pulls me onto his lap. “Either you’re staying, or I’m going back to Hidden Kill Bay with you. Those are the choices because I’m not letting you out of my sight. Assuming that’s all right with you.”
“That’s perfect with me,” I whisper, running my fingertip across his bottom lip. “We don’t even have to get out of bed if you don’t want. I’m sure we could bribe Nancy to leave our meals by the door. We won’t have to worry about sperm count anymore, you know… Now that the most fertile time of the month is over.”
“Beautiful and brilliant,” he says, cupping my breast in his hand. “How did I get so lucky?”
I suck in a breath as he rolls my nipple between his fingers and thumb. “Don’t start something you’re not prepared to finish, mister. If you make me want you again, pancakes and bacon are going to have to wait.”
“Who needs food, anyway?” he says, rolling us both across the covers, making me laugh before he makes me gasp.
And moan.
And cry his name.
And silently thank the universe for this morning, this man, and this unexpected twist in my love story.
Our love story, the one I can’t wait to write with him for a long, long time.
Epilogue
Zack
I thought life couldn’t get any better than having Colette all to myself in the mountains with nothing to do but make love and music, eat too much french toast, lie by the pool, and go for long walks in the woods.
But the six days we’ve been home in Hidden Kill Bay have been just as sweet.
Sweeter, actually.
I’ve never seen my gram take to anyone the way she’s taken to Colette. Gram’s always been friendly and welcoming with my friends and past girlfriends, but she tends to hold people at a distance until she gets to know them.
But by the end of our first dinner together, she’s stealing my girl away to the backyard to show off