Zack woke up stretched across the bed, the duvet tangled round his legs. The bed was empty, apart from him, a fact that he automatically didn’t like. He’d wanted to wake up with her next to him, to be able to have her in his arms again liked how they’d fallen asleep. She’d injected colour into his world that he hadn’t known was missing and he wanted to keep that colour there. Unfortunately, he had a feeling her absence was because she was unsure and skittish, and didn’t believe in how much she’d captivated him.

The bedroom was warm, the thick rug he felt under his feet when he got out of bed was new and he could smell something sweet and mouthwatering. He pulled on his jeans from the day before and headed out of the bedroom, down the little corridor into the kitchen. The silence had already suggested that Sorrell wouldn’t be there and the silence was right.

The kitchen was immaculately tidy, ordered and neat. There was a metal rack with a row of muffins and a note. Zack picked up a muffin first and then read the note which explained they were oat and blueberry and she’d had to go into the hotel as Tanya, the girl who helped serve breakfasts, couldn’t get her car off her drive.

Zack made himself a coffee and ate another of the muffins, checking his phone to make sure there were no emergencies at Sunrise. It was early, barely light, and he needed to get over to the farm to help Jake and his dad with the animals, although there was a message from Jake to say they had it covered. They would—Zack had no doubt because as much as Jake was an arsehole player, he was an excellent organizer and manager—but Zack knew there was always something else that could be done in weather like this. But first, he needed to see Sorrell.

She was standing in reception when he walked in, talking to a guest. A male guest, maybe a couple of years older than Zack and one who looked incredibly interested in whatever she was saying.

Zack buried his hands in his jeans pockets, knowing that touching her right now would not make her happy and that after just a handful of dates and one night together, marking his territory would not be a good idea.

“Sorry, you have another guest to see to,” the man said, gesturing towards Zack.

Sorrell turned to see him, a half smile on her lips, her eyes shy and unsure. He remembered she should’ve been sharing the hosting duties of this hotel with her ex but instead she had claimed it as her own. Now he wanted to claim her.

“He’s not a guest,” she said.

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.”

“We are,” he said, glancing at the large bed. He had more to say, but he couldn’t remember what it was, so instead he captured her mouth with his and kissed her.

Her response was more than he’d hoped, fearing that he’d been too forward. He’d been trying to take things easy even though he felt like doing the opposite. He liked Sorrell. A lot. Enough to consider how things could go wrong.

She pushed her fingers through his hair and deepened the kiss. He felt her moan as his hands wandered and then he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

It was another few seconds before they pulled apart, the phone becoming too insistent.

Zack let go of her with just one hand and fumbled in his pocket. A picture of Jake with two chopsticks coming down from his nose and a napkin tied around his head stared at him. He needed to change that photo. Maybe with an alpaca or something to remember Jake by.

“Cousin. What perfect timing you have,” he said.

“You coming over or you too busy keeping your dick warm?” Jake said. “Not that I blame you.”

“What’s happened?” Zack knew that Jake’s body was going to make very little difference to the soil content, so he was considering donating it to medical science once he’d murdered him. He heard Sorrell laugh quietly. Unfortunately, she could hear Jake’s side of the conversation.

“Niall James had a heart attack shoveling snow this morning. The air ambulance has picked him up but none of his animals have been sorted and there’s a fence down at the south of the field where the elm trees are. I need to get all hands on deck. The fence can wait as the animals will need to be kept in, but can you come as soon as possible? He’s not going to be back to work for a long time, if he makes it,” Jake said, the teasing tone completely out of his voice now.

“Sure,” Zack said. “I’ll be there in ten. What’s first?”

Jake listed a few jobs, all of which were standard but would take a couple of hours.

“Scott’s coming down as well and Alex is already here. Your dad and his buddies are working out a rota for the next few days,” Jake added at the end.

“You’re going to offer to buy it, aren’t you?” Zack said. Sorrell was watching him with interest.

“I was in talks with Niall about it, but not yet. He was happy to carry on for another couple of years. I think it’ll happen soon now, but if I buy it, he and his wife can stay in the house for as long as they want. Hell, he can do whatever work he’s fit for, if he makes it. From what Glenys said, it doesn’t look good though.”

“Shit.” Zack wrapped his arm around Sorrell’s waist. Severton was a close town, the farming community even closer, especially since there were so few of them. Farming was a tough industry and they relied on each other for survival. If Niall didn’t make it, it would hit his father and his mates hard. “See you in a few. I’ve got what I need in my car so I don’t need to call home.”

Sorrell’s lips pressed against his shoulder. “I’m sorry about your friend,” she said once he ended the call with Jake. “Is there anything I can do? Does his wife need anything?”

Zack didn’t need to think this time. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in, needing just a little comfort for himself. “Not at the moment. She’ll be at the hospital for a while I would’ve thought. At some point today the coven will send out smoke signals to let everyone know what needs to be done and we’ll rally round. I’ll text you a time when we’re ready to go tree cutting.” He broke away, backing towards the door.

“We’re still going?” she said, surprised.

“Even more so now. I’ll see you later.” He gave her one quick kiss and left, wanting to go and do his part.