“Oh, I know you can’t be jealous. I know you know what you look like.”
“First off, I know how good I look and I know for a fact that Troy and his fumbling-ass hands are lucky he’s good in front of a camera so he can keep paying off all those back taxes.”
“Do I even want to know?” Evie asked. She glanced ahead as they pulled into the spot behind the main lodge where they’d left the truck the week before.
“Later.” Zach put the pickup in park, then leaned over and pressed a long, lingering kiss to Evie’s lips. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“To grab our dinner. For real, I’ll be back in a sec. Hold tight.” Zach hopped out of the truck and Evie watched as he went through a back door. She took out her phone and then instantly thought twice, slipping it back in her pocket. She still hadn’t recovered from her colossal text screwup New Year’s Day. She knew Nicole had forgiven her, but how unprofessional was it to accidentally text your assistant and your agent about your sex life. Raquelle thought it was hilarious. Evie was mortified. Luckily it would be a while before they saw each other face-to-face. It would give her a little time to live down the embarrassment.
A few minutes later Zach was back, carrying a large basket covered in a blue, green-and-white plaid blanket, the same pattern as the shirts the Big Rock employees wore.
“What’s that?” Evie asked as he secured the basket behind the driver’s seat. A moment later she caught the warm smell coming out of it. It smelled delicious, whatever it was.
“It’s a surprise,” Zach said before he laughed at Evie’s sudden frown. “You can wait the whole minute it’ll take us to drive over to the cabin.”
“I guess.”
Zack backed the truck out of its spot and drove to the main dirt road through the center of the property. Even though the temperature outside was quickly dropping, Evie spotted a small group of guests gathered around a firepit. From the smiles on their faces it didn’t seem like they minded the cold too much.
They continued on through the property and then turned up a short rise. Ahead Evie could see a cute cabin up on top of a hill. Zach brought the truck to a stop right beside the wrap-around porch.
“Is this still a part of the ranch?” Evie glanced over her shoulder and looked back down the hill. The main lodge seemed a ways off.
“Sure is. This is our premium honeymoon cabin. For a price you can enjoy the privacy and splendor of nature complete with heat, central air, Wi-Fi, premium cable, and twenty-four-hour room service. It was booked this weekend, but there was a cancellation this afternoon.”
“Oh no. What happened?”
“Wasn’t as bad as you think. Bride and groom both got cold feet and decided to call the whole thing off right before the wedding march started. Come on.”
Instead of waiting for Zach to open her door, Evie climbed down from the high cab on her own. Zach grabbed the picnic basket and took her hand. “You ready?”
“Should I be worried?” she asked as they walked up the half dozen stairs to the cabin’s front door.
“About what?”
“You’re taking me to the honeymoon suite. That seems pretty serious,” she teased.
“It is. There’s a reverend inside waiting, two witnesses and everything. I hope you’re ready to do this shit ’cause when I said let’s go out on a date I meant let’s get married.”
“Oh, so nothing to be worried about.”
“Not a thing.”
Evie gave Zach’s shoulder a little nudge, then took the picnic basket so he could open the door. Underneath one of the porch lights there was a wooden sign.STARLIGHT.
When she stepped inside, Evie was taken aback by the rustic beauty of the place. The cabin was cozy but large enough for two people to stretch out, or snuggle close in the large four-poster bed against the rear wall.
“This is so beautiful.”
“We remodeled it last year, but here.” Zach set down the basket on the table for two by the window. “Come look at this.” Evie shrugged out of her jacket, then followed Zach over to the fireplace. Beside the mantel was a metal plaque. Evie couldn’t stop herself from reading the words out loud.
“‘In loving memory of our dear friends Justice and Amelia Buchanan. The Starlight Honeymoon Suite.’”
“Miss Leona insisted upon it.”
Evie lifted her fingers and ran them over the engraved letters.