Page 51 of Worth the Chase

We’re on the same page, I told myself.

I looked out the window as I drove. The trees were bursting with life, and green and other colors started to appear on the ground and what felt like literally everywhere. There was something about the way Sugar Mountain woke up from its winter slumber that always made me happy. Spring was springing.

“Do we have reservations? Do you even need reservations?” Bells asked, breaking the silence as soon as I pulled into valet parking.

“We have them, yes.”

I hustled out of my truck and scrambled to her door before she could open it or try to get out without my help. Reaching for her tiny body, I grabbed her by the waist and lifted her easily from her seat to the ground.

“It’s annoying how easily you can just pick me up,” she complained, but I knew she liked it.

“It’s not my fault you weigh, like, ninety pounds,” I countered.

She scoffed. “I do not weigh ninety pounds.”

“You feel like you do.”

I wasn’t trying to offend her, but she was a petite little thing. Short as hell. I could probably fold her up and fit her in my pocket if I wanted to.

Fine, I’m being ridiculous.

“Keys are in the truck,” I said to the kid at the valet.

He handed me a ticket, and I shoved it in my pocket.

“I think you just traumatized him,” Bells said.

I gave her a questioning look. “What do you mean?”

“His eyes almost bugged out of his head once he realized it was you,” she said. “You didn’t notice?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“I think he might have been a fan,” she said with a softness to her tone.

“Then, I’ll sign something for him later.”

That seemed to pacify her, even though I had no idea what she wanted from me in this instance. I reached for her hand and refused to take a single step until she was holding on to it. Our fingers intertwined, and I couldn’t stop myself from grinning. We walked slowly—because of her insane heels—through the front door and into a spring-filled wonderland at the Sugar Mountain Resort.

Bells gasped. “It’s always so beautiful in here.”

Glancing around, I tried to see and appreciate it the way she seemed to. It was pretty, of course, but I’d grown up with the constant changing of themes inside the resort, and I guessed a part of me was used to it and took it for granted.

“They do a great job.”

“It’s like living in a dream,” she said as her head moved from left to right to take in all the floral wonder.

“You’re a dream,” I said.

She started laughing. “Matthew, maybe keep the cheesy lines to yourself.” She rolled her eyes, clearly not believing me.

Sure, the line might have been cheesy, but I still meant it.

“Matthew. Miss Sanchez.” Mr. Gonzales stepped out from behind his concierge desk to greet us.

“Hi.” I gave him a firm handshake as Bells looked surprised that he had known her name.

“I noticed you had reservations this evening,” he said with a gleam in his eye.

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