Chapter 4

4

ZACHARY

C olton was the best friend a guy could have. We'd been buddies a while, going all the way back to when I moved here five years ago, and we always had each other's back.

"Go get your girl," Colton had said at the end of the workday.

The funny thing was, neither of us had discussed what he'd apparently overheard outside the facilities. He'd covered for me, telling our boss the dog urinated all over me and I needed to stop by my house to change before going home. It, of course, wasn't true, but it was a great story.

Not that my boss cared all that much. Owen was too occupied with work stuff. The city council was in talks to run an interstate right through part of our development, possibly derailing our project before it really started.

By the time I pulled into the retreat center parking lot, my mind was far from any of that. I'd help the boss deal with it tomorrow. Right now, I planned to do what Colton said and go get my girl.

Two women were standing on the sidewalk talking. I saw them as I parked. Perfect. I'd ask them if they knew where I could find Kelsey. I assumed she was pretty well known since the woman coming out of the pool had identified her immediately. In fact, the brunette on the sidewalk might even be the same woman I'd seen coming out of the pool. Her hair had been wet, so I couldn't tell.

The smile I had pasted on my face faded a little when I realized the two women were in some sort of heated discussion, maybe even an argument. As I drew even closer, I heard them talking about spreadsheets. It sounded boring, but whatever it was, I didn't want to get involved.

I breezed through the automatic doors and headed straight for the reception desk. "I'm looking for someone who's here with the conference," I said to the youngish blonde receptionist with a friendly face.

She pointed to the right, in the direction of all the conference rooms. I should have just headed that way. I took off, getting only a few steps in that direction before the employee called out to me.

"You won't be able to go in there, though. Not without a ticket."

I froze and turned. "Ticket?"

"It's a cocktail reception," she said. "I'm pretty sure you'll stand out, even if you could sneak in."

I turned back to face her and couldn't miss the smile that spread over her face. I had a feeling I knew what she meant. It was a makeup convention, so it was no doubt full of women and not much else. Some burly mountain man walking in would definitely get attention.

"I could send someone in for you if you want," she said.

The front desk worker was being overly nice to me. I'd credit good old-fashioned customer service, but I was all too familiar with the way she was eyeing me.

It was flattering, but it was wasted on me. There was only one woman on my mind, and she was the woman I'd spend the rest of my life with.

"I may take you up on that," I said. "I'll go check it out and let you know."

A couple of minutes later, as I stood outside the meeting room, I regretted not taking the desk clerk up on her offer. The room was beyond packed with women standing in clusters. I didn't know how I could start to find Kelsey without entering.

"You lost?"

A woman's voice came from my left. I turned to see an attractive redhead standing next to me.

"I'm looking for Kelsey," I said.

This was the second time today I'd told someone I was looking for Kelsey. I could very easily be labeled a stalker.

"I just saw her in the ladies' room." The woman pointed farther down the hall. "That way."

"Thanks."

I tossed the word out as I started in that direction, moving at a brisk pace. Now that I knew this was the woman for me, I didn't want to waste a second.

I spotted her from a distance, staring down at her phone screen as she walked alone in the hallway. Should I call out to her or wait until she saw me?

I didn't have to come up with an answer to that question. Her head snapped up, and she looked at me as though something told her I was nearby. Or maybe she just felt me watching.

I monitored her expression closely, worried that maybe I'd ruined things with her. When a slow smile spread across her face, I knew that wasn't the case at all.

My stride quickened, and I reached her in seconds, standing close enough to pull her into my arms when the time was right. "You changed," I said, eyeing her black pencil skirt and dress blouse.

She looked down at her outfit. "Not exactly cocktail attire. I don't really own a cocktail dress, so I figured this would do."

"You're beautiful," I said. "No matter what you wear."

Her smile widened even farther at that compliment. "Is everything okay with work?"

"It all worked out," I replied. "My buddy covered for me. Not that my boss was all that concerned. He just wanted everyone to get together so he could make an announcement."

Her eyebrows arched. "Nothing bad, I hope."

I shook my head. "It'll all be fine."

At least I hoped it would. Even if the Lockwood project came to an end, there was plenty of work around Rosewood Ridge for the construction crews who worked up here. And if not, we could venture toward Knoxville.

But that didn't matter right now, aside from me being able to provide for this woman I'd just met. A woman who'd changed my life completely.

The fact that she was only in town temporarily was all that mattered. Unless I could convince her otherwise.

"I don't have to stay for this," she said, looking over my shoulder. "I already made an appearance. I could go off for dinner on my own if I wanted."

On her own? I frowned, trying to read between the lines.

"With you, of course," she added, probably noticing my change in expression. "Our first date."

"First of many?" I asked.

I didn't dare breathe as I waited for her answer. This was everything.

"First of many," she confirmed. "It might take me some time to find a job and a place to live."

She didn't need a job or a place to live. I'd take care of her and move her into my home.

But it was probably too soon to mention all that. I didn't want to scare her off.

"We'll work out the logistics later," I said. "But you're not alone. You'll never be alone again." I laughed. "Well, unless you need some alone time."

She tilted her head and eyed me flirtatiously. "Does that mean you'll take the kids when I need a few minutes to myself?" Her expression immediately changed to a frown. "Is it too soon to talk about having kids?"

I shook my head. "Not at all. In fact, we can get started tonight if you want."

Relief flooded her face, softening her beautiful features. "Maybe we'll wait a little while to start a family. That will give us some alone time as a couple first."

"You've got a deal," I said. "Now, what do you say we blow this popsicle stand?"

That was a term I'd never used but had heard all my life. It fit perfectly in this case, though.

She laughed. "Sounds like a plan. But first…"

She punctuated that by closing the remaining distance between us and lifting her face to mine for a kiss. In that moment, it didn't matter that we were in the middle of a hallway in the meeting area of the Rosewood Ridge Retreat Center. All that mattered was the two of us, sealing the promise we were making to stay together for the rest of our lives.

It was a promise I couldn't wait to keep.