Page 37 of The Proximity Effect

“Anytime, Chef. Anytime.” I brushed a strand of damp hair away from her face, savoring how soft it felt against my fingertips.

A nagging voice in the back of my mind reminded me how complicated this could get. The guys and I were already walking on eggshells around each other most days, and adding Tessa to the mix... well, that was like throwing a match into a powder keg. But watching her nestled against me, wearing that satisfied smile, I couldn’t bring myself to care about the potential fallout. Some things were worth the risk.

Chapter 14

Torture By Spoon

Tessa

Istared at the pile of carrots I was supposed to be julienning, my mind wandering to places that definitely weren’t food safe. It had been three days since I’d slept with Evan, and now all I did was think about it.

And Liam.

Oh, and let’s not forget about Archer.

Three guys. Three kisses. And way more than just kisses with two of them. What had gotten into me? Actually, scratch that. I knew exactly what—or rather who—had gotten into me.

I’d been so busy with taking over all restaurant operations, hiring staff, and ensuring guests’ palates were taken care of that I’d had very little free time over the past three days and hardly saw the three men who had been consuming my thoughts.

But it felt good having a kitchen staff now. Marcus, Katie, and Steve had all jumped at the chance to come back once I’d promised actual leadership and creative input. It turned out theyweren’t bad cooks; they had just been thrown into chaos without any direction. Kind of like me with this whole man situation.

My knife slipped, and I barely pulled my finger away in time. “Shit!” I dropped the knife, my heart racing.

“Are you okay?” Marcus looked up from where he’d been preparing a vegetable stock.

“Just distracted. I’m taking five.” I retreated to my tiny office, which was really a glorified closet with a desk, and pulled out my phone. I needed to talk to someone who wouldn’t judge me for my sudden descent into madness.

Me: SOS. I think I might be having a crisis. Or an awakening. Or both?

Ava: What kind of crisis are we talking about? The good kind or the “I need bail money” kind?

Me: Remember how I said I was done with men after Declan?

Ava: Yes, and I remember calling BS even then.

Me: Well... I may have kissed three guys. And done more than kiss two of them. In the span of like... 72 hours.

Ava: WHAT?!?! *three fire emojis*

Ava: Hold up.

Ava: Are these the three hot resort owners you mentioned?

Me: Maybe...

Me: And I don’t know whether to feel empowered or mortified.

Ava: Girl, you should feel like a QUEEN. But also... details. Now. Which ones did you...?

Me: Evan and Liam. Archer was a kiss in the kitchen. With ice cream involved.

Ava: An ice cream kiss sounds hot. Why didn’t you seal that deal?

Me: We got interrupted. And now I have to work with all of them, and I keep getting distracted thinking about... everything. I almost chopped off my finger.

Ava: *tears of joy emoji* Declan who? This is the post-breakup glow-up you deserve! But try to keep all your fingers. They might come in handy later...

Me: Ava! But also you’re not wrong. I haven’t felt this alive in forever.

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