Page 26 of The Proximity Effect

Idouble-checked the snowmobile’s fuel gauge before helping Tessa adjust her helmet. The night air was crisp, carrying a faint pine scent I had grown to associate with home. Well, temporary home.

“Are you sure this is safe?” Her breath was visible, and the floodlights from the resort cast a warm glow across her face, making her eyes sparkle with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

“Safer than letting you try snowboarding again,” I teased, swinging my leg over the seat. “Hop on and hold tight.”

She climbed on behind me, and I had to suppress a shiver when her arms wrapped around my waist. Even through our winter gear, I felt the warmth of her body pressed against my back. This was probably a terrible idea. Actually, no “probably” about it.

The image of Archer and Tessa in the kitchen flashed through my mind. The way they had been wrapped around each other,lost in their own world until Evan and I had interrupted. A familiar surge of competitive spirit rose in my chest—the same feeling I got before dropping into a challenging run.

“Ready?” I called over my shoulder, trying to focus on the marked path ahead instead of the way her thighs were pressed against mine.

“As I’ll ever be!”

I fired up the engine and eased forward, taking it slow at first to let her get used to the sensation. The moment we hit the first small bump, she gasped and tightened her grip.

“You okay back there?” I called out, grinning as we picked up speed.

“Don’t you dare show off!” she shouted back, but I could hear the laughter in her voice.

The trail wound through the trees, marked by reflective posts that caught the headlight. I knew this route like the back of my hand. Spot five was my personal favorite, tucked away in a natural clearing that offered the perfect view of both the lake and the surrounding peaks.

As we climbed a small hill, Tessa’s grip alternated between death-clutch and a slightly looser grip. Each time she squeezed tighter, it sent a jolt of electricity through my body. The physical contact and the adrenaline of the ride were intoxicating.

This woman was getting under my skin. First the snowboarding lesson, then the kitchen, and now this. There was something about her that drew me in and made me want to forget about professional distance. She made me want to show her exactly what it felt like to really live in the moment.

And apparently, I wasn’t the only one affected. Both Archer and Evan were obviously interested, which was eerily reminiscent of... No. This was different. This wasn’t college. We were adults now, supposedly.

I pulled into the clearing, killing the engine. The sudden silence was broken only by Tessa’s slightly shaky breath and the distant hooting of an owl.

“We made it!” She unwrapped herself from around me, and the sudden absence of her body against mine left me wanting to pretend we were in the wrong spot.

As I got off the snowmobile, I took my helmet off, running a hand through my hair to fix the inevitable helmet-head situation. “That wasn’t too scary, was it?”

Her enthusiastic victory wiggle as she removed her own helmet made me bite back a grin. “No, and as a bonus, I didn’t fall off!”

“Night’s still young.”

Her cheeks were flushed from the cold and excitement as I helped her dismount, my hands lingering longer than necessary on her waist. “Welcome to the best view on the property.”

The resort’s activities team had outdone themselves. A sturdy inflatable couch that was more like a bed with a back and armrests was positioned perfectly for stargazing, piled high with plush blankets and pillows. A small table held snacks and an ice bucket with champagne. But the real show was above us; the stars seemed close enough to touch.

Tessa’s gasp of wonder made me smile. She spun in a slow circle, head tilted back, taking it all in. “This is... incredible.”

“Wait until your eyes adjust fully.” I moved to open the champagne, trying and failing not to watch the way she settled onto the couch and kicked off her snow boots. “The Milky Way looks close enough to reach up and grab a handful of stars.”

“Poetic for an adrenaline junkie.” She scooted back onto the couch and pulled a blanket over her legs.

I handed her a plastic flute of champagne, very aware of how our fingers brushed during the exchange. The way she looked up at me, cheeks flushed from the cold and eyes reflecting starlight,made my chest tight. I wanted to kiss her. Wanted to pull her close and find out if her lips were as soft as they looked, wanted to?—

“Are you going to stand there all night?” She patted the space next to her, lifting the edge of the blanket invitingly.

God help me, but I didn’t have the willpower to resist this woman.

I settled onto the couch beside her, removing my boots and arranging the blankets over us. The warmth from her body made me acutely aware of every inch of space between us—space I desperately wanted to eliminate. But I forced myself to stay put, to maintain that sliver of distance even as my body screamed to close it.

“To unexpected adventures?” I raised my glass, watching how the starlight caught in the bubbles.

“To unexpected adventures,” she agreed, clinking her glass against mine.

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