Page 30 of The Proximity Effect

Put that way, it did sound simple. Clean. Uncomplicated. Like one of those summer flings I’d never experienced myself.

I bit my lip, studying the angles of his face. “So... you’re saying we could do this again?” The words came out breathier than I’d intended, but the way his fingers were still tracing patterns on my skin made it hard to maintain my usual composure.

His eyes darkened, and the playful smile that spread across his face sent a fresh wave of warmth through me. “Absolutely.” The single word held enough promise to make me squirm.

“And it wouldn’t be weird?” I apparently couldn’t accept a good thing without overanalyzing it to death.

“Only if you make it weird.” He smirked, reaching up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Though I have to say, your weird is kind of charming.”

I smacked his chest playfully. “Shut up.” The words came out with absolutely zero conviction, especially since I couldn’t stop the ridiculous smile spreading across my face.

“Make me.” His challenge hung in the air between us.

I looked at his lips, tempted to take him up on that challenge. “We should probably head back.”

“Probably.” He made no move to get up; instead, he pulled me closer, his lips finding the sensitive spot right below my ear. “But we’ve got the snowmobile for another hour...”

And just like that, all my rational thoughts flew right out the window. Because he was right. This could be simple. For once in my life, I could let myself have something uncomplicated and fun. Even if a tiny voice in the back of my mind whispered that nothing about this situation was simple at all.

I smoothed down my hair for the hundredth time as Liam and I approached the front desk to return the keys and helmets. My lips still felt swollen from our activities, and I was pretty sure my neck had at least one obvious mark. Thank God for scarves and the totally legitimate excuse of the weather.

But of course, because the universe loves nothing more than to watch me squirm, it wasn’t some random employee manning the desk. No, it was Evan, looking unfairly attractive in a chunky sweater and wearing a grin that made my stomach do funny things.

I fidgeted with my scarf as his eyes swept over us both, lingering a touch too long on my kiss-swollen lips and Liam’s smugly relaxed demeanor. The way Evan’s lips curved up at the corners made me want to crawl under the polished wooden counter and hide there until spring. I watched understanding bloom across his features like a time-lapse video of the world’s most embarrassing flower.

“Well, well,” Evan drawled, leaning forward on the counter with his forearms crossed, radiating the kind of playful energy that reminded me of every annoying older brother across the globe. “How was stargazing?”

My face heated up to approximately the temperature of Venus, which we definitely hadn’t been looking at. “The stars were... very visible,” I managed to squeak out, mentally cursing my complete inability to lie smoothly in awkward situations. At least I hadn’t blurted out something about constellations. Small victories.

“I bet they were.” His grin widened. “Though I noticed you booked that experience for two. Seems like Liam here stepped in to make sure you didn’t waste your reservation.”

Liam shrugged, somehow managing to look both casual and territorial at the same time. “I’m being a good host.”

“How thoughtful of you.” Evan’s tone was playful, but there was something else there, something that made my pulse quicken. He wasn’t upset… he seemed almost... pleased? Intrigued? Whatever it was, it wasn’t the reaction I’d expected from a guy who flirted with me every chance he got.

“Well…” I clapped my hands together, desperate to escape this increasingly charged situation. “Thanks for the equipment return service, but I should really get to bed. All of that stargazing and constellation identifying has made me sleepy.” I faked a yawn.

“Oh!” Evan’s eyes lit up as he pushed up his sweater sleeves and turned to the computer. “Speaking of equipment and services...” He started scrolling through something. “I couldn’t help but notice you’ve got quite a few couple’s activities booked for your stay.”

Oh no.

“And since Liam so graciously helped you with stargazing...” He looked up, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I see you’ve got a couple’s massage scheduled for tomorrow morning. I would be more than happy to ensure that reservation doesn’t go to waste either.”

Liam’s casual demeanor slipped. “Fuck off, Evan.”

“What? I’m being a good host.” Evan threw Liam’s words back at him with a wink. “Besides, everyone knows massages are better with company.”

I should have said no. I should have canceled all my remaining couple’s activities and hidden in my room untilcheck-out. Instead, what came out of my mouth was: “Sure, but you’re covering the tip.”

Both men turned to stare at me, and I felt like a mouse who’d accidentally wandered into a room full of very interested cats.

“What?” I crossed my arms defensively, channeling the energy of every woman who’s ever had to justify wanting both cake and ice cream. “It’s a really expensive massage, and I already paid for two people. Might as well get my money’s worth.” I lifted my chin, daring either of them to challenge my completely budget-conscious decision that had nothing whatsoever to do with the way Evan’s forearms looked pressed against that counter.

It wasn’t like a massage meant anything. We’d both be covered with sheets and there’d be two masseuses in the room with us. Besides, Liam and I weren’t athing, right? Sure, we’d spent the evening exploring our own Milky Way, but that was... well, I wasn’t entirely sure what that was, but it didn’t give him exclusive rights to all couple’s activities. Did it?

We were just having fun.

Evan’s face split into a delighted grin, like a kid who’d been told he could have dessert before dinner. “Done. I’ll meet you in the spa lobby at nine?”

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