Page 6 of The Proximity Effect

Chapter 3

Three-Legged Horse

Tessa

Isettled into the cozy corner booth at the Hungry Pine Café, inhaling deeply. The aroma of fresh-baked bread and roasted garlic was enough to make me forget about my morning’s awkward encounter. Well, almost.

After fleeing the resort in my rental car, I’d spent the morning exploring the charming mountain town of Alpineville. I’d picked up a few paperbacks from a bookstore that had more cats than shelves, found a cute new scarf and hat set, and discovered this gem of a café.

The menu read like food porn. Not the mass-produced, obviously photoshopped kind you find in chain restaurants, but the someone-cares-about-food kind. My inner chef was doing cartwheels.

“I’m Cecilia, the owner. How is everything tasting?” A woman about my age stopped by my table, her dark curls escaping from a messy bun.

I gestured to my half-eaten plate of herb-crusted salmon with roasted root vegetables. “This is exactly what I needed after the breakfast disaster I had this morning. The sauce… brown butter citrus?”

Her face lit up with the kind of genuine pride only a true food enthusiast could understand, and she leaned in like we were trading state secrets instead of sauce ingredients. “I add a hint of preserved lemon to brighten it.”

“It’s brilliant.” I fought the urge to lick my plate clean. “Seriously, this makes up for the sad, rubbery eggs I suffered through at Sterling Pines.” The memory of that breakfast made me want to stage an intervention in their kitchen.

The warmth in her expression faded like someone had turned down a dimmer switch. “Oh, you’re staying up at the resort?” Her tone shifted ever so slightly, carrying that small-town inflection that suggested there was a story there—one that probably wouldn’t make it into Sterling Pines’ glossy brochures.

“Yeah, though I’m starting to think I should’ve booked in town instead.” I laughed, but Cecilia’s expression had turned wistful.

“It wasn’t always like that.” She slid into the booth across from me. “When Gavin was alive, that place was incredible. He had such vision. The restaurant was top-notch and really pushed me to up my game.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I fiddled with my napkin, folding and unfolding the corner as I searched for the right words that probably didn’t exist. I never knew what to say in these situations, but really, who did?

“He passed away suddenly. Only thirty-three.” She shook her head, her bottom lip trembling briefly. “Left the whole place to his three college friends. They were supposed to start some big business venture together years ago, but something happened.Now they’re stuck there together and...” She trailed off, catching herself. “Sorry, small-town gossip. I shouldn’t?—”

“Those three idiots couldn’t run a lemonade stand together, let alone a resort,” came a gruff voice from the next table. I turned to see an older gentleman in a plaid shirt leaning toward us. “Pardon my interruption, ladies, but I couldn’t help overhearing. Name’s Frank. I do some maintenance work up there sometimes.”

“Frank,” Cecilia warned, but he waved her off.

“Those boys can’t sell the place for two years as part of Gavin’s will. They have to live and work there the whole time too. Probably thought it’d force them to work out whatever happened between them.” Frank’s weathered hands wrapped around his coffee mug as he delivered this bit of local gossip with the expertise of someone who had been watching the drama unfold from the front row.

Well, that explained the tension I’d witnessed between Archer and Evan. And the state of... everything I’d seen so far. The cold war happening at that front desk suddenly made a lot more sense. Being forced to live and work with someone you clearly couldn’t stand was a recipe for disaster.

“That’s either brilliant or cruel.” I dabbed at a spot of sauce with my bread, considering how I’d feel if someone had tried to force me to work things out with my ex by trapping us in a business together. The mere thought made me want to scream and cry.

“Bit of both, if you ask me. Gavin always did have a twisted sense of humor.” He shook his head with the fond exasperation of someone remembering an old friend’s shenanigans.

Cecilia stood up, straightening her apron. “Well, I should get back to work. But please, come back anytime. It’s nice having someone who appreciates good food.”

I watched her walk away, my mind spinning with this new information. Three former friends, forced to live and work together for two years? No wonder the resort seemed like it was having an identity crisis. It was set up for a reality TV show.

And I had a front-row seat for the next two weeks.

I took another bite of my salmon as Frank settled more comfortably into his chair, clearly warming to his subject. “You know, it’s a damn shame what’s happening up there. There’s nothing like that property for a hundred miles. The views alone...” He shook his head. “And the infrastructure is solid. Gavin made sure of that.”

“So, what’s the problem?” I was genuinely curious, leaning forward to hear better. “Besides the obvious ‘three guys who hate each other’ situation.” And boy, was that obvious, and I hadn’t even met the third man yet.

“They’ve only been running it about three months.” Frank took a sip of his coffee. “Each one thinks they know best. One wants to cut costs, one wants to renovate everything, and one... well, they’re about as coordinated as a three-legged horse in a derby.”

“That explains some things.” I thought about the shuttle service and the sad excuse for breakfast… and let’s not forget about the room décor.

“Those boys better figure it out soon, though. The bad reviews are piling up faster than the snow outside.” He stood up, adjusting his plaid shirt. “Shame to see Gavin’s legacy taking hits like that. But hey, what do I know? I’m just the guy who helps out occasionally.”

After Frank left, I pulled out my phone, suddenly very interested in these reviews he’d mentioned. When I’d booked this place a year ago, it had a near-perfect 4.9 rating. Now...

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