“She told me she always missed Alaska. After she won gold, she got injured, so professional skiing isn’t really an option for her anymore,” I explained.
“That is so freaking cool that she won,” Hudson said.
“Damn straight,” Beck chimed in, overhearing our conversation.
It abruptly occurred to me that Lyle might still be around. With Josie here, I didn’t want her to feel awkward. I quickly scanned the restaurant, but I didn’t see him.
As if he could read my mind, Graham leaned close. “No doubt Josie knows things worked out the way they should. I think Lyle’s gone too.”
“I know, but I don’t want it to be awkward for her.” I wasn’t sure how to interpret Graham’s expression, but he knew me well. If he had an opinion about my protectiveness of Josie, he didn’t offer it now.
I managed to pay half attention to the conversation at the table but was distracted after Josie showed up. When it was time to go, I slipped out through the back hallway. Just as I passed the doorway that led into the women’s restroom, the door swung open, and Josie stepped out.
She walked straight into me, letting out a startled squeak as she bounced back. The brief imprint of her body against mine felt like a bolt of lightning striking me. “Tate!” she yelped.
I reached out to steady her when she stumbled a little as she stepped back. My hand landed on the soft curve of her hip.
“I’m so sorry!” she added.
“No worries,” I replied, trying to rein in my pulse. It had kicked off in a rolling drumbeat. “You heading out?”
Looking up at me, she nodded. “You?”
The pause stretched like elastic between us before I kicked my brain into gear. “I am.”
She glanced down the hallway where we could see the snow falling through the window on the upper half of the door. “The snow’s getting heavy.”
“Do you want to ride with me?”
She shook her head as we began to turn together. It felt as if a current of electricity circled between us as we walked down the narrow hallway.
“Tate, I might not have been in Alaska for the past decade of winter, but I’ve been where it snows. I can handle the drive home,” she said dryly, laughing a little when I held the door open for her.
“I wasn’t doubting your driving skills. I’ll be following you home anyway.”
A few minutes later, I watched the soft glow of her taillights as I drove. I muttered a curse to myself. Life carried on when it snowed in Alaska, even when it snowed heavily, but I hadn’t thought to make sure to have the driveway plowed tonight. Several inches had already fallen when I walked into Wildlands earlier. It was the worst kind of snow. Some people called it “snot snow.” It wasn’t sleet or icy rain, but it was a messy type of snow that smeared under your tires on the surface of the road, making it hard to keep traction.
I quickly tapped my dash and selected Josie’s contact. She didn’t answer, but then that was probably smart because she was driving. I was relieved she kept a slow speed all the way home. The next challenge was the driveway. There was a dip that I didn’t like. When spring came, I planned to install guardrails onthe side because the drive was narrow and it fell off steeply on each side with no shoulder.
I didn’t follow Josie too closely. Just when I thought it was all clear, she tapped her brakes, and in a split second, her car slipped right off the shoulder. It was a short hill, but there was no way she would be driving back up in the darkness.
I stopped, leaving my headlights on as I hurried out of my truck and down the slope. Her car was only about ten feet off the road. Before I even reached it, she was climbing out. “I’m fine, Tate!”
My heart kicked so hard against my ribs that it wouldn’t surprise me if I’d cracked a few. Intellectually, I knew she was fine, but still.
I stopped in front of Josie. “That scared me,” I said on the heels of my breath coming out in a gust.
She leaned into her car, turning off her headlights before grabbing her purse and throwing her hood up over her head.
“You okay?” I asked, placing my hands on her shoulders.
“Totally fine. My pride is dinged because I just told you back there that I’m good on snowy roads, and then I drove off the road.” She looked back toward her car. “This is the worst kind of snow, though. It’s sloppy.”
“It is.” We grinned at each other as we clambered up the short but steep embankment.
Moments later, I was parked in front of the houses. “You go on in. I’ll turn my truck off after you’re inside.”
“Tate, I can walk through the snow in the dark,” Josie protested. She glanced over at me with a glare.
“Humor me.”
With another eye roll and a huff, she climbed out and tromped through the snow. After her door closed, I turned my headlights and engine off and walked into my house. I’d barely closed the door and greeted my mom when my cell phonechimed. Josie’s name flashed on the screen as I slipped it out of my pocket.
