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“Yeah.” He doesn’t move. “Monday.”

I make myself walk away. I came to Alaska to find out who I am, not get weird about returning an item of clothing to a brooding man I barely know.

Chapter 15

Nick

I’d told myself the weekend off was for her. She’d earned it. That was the official reason, the one I gave Luca, the one I want to believe. But really, I needed her out of the van before I did something I couldn’t take back.

Then she was there, walking away from my house, and instead of letting her go I said her name.

That was a mistake.

It’s Monday night and I’m telling myself I’ve got it under control. The van fills with that scent, her scent, the one I haven’t been able to escape all weekend. I grip the wheel.

This is totally fine.

“Do you own any other jackets?” she teases.

I look down when I stop at a red light. I’m wearing the jacket I loaned her. The one she returned. The one I now realize I’d reached for every time I left the house. I’ve been wearing it all weekend. Huh.

“I like this one.” I flip the turn signal. “Not like you’re changing it up either. You’ve still got that damn peacoat.”

“Fair.”

“We’ll go shopping tomorrow and get you something warmer.” I say it without thinking, and it takes a second for it to register in my own ears. It came out like shopping trips are a normal thing we do. Together.

And now she’s gone quiet.

“Only if, like…we don’t have to⁠—”

“Haven’s Rest?” She’s peering through the window at the sign carved into a slab of wood above the entrance. “I was supposed to stay here, remember?”

I wince, remembering the day we met and how rude I’d been when she was unlucky enough to cross my path.

“Your mom told me I knew exactly what I was doing.” She turns to me and grins. “Which was generous, given the circumstances.”

“Sounds like Mom.”

Ellery greets our guests as they come through the lavishly decorated entrance. Chad and Brittany. They’re our only passengers tonight, paid for a private tour, and I already know they’re going to be a problem. Four years of this and you learn the type.

Dressed like they’re heading for the slopes of Aspen in high-end gear, Brittany pulls Chad in for a selfie before they get in. They take the pair of seats right up front, where Ellery usually sits to talk to the guests. So she gets back in beside me.

“Welcome aboard.” I switch on my customer service persona. It’s not as good as Ellery’s, and it makes me feel like a phony. But it’s what I got. “We’re in luck tonight, clear skies and high solar activity, so you’re in for a special show. As requested, I’ve got a great spot in mind to capture some spectacular footage.”

“Okay, this is already going to be incredible,” Brittany says, leaning into Chad’s side.

“The lights will be unreal,” Chad agrees, half to her, half to the camera.

“So, where you from?” Ellery turns in her seat to talk while I lead us back out on the road.

“LA,” Chad offers.

“Nice. My family has a beach house on Lechuza. We spent some great summers there. What brings you to Alaska?”

“We make travel stuff, mostly. For our channel.” Brittany holds up her phone to film the drive, and I try not to roll my eyes. “Britt and Chad Take the World? You might’ve come across it.”

I’ve got no idea who they are, and I’m pretty sure Ellery doesn’t either, but she says, “That’s so cool. Yeah, I think my best friend follows you.”