He let out a laugh that tinkled like the bells on the sleigh—high, clear, and just a bit brittle. “The kiss was staged, thanks in part to Maya and the other folks in Legacy. Maddox and I only went along with it because it made for good content. Which is the point of all of this, remember?” He smiled hard and didn’t meet my eyes.
My skin flashed from hot to cold and then settled on clammy and unsettled.
Good content.
Right.
Content.
“I see.” Nate nodded, guiding the horses around a bend in the trail. “It was Maya’s fault that you two happened to be standing right there all cuddled up when the lights came on.”
“We weren’t cuddling! I was blinded—” Adrian protested.
“Knock it off, Nate,” I muttered. “You heard the man.”
Nate laughed. “Hey, I’m not the one you need to convince. It’s a small town. Everyone’s seen how you are with each other. Haven’t you noticed that every potential date for Adrian mysteriously cancels at the last minute?”
Adrian’s cheeks flushed, which was an unexpected reaction. “Maddox thinks it’s a conspiracy.”
Nate snorted. “There’s actually a betting pool at Timber about when the two of you will?—”
“Look at that view,” I interrupted desperately. “Perfect shot of Slingshot Mountain coming up. We should stop here.”
To my relief, Nate shut up and slowed the horses. “This is one of my favorite spots. This time of day, the sun hits it just right sometimes.”
The sleigh came to a stop at a stunning overlook. Fresh snow blanketed the landscape, sparkling in the winter sunlight. The river winding below was partially frozen, creating a striking pattern of ice and dark water. Pine trees, heavily laden with snow, framed the mountains in the distance.
“It’s breathtaking,” Adrian said quietly.
“Take your time getting whatever shots you need,” Nate suggested. “The horses could use a rest anyway.”
I climbed down first, camera already in hand, surveying the scene for the best angles. Adrian followed, pulling out his phone to take a quick personal shot before we started the actual filming.
“Let’s get some footage of you by that stand of pines,” I directed, slipping into professional mode. “The light’s hitting them perfectly right now.”
Adrian nodded, moving toward the spot I’d indicated. I followed, stepping carefully through the snow, focusing on framing the shot rather than on the man in my viewfinder.
That was my mistake. Too focused on the camera settings, I didn’t notice the patch of ice beneath the fresh snow until my boot knocked the tripod leg and began to slip. In an effort to protect the camera, my feet went out from under me, and I stumbled directly into Adrian’s path as he lurched forward to keep me from falling.
“Maddox!” he cried as I crashed into his chest. My handscradled the camera as my nose buried itself in the soft scarf at the base of his throat.
For a moment, we stood frozen, my body pressed against his, his arms wrapped around my waist. His heart hammered through the thin skin of my cheek, matching the rapid beat of my own.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice rough and low.
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. His face was inches from mine, his breath warm against my cold skin. His eyes, wide with surprise, darkened as they fixed on mine. Something electric passed between us, a current that had nothing to do with the winter static in the air.
“Watch your step,” Nate called from the sleigh, amusement clear in his voice. “Snow and ice are slippery.”
His words broke the spell. I stepped back abruptly, nearly losing my balance again before steadying myself with the tripod legs.
“Sorry,” I muttered, unable to meet Adrian’s eyes. “Wasn’t paying attention.”
“’S’okay,” Adrian replied, his voice still strangely tight. “Happens.”
I busied myself checking that my camera hadn’t been damaged, though I knew perfectly well it was fine. My heart was still racing, skin tingling where his hands had gripped me.
“We should, uh, get that shot before the light changes,” I said, gesturing vaguely toward the pines.
