Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,54

despite it being two sizes too big for her, she looked insanely hot wearing it. The ends of her blond hair sticking out from under the hat blew softly in the wind and the overwhelming urge to grab her and kiss her and see if he’d imagined the spark between them was strong.

So much for the pep talk. Luckily, he didn’t expect her to make the same impulsive mistake again. He was relying on that.

She put the helmet on and then tossed one leg over the seat, climbing on behind him. Levi braced himself and waited for her arms to wrap around his waist, but a quick glance over his shoulder revealed that she was holding on to the handles in the back instead.

Probably for the best.

He didn’t need the extra distraction. The proximity to her and her thighs against his hips even with layers of fabric between them was enough.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Let’s go,” she said.

He started toward the trail leading south toward the lake. Visibility was clear and the thick wet snow on the trail made for a smoother ride. Thank God, because the ride was rough enough. Keeping his eyes straight ahead and his hands on the bars was a challenge.

“Why are you driving like my grandmother?” Leslie called over the roar of the machine.

The trash talk caught him by surprise. It was the first thing she’d said to him that wasn’t full of tension or awkwardness. The slightly teasing tone gave him far more hope than it should have. He shot a quick glance at her over his shoulder and hit the gas harder. A little too abruptly. She flew backward slightly and reached out for him before she could fall off the back of the Ski-Doo. “What was that about my driving?” he called back as her arms encircled his waist. Another quick look at her revealed she was smiling and it nearly took his breath away. This was the first time he’d seen that smile since she’d arrived. And it was directed at him...or this activity anyway.

He didn’t care if he had to fly over the snowy trails; he was determined to keep that smile on her face as long as possible.

* * *

LESLIE’S ARMS TIGHTENED around Levi as he drove even faster down the tree-lined trail, snow blowing up all around them. The adrenaline pumping through her from the speed and exhilarating ride gave her an almost euphoric feeling, one she desperately wanted to last as long as possible. The wind whipping against her cheeks, the motor vibrating between her legs and the small bumps and hills along the way that added an extra element of excitement to the ride had her heart feeling a little lighter than it had in a week.

The smile on her face was definitely new. She hadn’t even been able to force a convincing one in days, but right now she couldn’t help but enjoy the moment, the sense of freedom and letting go—while she held on tight to Levi.

Her chest pressed up against his back and her thighs clutching his hips added a sensuality to the moment that she wished she could explain...or at least understand.

She’d been on the back of Ski-Doos and Sea-Doos and dirt bikes with Levi a million times over the years, but it had never felt this intimate.

Her mind told her she needed to get a grip, focus on what was important and not let anyone from her past get too close while she was stuck there. Her heart told her she might not have any say.

Levi was breaking her down bit by bit. She’d crumbled completely two nights before in his hotel room and unfortunately the wall she’d rebuilt around herself seemed to be made of straw. And more and more of it was being blown away in the wind the kinder Levi was, the more considerate, the more helpful and understanding.

As much as she didn’t want to need him, she did and that was leading to a whole lot of other confusing emotions within her.

She moved even closer, breathing in the scent of his familiar cologne on his jacket. The smell combined with the feel of his muscular body beneath the coat had her body reacting in ways it really shouldn’t be. She clenched her thighs around him—the vibration from the Ski-Doo was definitely not helping the situation.

Selena was right. Levi was hot.

But Levi was also her former best friend. Her former fiancé’s best friend too. This attraction to him was not