After a month in Antarctica, Sam had earned a reputation around the research station. Not because he was the best photographer on the project, but because he somehow kept ending up on every assignment Elena was assigned to. Nobody believed it was accidental.

When a new wildlife survey was posted on the assignment board that morning, Sam signed his name beside Elena's before he'd even finished reading the details.

"That's impressive,"

One of the researchers said.

"You volunteered before you knew where you were going."

"I like surprises."

"You like zoologists."

The table erupted in laughter while Sam rolled his eyes.

An hour later, bundled against the cold, he met Elena outside the equipment shed. They loaded cameras, sample kits, and tracking gear onto a snowmobile before heading toward a section of coastline where several tagged seals had recently been spotted.

The station gradually disappeared behind them, swallowed by the endless white landscape.

Sam adjusted the camera hanging around his neck and glanced over at her.

"Just so you know, I was going to volunteer for this assignment even before I saw your name on it."