Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“I want to hold on right here while you skate for a minute,” she says, her voice not wavering at all. “Seriously, I need you to make sure that your knee is ready for this.”
With a nod, I step onto the ice, take a deep breath, and fuck, this feels good.
The cold air, the smell of the ice, the glide of my skates.
“How does it feel?” Ivy calls out to me.
“Like I could take on Dallas.”
I glance over and see her grin. She looks like a wet dream in her black leggings and blue coat. And I knew the skates would be sexy on her.
After taking a few minutes to simply glide up and down the rink, I return to her and hold out a hand.
“Come on, Red. Your turn.”
“I will make you fall.”
I snort. “Baby, I don’t fall. If I can’t hold you up on this ice, I have no business being in the league. Now get your pretty ass out here.”
“That’s a whole lot of unprofessional language,” she says, narrowing her eyes, but there’s no heat in it.
“Report me.”
She bites her lip and shakes her head, then reaches for my hand, and now she’s on the ice with me, those blue eyes full of pure fear.
“Okay, I’ve got you.” I move in and hold her face in my hands, making her look up at me. “Just look at me.”
“I don’t like trying new things,” she admits softly, and it makes my chest ache because I may not know her well, but I know that Ivy doesn’t like to let people in and see her underbelly.
“You’re great.”
“No, I don’t like being embarrassed. It never ends well for me.”
Frowning, my eyes dip to her lips. “It’s just the two of us.”
She doesn’t answer, and I try another tactic.
“I’m going to hold your hands, and I’ll skate backward and pull you with me. You don’t even have to do any of the work.”
She nods and takes a breath when my hands drift down her arms to her hands, holding her securely as I start to move backward.
Ivy bites her lip, but her eyes look determined now as we move, and this might be the most fun I’ve had on the ice.
Okay, winning the Cup was better, but this ranks up there.
“You have to breathe for me, Red.”
“Can’t. I’ll fall.”
God, she makes me smile. “Nah, no falling allowed, remember? Those are your rules.”
She finally takes a breath and starts to loosen up just a bit, until I drop one of her hands and she squeaks.
“You’ve got this, badass girl. Your balance is great, your posture is good. You don’t even have to push off yet.”
“Xander?”
“Yes.”
“If my ass lands on that ice, I will stab you with my skate.”
I let out a laugh, and now I can’t resist pushing her hair behind her ear and grazing my fingers over her cheek.
Over those sexy-as-fuck freckles.
“You’re doing great. Now, push forward.”
“I’m not pushing anything.”
She’s so fucking funny.
“Do you want me to show you how?”
“If that involves letting go of me, no. No thanks. You can pull me back to the side now.”
“No way. You’ve got this. Come on, wildcat, push off from your right foot.”
“What did you just call me?”
“You’ve got bite. You’re fearless. And I love it when you purr.”
“I’ve never purred in my life.”
You will.
I mentally shake my head.
“Come on, push off.”
She bites her lip, holds her breath again, and does exactly what I ask, perfectly. In fact, in less than five minutes, I’m skating beside her, holding her hand, and we’re making our way over the ice. She’s a little wobbly, but she’ll be an expert within thirty minutes.
“See? You’ve got this.”
“I do usually have decent balance,” she admits, and her face transforms from terror to smug pride, and I love it. Getting this look on her face is a new life goal, every damn day. “Okay, I admit. It’s not bad.”
“‘Not bad’? It’s the best. Breathe in that cold air.”
She tips her head back and takes a deep breath, exposing her perfect neck, and I want to nibble on that tender spot where I can see her pulse flutter.
What am I, a fucking vampire?
“I hope you don’t mind, but we have to run an errand on the way back to Silver Springs.”
“What kind of errand?”
“I have to go to—” Shit, the word just flew right out of my head. “You know, where you go to get on a plane.”
“Airport.”
“Right, I have to go to the airport.” Today’s been a shitty memory day, and I fucking hate it.
But Ivy nods, staring straight ahead, concentrating hard.
“To pick up Cooper and his wife.”
Her head whips over in my direction, and she almost face-plants, but I have her firmly in my grip.
“Oh.”
“He’s bringing his wife.”
“Oh. Wait. You said that.”
Right. I said that.
“If you tell me that Coop is really your favorite and you’re sad that he’s married, I’ll let you fall on your face.”