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“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“You don’t have to. I know you, and the answer is no.”
Robbie frowned and let go of my hand to cross his arms over his chest. “Um, excuse me, you don’t get to just say no and that be the end of that.”
My lips twitched at the sassy eyebrow winging up over his eye. I reached out to smooth my fingertip along it. “Yes, I do.”
Robbie swatted at my hand and pointed at me. “No, you don’t. You owe me.”
“I owe you?” I chuckled. “And how do you figure that? Julien and I whisked you away for a surprise romantic weekend where you got to eat brunch with Ace Locke.”
“That right there,” Robbie said, finger pushing against my chest. “I had no warning, no chance to dress to impress. You two just sprang it on me, and I acted like a fool.”
I took hold of his finger. “You always impress, dressed or not. And I didn’t think you were foolish at all. I thought you were adorable.”
“You have to say that; you’re married to me.” Robbie aimed a coy look at me from under his lashes. “And speaking of being married, haven’t you heard the saying, happy wife, happy life?”
“Are you trying to tell me you aren’t happy?”
“No, but I could be happier.”
I sighed and looked over his shoulder toward the rink. “I don’t ice-skate.”
“You don’t— You live in Chicago, where there is snow up to your waist half the year.”
“Slight exaggeration, don’t you think?”
“Okay, maybe a quarter of the year. You seriously don’t ice-skate?”
“I wasn’t born in Chicago, remember? Louisiana and California don’t exactly have huge amounts of snow every year.”
If I thought that was going to save me, I was gravely mistaken. The idea had already taken root with Robbie, and there was no swaying him.
“That’s okay, I’ll help you.” He took hold of my hand and began tugging me toward the outdoor rink, where people were skillfully gliding and weaving their way around the ice as though they’d been doing it their entire life.
There was no way in hell I was going out there.
“I have an idea. I’ll stand over there by the rail and watch you,” I said as we moved into line to pay for the skate rentals. “You know how much I like watching.”
“Nice try, but no. You owe me, and this is what I want.” Robbie squeezed my hand and gazed up at me with wide, hopeful eyes. “Come on, Joel. It’s Christmas.”
It was clear that he had my number and knew it. I didn’t think there was anything I’d deny him when he looked at me that way. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Robbie all but bounced on his toes. This was going to be awful—and probably painful—but I would have agreed a hundred times over to see him so happy.
I gestured to the counter, where it was our turn to order our shoes and pay, and ten minutes later they were on our feet and Robbie was urging me to stand.
I looked at the skates and grimaced. This was not going to be pretty.
“Come on,” Robbie urged. “Don’t be scared.”
I aimed my most fulminating look his way, and when Robbie’s lips twitched, I shook my head. “I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
“What do you mean? It’s a fabulous idea.”
Robbie held his hand out, and as I gingerly got to my feet, I swayed a little. Robbie’s eyes widened and he moved forward to steady me. Shit. I wasn’t even on the ice yet, for fuck’s sake.
“Don’t you dare laugh at me.”
Robbie bit down on his lower lip, clearly trying to hold back a chuckle. “I would never.”
“Liar,” I muttered as he guided me toward the gate to hell. When he stepped out onto it and smoothly glided to the edge of the rink to wait for me, I tried to remember why I’d agreed to this again.
“Come on,” Robbie said. “Just take it nice and slow. I’m right here.”
I warily lifted a foot and slowly placed it on the icy ground, doing my best to block out the people twirling and jumping all around us. Showoffs.
“That’s it. There’s a nice break coming up. Just hold on to the edge and gently slide your— Whoa.”
My feet scissored apart further than I would’ve liked, and Robbie lurched forward, placing a hand under my elbow.
“I got you,” he said as his grip tightened and he guided me to the wall.
I took a death grip on the rail and tried to calm my pounding heart. Jesus, please don’t let me break anything. Robbie slid in nice and close to me and ran his hand down my arm to entwine our fingers.
“Thank you for doing this with me.”
I eyed him like he was out of his mind. “Don’t thank me yet. This might be as far as I get.”
