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Laughing, I take the plate of cookies. “Thank you for this, it’s lovely of you.”
“Nonsense. He’s a good man and until you showed up, he’s been missing what he deserves. Happiness.” She surprises me with a kiss to the cheek. “Let’s take these over to him.”
Placing the plate onto the table, Denise puts my hot chocolate in front of my seat smiling. She doesn’t say anything before retreating.
“I see she’s given us some of her Christmas cookies.” Tanner grins. “I’ve eaten these every Christmas since I was a kid.”
Sitting beside him, I lean over and kiss his rough cheek. I smooth my hand over his jaw. “I love feeling this scruff. It’s sexy,” I whisper.
“Hmm, I think you better stop giving me ideas while I’m sitting here.”
Chuckling, I pick the sugar cookie up and take a large bite. My eyes pop wide when the flavor bursts on my tongue and then I moan, closing my eyes as I munch on the cookie.
When I open my eyes, Tanner’s gaze is fixed on me, and the look he’s giving me makes me forget everything but him.
“You are driving me nuts with your little moans,” he admits, fidgeting in his chair.
Picking my drink up, I take a sip and moan again, holding Tanner’s gaze above the tall glass. Chuckling, I take another sip and sigh in pleasure as the cinnamon-flavored foam hits my taste buds. “God, I’m going to be in a sugar coma later.”
“Just as long as we’re at home when that hits you, then I might just survive it,” he mumbles, his eyes tracking my tongue, licking the cream from my lips.
76
Tanner
The amazing woman by my side is so full of life that the look on her face when I suggested we put the packages in the truck and then visit the ice rink was one I don’t think I’ll forget anytime soon. Apparently, she doesn’t have very good balance…something I’m about to witness.
The rink is a small one built on the town square and surrounded by snow-covered trees with lots of twinkling lights. There is outdoor seating and tables with couples holding hands, drinking the warm cider that the concession stand is selling.
As I fasten the skates onto Charlotte’s feet, she glances nervously around us so, standing above her, I force her eyes to mine. “I promise not to let you go.” I kiss her lips, feeling the coldness, so I dip down again and hover. “I’m looking forward to warming you up once we’re home.”
She groans and smiles. “I can’t wait.” She glances at the rink. “I just hope I don’t break anything before then.”
“No way will that happen.” I tug her up and keep my arm around her as I walk her to the entrance onto the rink.
She doesn’t pause and keeps going, stepping with confidence onto the ice. I slip my arm around her waist and take hold of her arm with my other hand. “You have this. Just let your feet glide.”
We start slow, keeping the pace even as confident skaters make turns and twirls in front of us. Couples holding hands catch Charlotte’s attention when she nods toward them. “They look so cute,” she adds, referring to an elderly couple skating by.
“They open the rink every year and have done so for as long as I can remember.”
“That’s so sweet.” Charlotte wobbles but I keep us upright while the song changes to another Christmas carol.
The sound of kids laughing makes me smile, it never stops even when three of them fall over each other ending in a heap on the ice. They roll to their backs laughing while others help them up.
Slowly coming to a stop with Charlotte, the sound of our blades scraping on the ice is familiar. We lean on the barrier, and I admit, “I used to play ice hockey here every winter.” I smile fondly. “Grade four through to grade nine. I loved it.”
“Why did you stop?”
Sighing, I look behind me at the kids again. “We spent a few years at the ranch in Texas, and well, there doesn’t tend to be outdoor ice rinks there.” I grin. “I missed it and then I don’t really know why I didn’t start again when I came home. Just never got around to it.”
“I see the appeal but it isn’t really for me, although I wouldn’t mind watching you out there. I bet you were hot and had all the girls drooling over you.”
Slinging an arm around her neck, I bring her nose-to-nose, and tell her, “None of them were as beautiful or as sexy as you are.”
“Hmm, I love you Tanner Jackson.”
