AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ethan scampered up, grabbed Christie’s hand, and began tugging her toward the mudroom.
Luke waited until she was out of earshot before speaking, smiling at his mom and his brother to soften his words. “I know you guys are excited, and I appreciate that, but a little space would be nice, okay? Don’t freak her out.”
His mom squeezed his arm. “We’ll give you as much space as you need. I’m just so glad you’re . . .” She swallowed and blinked, her eyes suddenly bright. “I like seeing you happy.” She took both his hand and Matt’s. “You boys have both been through so much over the years, and all I want is for you to be happy.” She slid her gaze to Matt. “Even if it means moving a thousand miles away. I just want you both to be happy. It’s all any parent wants for their child.”
Luke thought of Ethan, and he knew that was true. As long as Ethan was happy, all was right in the world. He thought of the way Ethan had shrieked with laughter playing with Christie in the snow, and he felt suddenly restless. “We’ll be back in for supper.”
* * *
The homemade ice rink in Luke’s parents’ backyard was surrounded with evergreens, snow dripping from them like frosting. A weak, late-afternoon sun shone down on them, sparkling faintly against the impressively smooth ice.
Christie glanced around apprehensively. “I’m not so sure this is a great idea. I feel like I’m gonna break my ankle.” She looked down at Luke as he laced up an old pair of his mother’s skates for her, the blade clutched between his denim-covered knees.
“Hang on to me. I won’t let you fall.”
“Christie, do you have your skates on yet?” Ethan called from the center of the ice, skating over to them on his black-and-silver hockey skates. Snow sprayed up from the blades as he stopped, his cheeks pink.
“Ready?” Luke smiled at her, his blue eyes crinkling warmly, and it hit her that she was at least halfway in love with him.
Whoa. Holy shit. She was in love with Luke. The thought settled over her, stealing her breath and sending her heart racing. It didn’t matter if she’d intended to fall or not, because she had, and it was too late to go back. Too late to do anything except keep falling, harder and faster.
She nodded and pulled in a shaky breath, and then Luke hauled her to her wobbly feet. Like a penguin, she waddled toward the ice. He stepped backward onto the ice and held out his hands. A current of nerves shot through her, and she pressed her fingers into his wide palms.
Over Luke’s shoulder, she watched Ethan skate in a circle, a hockey stick clutched in his hands. His blades cut smoothly across the ice as he crossed one foot over the other. He made it look easy.
Well. If an eight-year-old can do it, it can’t be that hard.
Her confidence bolstered by Ethan’s skating ability, she stepped firmly onto the ice. Immediately, the world titled and her stomach sloshed into her throat as her feet slipped out from under her. She braced herself for the impact, but Luke’s arms shot out, gripping her around her waist and saving her from falling on her ass. Slowly, her skates sliding beneath her, he righted her, holding her against him.
“I’m having second thoughts, seeing as I’m so clumsy I could trip over a cordless phone. If I can’t stay upright on solid ground, I’m not sure adding ice to the mix is a good idea.” She shook her head, laughing at herself.
He looked down at her, his gorgeous blue eyes sparkling. “You’ll be okay. Ethan and I will show you what to do.”
As the sun dipped behind the horizon, casting pink and orange beams across the snow and ice, her skating lesson progressed, and after an hour, she was breathless from laughing at Ethan and Luke hamming it up for her benefit. She’d also managed to stay mostly upright, holding tight to Luke’s hand as she slowly gained her balance and confidence with each small stride. Truly, it was more fun watching Luke chase Ethan across the rink, his blades slicing into the ice with long, powerful strokes. She smiled so wide she felt as though her face was going to crack in two as Luke caught Ethan, who squealed with laughter as Luke hoisted him up with ease, holding him upside down over his shoulder until Ethan could barely breathe, he was laughing so hard.
Everything around her sparkled: the ice, the snow, the trees, the lights from the house, and she pulled in a long, deep breath. This, right here, right now, was what joy felt like.
* * *
A steaming plate of food in front of him, Luke sat back and surveyed his family and the house he’d grown up in, trying to see it through Christie’s eyes. His chest felt tight, his heart swelling and taking up too much space as he realized how well she fit with his family. She was already teasing Matt, and she laughed readily at his dad’s cheesy jokes and talked easily with Ethan, treating everyone with the same warmth and kindness she showed him. A hot, almost burning sensation washed over him, and suddenly he felt too big for his skin, like he was going to vibrate out of it with happiness.
In that moment, he knew he was in love with her. The realization crashed into him, nearly taking his breath away. It was crazy. He’d only known her for a couple of weeks. And yet now he didn’t want to imagine his life without her in it. Couldn’t imagine it.
He snuck a hand under the table and gave her thigh an affectionate squeeze. Immediately, her hand was on top of his, squeezing back. She was glowing, radiant almost, as she told a funny story about some of the more bizarre patients she’d seen in the ER.
This was going to be the best Christmas in years. Maybe ever.
Chapter 10
December 20
Luke pried one eye open, one arm hanging over the edge of Christie’s bed, the other palm spread over Christie’s bare back. Ethan had slept over with his friends Ben and Michael Hayward last night, so Luke had had a sleepover of his own at Christie’s. He let his eye drop closed again just as his phone buzzed from the nightstand. Untangling himself from the covers, he grabbed his phone and his clothes, padding quietly out of Christie’s bedroom.
“Hello?” His voice was low and rough, rusty with sleep.
“Hi, is this Grayson Carpentry?”
“Yes, it is. How can I help you?” Wedging the phone between his ear and his shoulder, he tugged on his jeans.
