Chapter Four
Bryant Park’s Winter Village, located in the heart of Manhattan, exuded Christmas magic. At least, Cammie thought so. One look at Leo revealed a less-than-impressed expression on his face, but she wasn’t going to let his mood deter her.
She loved the open-air holiday market set up with vendors selling everything from Christmas decorations and hand-crafted jewelry to home decor and, of course, food.
The smell of pine permeated the air, overpowering the sometimes-unpleasant scents of the city, and everywhere she looked, there was garland, string lights, nutcrackers, wreaths, and Santa Claus figurines.
Everything screamed Christmas, and she loved it. “Isn’t this great?” she asked Leo, and to his credit, he tried to give her a smile. It just looked more like a grimace.
“Spending the evening in a crowded flea market during one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year? Sure, it’s great.”
Cammie chuckled and took his hand. “We’re not here to shop, you Grinch. Come on.”
She led him to the center of the market and a large ice-skating rink.
On the way, they passed people gathered in dining areas under heated lamps or around covered fire pits.
Others were shopping. Christmas music played, growing louder the closer they got to the rink.
Unable to resist, Cammie hummed along to “Jingle Bell Rock”.
Leo squeezed her fingers, and when she looked up at him, he was studying her as if trying to figure out the missing pieces to a puzzle. “You really love all of this Christmas stuff, don’t you?”
“What’s not to love?” she asked, gesturing to the decorated tree on the other side of the rink. The Douglas fir, draped with multicolored Christmas lights and ornaments that reflected onto the rink, had to be at least fifty feet tall.
Plenty of people were on the ice, but it wasn’t too crowded. Leo insisted on paying for the rental skates, and she held back any comments about how funny he’d look in his suit and fancy overcoat, with skates on his feet. She was lucky she was getting him onto the ice in the first place.
He changed his shoes, moving slowly, and she fidgeted in her seat, ready to go.
She loved ice skating, but he’d already admitted he didn’t do anything fun.
She considered this his first big adventure in a while, which was sad really.
So, if he wanted to waste time retying the laces of his skates three times, she wasn’t going to say a word.
Finally ready, he squared his shoulders and met her gaze. “Let’s go.”
She jumped to her feet and led the way. He followed her to the edge of the rink. She was so eager to skate that she didn’t look back until she stepped onto the ice.
The second they were both on the slick surface, she realized something was wrong. Leo wasn’t just uncomfortable with this new situation because he spent all his time in an office. He was unsteady on his feet.
“Do you not know how to skate?” she asked, worried. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought to ask but then again, he could have said no.
“I know how,” he said, slowly gliding forward with his hands out at his sides for balance. “It’s just… been a long time.”
“How long?” she asked, reaching for his hand again.
They were both wearing gloves, so she missed that warm tingle she’d felt when they shook hands for the first time, but there was still a flutter in her chest when he tightened his grip. Even if was just to keep his balance.
“Well, I was seventeen, so I guess it’s been twelve years,” he admitted.
“Was it a date?” she guessed.
“How did you know?”
She laughed. “Because it’s a perfect date, isn’t it?” she asked, as she moved in front of him and reached for his other hand so she could skate backwards and pull him along.
He let her, but a frown marred his handsome face. “I’m sure I can manage myself.”
Cammie doubted that fact. “Are you embarrassed to be escorted around by a woman?” she teased.
“Your gender has nothing to do with it. I just don’t like being out of control,” he said, his gaze glued to his feet.
“I could’ve guessed that about you, but it’s a shame. All the best things in life are out of control.” She continued to lead him around the ice.
“Such as?”
“Laughter when you’re surprised, or the urge to hum along to a song on the radio.
” She stuck close to the outer edge of the rink in deference to his uncertain balance, as they made a slow loop.
Leo still held her hands as she skated backward, but the longer they stayed on the ice, the surer his movements became.
“What else?” he asked.
She gave his question some thought. “The way your heart races when you’re about to share a first kiss. You feel completely out of control.” Her own heart began to race at the thought.
Her gaze darted to his lips, but she quickly glanced away because she and Leo weren’t going to share a first anything. This wasn’t that kind of outing. It wasn’t a date.
There’d been something almost sad about him as they sat across from each other in the restaurant and he’d told her he spent most of his time working. That just struck her as wrong.
Everyone should have a little fun and joy in their lives. She’d immediately come up with the idea of bringing him skating and though it was an impulsive decision, as he started to relax and gain a confidence, she knew it had been the right choice.
“Should I let go now?” she asked, noticing he wasn’t depending on her for balance anymore.
He considered it for a moment. “Maybe you can stay by my side instead? And I can keep my hand on you, just in case.”
Adorable, she thought, him admitting he might need more help.
She met his gaze and caught a flicker of heat in his eyes.
She wanted to believe he liked holding her hand for reasons beyond needing help balancing, but then she remembered how silly and disappointed she’d felt when she thought he was going to ask her out and instead, he’d wanted her to pretend to be his girlfriend.
Releasing his hands, she did a simple spin to his right side.
Leo narrowed his eyes at her. “Show off,” he mumbled, with a slight curve of his lips.
She held out her hand and he took it again. “I skated in high school too, but I participated in competitions,” she told him.
“You were a figure skater?” His voice lifted in surprise.
She grinned. “Yep. A pretty good one, too. I competed in the World Junior Figure Skating Championship when I was fourteen and fifteen. I didn’t place, but I’m proud of having done it.” She glanced up and caught his smile.
“I guess I should consider myself lucky to be on the ice with a professional.”
She let out an inelegant snort. “Hardly. I ended up breaking my ankle in a bad landing when I was sixteen, just before I was old enough to move into senior-level competitions. That put an end to my skating career. I might have been able to get back into it after I healed and regained strength in my ankle, but that took months. Honestly? By then, I was a little scared of getting hurt again, so I moved on to something else and found my passion in art and graphic design. I still love skating though, especially around the holidays.”
They continued to make laps around the rink, with Leo’s form getting better by the minute, but he never let go of her hand.
They didn’t talk much more as they skated.
Although the point of this outing was for them to get to know each other, she didn’t feel the need to fill their time together with idle chatter.
She was enjoying herself, and even Leo seemed more relaxed by the time they decided they’d had enough and left the ice to return their skates.
“I bet they have peppermint hot chocolate,” he said, pointing to a nearby stall.
“Oh, yum!” She rushed over and sure enough, they both were able to order the peppermint flavor.
She tried to pay, but he insisted, once again giving her the feeling this was a date, and she had to remind herself it was anything but.
They found a bench near the side of the rink and sat down to drink their hot chocolates.
“What are those?” Leo asked, pointing to a cluster of clear plastic domes nearby.
“Igloos.” She heard the wistfulness in her voice.
She’d always thought they seemed so romantic, but she hadn’t dated anyone in a while, and even if she was in a relationship, she didn’t have much extra money to rent one out.
“They’re heated and you can eat dinner in there surrounded by the beautiful Christmas decor while you watch the skaters. ”
He studied them without comment.
She shifted her gaze to the tree again, and an idea struck. “We should take a picture. I’ll make it my phone background for when we’re at the party. It’ll help sell our story if anyone glances at my screen.”
“You’re good at this,” he said, obviously impressed.
She didn’t tell him that she also wanted a photo because she wanted a way to remember him and their short time together. Instead, she moved closer, and they pressed their heads together. She raised her phone and behind them, the Christmas tree glittered in the background.
Cammie knew she would love this picture before she even took it.
Thanks to the chill in the air, Leo’s nose was a little red and she was sure her cheeks were flushed as well.
She smiled wide, though his was a little more reserved, but it reached his eyes, the sides crinkling as if he was enjoying himself as much as she was.
“You didn’t seem happy to be here when we arrived,” she said after they took the picture. “Why is that? You said you’d just outgrown childlike excitement, but I get the feeling that there’s more to it.”
A guy like Leo had to have grown up with a family who celebrated Christmas and gave out gifts. Why would he be such a Grinch now?
He sighed. “I’m not sure I like how easily you can read me. Is that a special skill of yours?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Nope. Now, answer the question.”
He took a sip of his hot chocolate and glanced around, his gaze landing on the shopping area.
“It’s just the commercialism of it all. When I said I wasn’t excited about Christmas because I’m not a child anymore, I meant it.
When I was a kid, Christmas was about warmth and happiness and family. It was meaningful.”
His words touched her, and she waited to hear more.
“But as I got older, I started to see that the holidays were about spending money. People get so stressed about how they need to buy, buy, buy. It’s made me see the whole thing as… soulless, I guess.”
She raised her eyebrows, finding his outlook sad but understandable. “I get that,” she said, as she downed the rest of her drink.
Leo had finished his as well, so they both stood and threw the cups in a nearby trash can.
“I think that Christmas can be whatever you want it to be. It’s all about what you make of it,” she said.
He let out a rough chuckle. “You make it sound so easy. What if I’m too bitter for that?”
She grinned and took his hand. “That sounds like a challenge, my friend. If we’re going to keep getting to know each other, I’m going to make it my personal mission to show you the brighter side of the holiday.”
His eyeroll conveyed his disbelief. “Good luck with that.”
He didn’t know her well enough to realize that when she set out to accomplish a goal, she was always successful.
They headed back to his SUV, and he opened her door, letting her in.
As he drove her back to her apartment, she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off his profile.
The spark that she felt for him had grown.
Now it was more like a fire, burning deep inside her and urging her to get closer, to know him better and not for some pretend reason.
“So, what do you think?” she asked. “Did you have fun tonight?”
He glanced at her briefly before refocusing on the road. “I did. The whole evening wasn’t what I expected.”
She studied his handsome features. “Is that a good thing? I know you have those control issues…”
This time, he shot her a fake wide-eyed look. “I think you enjoy teasing me a little too much. But yes, it’s a good thing.”
He parked in front of her building instead of the far curb, turning off the vehicle and getting out with her. She figured he’d just walk her to the building, but he held open the door and stepped inside.
“And where do you think you’re going?” she asked as he waited for the elevator along with her.
“I’m making sure you get to your apartment okay.”
She let out a noise, half scoff, half she didn’t know what. “I don’t live in a crack den, Leo. This building is secure. You saw me use a key to get in, right?”
He eyed her with skepticism. “Maybe I’m just a gentleman.”
As he joined her in the elevator, a part of her wished that wasn’t true. A man that wasn’t a gentleman would probably push his luck and try to get an invite into her apartment. Or even better, into her bed.
Despite her dismissal when he’d offered to show her the great views at his place, she wanted to give in to this attraction, even if it didn’t have real meaning for him. Even if it was just a one-time hookup. She wasn’t usually that girl but for Leo, she’d make an exception.
When they reached her apartment on the third floor, she paused in front of the door. She’d already had her keys in hand and fiddled with them as she met his gaze. Another thing she liked about him. He was tall and she needed to tip her neck back to look at him.
There was something undeniably intimate about how close they stood, and her lips parted just as he said her name.
“Cammie… I don’t think I’ve thanked you for going along with all this. I really do appreciate it, and I think it’s time for me to follow through on another part of our deal.”
Can we renegotiate it to include a night in bed? Good thing she hadn’t said that out loud.
Reaching into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, he pulled out his wallet and handed her a familiar credit card, the one he used to buy coffee every time he came into Froth and Grind.
“Get yourself a dress for the party. There’s a boutique off Madison Avenue called Urban Trend. My sister goes there often. If they won’t let you use it, just give me a call.”
Cammie accepted the card and stopped fidgeting with her keys. He wasn’t going to kiss her like she’d hoped. “Thanks, Leo. Have a good night.”
She’d just stepped inside when she heard him reply in a low voice. “Good night, Cammie.”
She shut the door without looking back and tucked the credit card into her purse. The card served as a reminder. This was a business deal.
No romance involved.