Chapter 12 Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate
Ieyed the rental skates Cole pulled from the skate rental counter with the same enthusiasm I’d give a pair of rusty bear traps. They were white, and because everything about this situation was absurdly festive, they were trimmed with red and green laces.
“How did you manage to rent this entire place without staff?” I reluctantly sat on a bench, still feeling strangely drawn to the ice.
Cole knelt in front of me with the skates, his massive frame somehow making the bench look like dollhouse furniture. “I know people.”
“You know people who just hand over keys to ice rinks?” I kicked off my shoes.
Kip dropped onto the bench beside me, his knee bumping mine. “Cole can be very convincing.”
Cole pulled off my ankle socks with a frown. “These won’t do.” With a quick flick of the wrist, a pair of thick red and green striped socks appeared.
“Those are completely unnecessary.” I tried to pull my foot away, but he took my ankle in his hand. Tingles shot up my leg, and I bit my lip.
“They’re cute.” Kip grabbed one from Cole and knelt at my other leg.
“I can put on my own—” My protest died as Kip grabbed my other ankle.
I was very aware of how they placed my legs on their knees as they pulled on my socks, their fingers brushing over my skin in a way that felt anything but innocent.
Kip gave me a knowing smirk as he pulled on one of my skates and laced it up. “There’s nothing worse than wobbly ankles on the ice.”
The overhead string lights cast everything in a warm golden glow, making everything seem sexier than it was. At least, that’s what I was telling myself.
Nothing was sexy about two attractive men kneeling in front of a woman putting on her socks and skates. Nope. Nothing at all.
Cole pulled my laces. “Too tight?” His dark eyes flicked up to mine, amusement dancing in them. “You need them nice and snug, so you don’t break an ankle when you inevitably wipe out.”
My mouth fell open in shock. I would have expected that from Kip, but not Cole. “Your confidence in me is truly inspiring.”
Kip stood, producing a pair of fuzzy red gloves from literally nowhere. One moment his hands were empty; the next, he had gloves. “For your hands.” He held them out expectantly.
“Really? Are you sure they aren’t for your antlers?” I held out my hands, letting him tug them into place.
The gloves fit perfectly, and that twisted something inside me. It was one thing for Kip to think about my hands being cold, but another entirely for him to get them exactly right.
I watched as Kip and Cole effortlessly slipped into their own custom black skates that had clearly seen plenty of ice time. “Did you bring your entire wardrobe to Palm Springs? Seems excessive. Where are you all staying anyway?”
Cole tightened his laces with the ease of someone who had done it a million times. “We’re staying in a place outside of town.”
“Nine of you in one place?” I raised an eyebrow. “That must be... cozy.”
Kip grinned, standing up to test his skates. “We’re used to close quarters.”
I stood up, a bit wobbly, and Cole’s hand immediately shot out to steady me. “Do you all live together when you’re not stalking Christmas-hating women?” I gripped his arm harder than necessary, blaming it on the blades beneath my feet and not the feel of his muscles under my fingers.
Kip moved with perfect balance like he’d been born on ice. “We’ve lived together since we formed a herd. Makes logistics easier.”
I shuffled forward, clinging to Cole like a koala to a eucalyptus tree. “And how long ago was that? For all I know, you guys could have the lifespan of vampires or something. You could be secretly three hundred years old with a taste for blood instead of cookies.”
Cole let out a quiet chuckle while Kip burst into full-on laughter, his whole face lighting up.
“What? It’s a legitimate question! I’m trying to figure out if I’m dealing with immortal beings or just unnaturally tall men with unexplained magical powers.” I glared at them both, which only made Kip laugh harder.
“We’re not vampires.” Cole guided me toward the ice entrance with the patience of someone escorting a toddler. “Though Kip does have a thing for dramatic capes.”
“We do age slower, but we’re not that much older than you. We’ve been a complete herd of nine for about a decade now. Been working our way up the ranks in terms of reindeer herds, hoping to one day...” He trailed off, eyes flicking to Cole like he wasn’t sure if he should continue.
Cole’s expression shifted to something more serious. “The top herd gets the best job.”
“Which is what exactly? Prime-time Christmas Eve flying? Special access to the cookie vault?” I took a tentative step onto the ice and immediately felt my feet trying to go in opposite directions.
Cole’s arm circled my waist, pulling me against his side as my ankles betrayed me. His body was hot against mine, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to push away or burrow closer.
“Something like that,” he murmured, his breath warm against my hair.
Kip skated a lazy circle around us, hands clasped behind his back. “Ready for your first lesson, Ms. North?”
I looked down at the gleaming ice beneath my skates and the strong arms keeping me upright. Whatever game these men were playing, I was already in too deep to back out now. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Kip glided backward with effortless grace, positioning himself in front of me and taking hold of my hips. “Keep your eyes on me and your knees slightly bent.”
The feel of his strong hands on my hips, coupled with Cole’s steady presence behind me, created a Neve sandwich I hadn’t ordered but couldn’t complain about.
“Like this?” I bent my knees slightly, trying to ignore how Kip’s thumbs were making tiny circles against my hipbones through my jeans.
Cole’s hand slid from my waist to the small of my back. “Weight centered, not too far forward or back.”
“Is this what elves do in the off-season? Teach ice skating?” I wobbled slightly, and both men’s grips tightened.
Kip’s mouth quirked up at one corner. “We’re not elves. I’m offended you can’t tell the difference.”
I snorted. “Sorry, I missed the class on ‘Identifying Magical Christmas Creatures 101.’”
My feet found their rhythm, muscle memory awakening like someone had flipped a switch. My body remembered the glide, the balance, the sensation of floating across ice.
“Would you look at that.” Cole’s hand now barely touched my back.
Kip seemed surprised as I began moving more confidently. “Didn’t you say you couldn’t skate?”
I shifted my weight, preparing to break away from their hold. “Apparently, it’s like riding a bike. A bike I don’t remember ever learning to ride.”
My body hummed with a peculiar joy as I pushed forward, breaking free from their grasp and gliding across the ice with surprising control. I skated around the rink, building confidence and getting used to the new way momentum moved me forward.
“Look at you go!” Kip caught up after a while, skating backward in front of me, holding out his hands.
I took them, electricity zinging through my fingers even through my gloves. The moment our hands connected, his eyes lit up, and he yanked me forward with unexpected force.
“Whoa!” My feet scrambled to keep up as he pulled me along, building momentum with each passing second.
Kip’s grin widened as we picked up speed. “Trust the ice, Neve!”
Easy for him to say when he wasn’t the one being dragged across a frozen death trap. My legs wobbled beneath me but somehow kept pace as we flew around the rink.
“Ready for the handoff?” Kip’s tone suggested he knew I wasn’t, and before I could determine what ‘handoff’ meant, he spun me in a circle and released me.
I sailed across the ice, arms pinwheeling, heart lodged somewhere in my throat as momentum carried me straight toward Cole, who stood with his arms open like this was all part of some choreographed routine.
“I can’t stop!” My voice came out as a panicked squeak.
Cole’s expression never changed as I barreled toward him. “You don’t need to.”
I crashed into his chest with enough force to knock the wind out of my lungs but not enough to budge him an inch. His arms wrapped around me, steadying us both as I clung to his sweater.
“That was completely unnecessary,” I mumbled against the wool.
“Was it?” Cole’s voice was teasing.
The overhead speakers crackled as the music changed to a new song, and the opening notes of “Carol of the Bells” filled the rink.
I was six years old, standing on a frozen pond much larger than this rink.
The northern lights danced overhead as Dad held my hands, pulling me around in circles while this exact song played from somewhere.
My little legs moved instinctively, finding a rhythm in the music.
His silver beard sparkled with frost, and his laughter echoed across the ice.
“That’s it, Snowflake! You’re a natural, like your mother!”
“Neve?” Kip’s voice pulled me back, the memory slipping away like smoke.
I blinked rapidly, focusing on Cole’s concerned expression as he studied my face.
“I remembered something.” My voice sounded strange to my own ears. “I’ve skated before. With my dad.”
Kip glided to a stop beside us, his hand finding my shoulder. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just... déjà vu.” I pushed away from Cole, suddenly self-conscious about how long I’d been plastered against him. “I think I’ve had enough skating.”
Cole nodded, his eyes never leaving my face. “We should probably head out anyway.”
“Are we done with Christmas spirit activities for the day?” I attempted to sound relieved rather than disappointed as we made our way toward the exit.
Kip’s freckled face broke into a wide grin. “Not quite. We’ve got one more stop planned.”
I groaned dramatically while untying my skates, ignoring the flutter of anticipation. “Let me guess… building gingerbread houses while carolers serenade us?”
“That’s a good idea.” Cole knelt to help remove my skates. “You’ll like this next activity more, though.”