Chapter 24 #2
‘That’s easily solved. You’re more than welcome to park at mine. I have a little track running down the side of my cottage, you can park up there if you want to.’
‘Oh, no, thank you, but I’m not going to take you for granted like that.’ Scarlett smiled as she felt a flush of warmth radiate from her chest. That offer was so Rowan.
‘You wouldn’t be taking me for granted because I’m offering, but if not, there’s a camping site a few miles out of Meadowfield on the way to Nettleford which might be an option.
Even if only until you’ve decided what to do.
’ Rowan stabbed his finger over his shoulder, indicating the direction the campsite was located.
‘Is there? That might be an option then. Thank you.’ Yes, that might well be an option. Maybe she could check it out after Christmas. Staying at a campsite, particularly if it had a full-size shower block, would be a luxury and would mean she wasn’t constantly worrying about being told to move on.
‘Great. Well, I for one hope you decide to stick around. For a bit at least.’ Rowan caught her eye and grinned before looking ahead towards the ice rink.
Following his gaze, Scarlett watched as a pigeon hopped about on the ice, the rainbow of colours illuminating the shiny surface from the twinkling fairy lights on the Christmas tree, imitating a dance floor. She nudged Rowan’s shoulder with her own. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’
‘If you’re thinking it’s a shame it’s closed off all night, then you’d be right.’
‘Uh-huh. It’ll only get dismantled and taken down tomorrow…’
‘Such a waste.’ Pushing himself to standing, Rowan turned to her and held out his hand.
‘Are we really doing this?’ Scarlett glanced around. They were alone and this side of the ice rink was only visible from where the stalls were set up. No one was about besides them.
Rowan raised his eyebrows questioningly.
‘Okay, why not? It’s not every day we get the chance to have our own private ice rink.
’ Taking his hand, she welcomed the warmth of his skin against hers, her hand fitting perfectly into his.
Letting him lead the way, she followed him towards a large storage stall where earlier that day people had been borrowing ice-skates from.
Luckily, the doors were unlocked, and Rowan opened them before passing her a pair of skates. ‘Thanks.’
After changing into his own pair, Rowan stood and waited as she did the same before taking her hand again.
As they both wobbled on their skates towards the fence encircling the ice rink, Scarlett held up her thumb. ‘I have to warn you, the last and only time I’ve ever skated was when I was a child and I cut my thumb.’
Reaching out, Rowan gently traced the faint scar with the pad of his forefinger. ‘I won’t let you fall.’
Feeling a jolt of electricity run down her spine at his touch, Scarlett met his gaze. ‘I believe you.’
‘Good, because I know my way around an ice rink. My dad used to take me every Sunday from the age of five. It was our thing to do together after he and my mum split up.’ Shaking his head slightly as though deep in thought, Rowan took her hand in his again as they walked to the fence.
Pausing by the edge of the ice, memories of the last time she’d been ice skating resurfaced, the photo she had of her and her parents back in the van in the forefront of her mind.
That had been the last time they’d been on a trip, the three of them.
She looked down at Rowan’s hand in hers before looking up at him and catching his eye.
She was glad it was him she was sharing this experience with. ‘Ready?’
‘Absolutely!’ Stepping out onto the ice, Rowan held his other hand out for her before gently skating backwards as Scarlett wobbled from side to side before finding her rhythm.
Throwing her head back, she laughed as they picked up speed, gliding across the ice, Rowan glancing over his shoulder every so often. ‘I can’t believe I’ve waited so long to try this again.’
‘Haha, there’ll be no stopping you now you’ve found your ice-skating mojo.’ Chuckling, he slowed before twisting so he was skating next to her, holding only one hand. ‘Is that okay?’
‘Yes, I think so. I’m not falling over yet, anyway.’ Glancing across at him, she grimaced as she felt her legs become unsteady and wobbled.
‘Just keep looking ahead, fix your eyes on one spot. You’ve got this.’ With one hand still holding hers, he cupped her elbow with the other, waiting until she was steady once more before letting go again. ‘There you are. You’ve got it.’
And she did. Knowing he was next to her and feeling his strength as he held her hand, she felt as though she did have this.
They circled the tree, forgetting that they might just be visible to anyone still hanging around the village centre.
It suddenly didn’t matter. She felt as though they were in their own little world, skating around Meadowfield Christmas tree, the coloured lights glistening across the ice surrounding them.
‘Do you want to try by yourself?’
Just as Scarlett shook her head, she felt Rowan release her hand, and she was suddenly on her own.
A shot of panic washed over her before she felt his hand lightly on the small of her back, and the panic was replaced with a sense of calm as she remembered his earlier words promising her that he wouldn’t let her fall.
As her confidence grew with every metre she skated, she felt a surge of euphoria. She was doing it. She was actually skating. And on her own, too! Reaching her arms above her head, she whooped as they rounded the tree again.
Rowan skated a little in front of her, turning on the ice so he was traveling backwards and watching her. ‘Look, it’s snowing.’
She felt a cold drop on her nose and glanced upwards.
He was right. It was snowing. Grinning, she reached up again, this time feeling the snowflakes against the skin of her hands and her wrists as her coat sleeves rolled down her arms. It was perfect.
She glanced upwards just as she felt herself wobble to the side, tripping over her own feet.
Before she had time to register what was happening, let alone to begin to panic, she felt Rowan’s arms around her, holding her up and guiding her towards the fence encircling the ice rink.
She reached out and gripped the fence, using it to steady herself as she felt Rowan come to a stop next to her.
‘You okay?’ Rowan asked.
‘Yes, thank you.’ Gingerly unleashing one hand from the death grip on the fence, she swiped a strand of hair from her face and turned to him.
His cheeks were flushed pink from the skating and the cold, and brilliant white snowflakes clung to his hair.
She watched as one landed on his top lip, just sitting there, waiting for her it seemed, and she reached out, gently touching it and feeling it melt against her skin.
As she looked into his eyes, she traced her fingers across his lips and suddenly the only thing she wanted to do was to feel them against her own.
Leaning forward, she waited until he met her halfway and closed her eyes as his lips touched hers.
As she felt his arms around her waist, the world seemed to disappear around them once more, as though they were the only two people in Meadowfield, the only two people in the world, that this was their very own winter wonderland.
She felt Rowan lean back, a gulf of cold air growing between them, and she opened her eyes. Had this been a mistake?
Cupping her cheek with his hand, Rowan searched her eyes. ‘Is this what you want?’
She nodded. It was. Yes, there were a million reasons why it shouldn’t be.
A million reasons why she shouldn’t be trusting him, trusting anyone again, but this was Rowan and however much she tried, she couldn’t fight these feelings inside her for much longer.
Yes, she’d have to speak to him, tell him about her past, admit what had happened with Tyler, but right now, in this moment, all she could think about was Rowan.
And whether it was because they were cocooned by the falling snow in their own private paradise, or whether the excitement of the ice skating was fuelling her bravery, she didn’t know, but right now, she wanted this.
She wanted to feel his arms around her, she wanted to feel his lips against hers.
Heck, she wanted to believe in the magic of love once more. Even if it were just for tonight.
A slow grin spread across his face as he placed his hand on the small of her back and gently pulled her towards him.
Once again, she closed her eyes as she felt his lips against hers.