Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ice skating on Christmas Eve sure looks a whole lot prettier than ever before.
It’s something I always offer to help Ford and Boone with each year.
I’m not one for the holidays, but consider it my formal act of Christmas spirit.
In return, I get to stir the pot, telling anyone who will listen that Ford Tanner was indeed an Olympic figure skater.
My little annual mission to try and convince as many guests as possible that he wears a blue shiny leotard under his customary flannel shirt.
While I’m sure there are a litany of far more invigorating things the three of us could be doing if we weren’t here, I’m also in the kind of mood to make sure our girl feels like the center of attention she deserves to be.
So, ice skating on the frozen lake at the ranch it is.
It’s only for a few hours, and the guests aren’t exactly a pain in the ass.
There are always those who are overconfident and likely to either injure themselves or someone else.
Then there are the ones who can hardly stand up for more than a few seconds at a time, and they’re just as much of a hazard for everyone else around them.
“Thought you were a rugby star in a former life?” Mia eyes up my skates, which are a little more advanced than the borrowed pair she has for today.
With a grin, I lift one eyebrow. “Can’t a guy have more than one string to his bow?”
“I didn’t imagine you to be twirling on ice on the regular.
But now that I look at you…” She gives me an appraisal up and down my body.
“You do seem rather comfortable out here.” With a gloved hand, Mia waves at the winter scene we’re surrounded by.
Mountains. Pine trees. Snow covering everything in thick powdered sugar mounds.
The picture-postcard of Christmas. All that’s missing is a jaunty pop Christmas carol backing track.
“I’m Canadian. I didn’t take wobbly first steps across the living room as a baby. Instead, I strapped on skates, shoved a helmet on, and learned to properly wrap a stick.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “I know you’re joking… or, at least, I hope you are…”
I chuckle. “My family was more than a little devastated that I didn’t want to apply my sporting interests into becoming a hockey player. I live to disappoint them.”
“They aren’t proud of you with all you achieved in your rugby career?”
“She knows about my career, hmm?” I tilt my head, appraising the way Mia squirms guiltily. “Have you looked me up online by chance, ma petite chérie?” Teasing her is too much fun. Especially when the apple of her cheeks colors with a touch of extra pink, giving away her secrets.
Mia gets all cute and flustered. “Don’t change the subject.”
“Oh, you’re adorable. Hope you aren’t too disillusioned to see me nowadays, when compared to my playing years.” Look, I know I keep myself fit. But it’s nothing compared to what I know my body used to be capable of years ago.
“Uhh… you’ve gotta be messing with me.” Fluttering her hands in my direction, she gapes. “Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
A smirk tugs on my lips. “You know… you’re quite healthy for my ego. I might have to keep you around.” Leaning down, I slide one palm up her shin, and not so subtly allow my fingers to wander higher along the sensitive spot inside her knee. “Do you need some assistance with your laces?”
“No… I think I’m okay,” Mia squeaks.
Her gaze darts up over my shoulder, and I swivel, following her line of sight to the place where Reid is speaking with Ford.
He’s getting us coffee from their mobile cart set up by the lake.
I then shoot a quick look across to where her piece of shit ex-boyfriend and fiancée are putting on their skates.
The two of them aren’t close enough to hear what we’re saying, but they can certainly see us.
Evident in the way the asshole continues to scowl this way every two seconds, abandoning the woman at his side to struggle with her own boots.
“Are you sure I can’t give you a hand?” With a hum, I walk my fingers up the lush swell of her inner thigh.
Those green eyes go wide, followed by a sweet little hitch of her breathing. Mia promptly clamps her legs together, halting my progress, preventing me from exploring higher.
“You really are a troublemaker, aren’t you?” She scolds me. There’s no hiding that her voice is very breathy. I suspect she’s enjoying this more than she wants to let on.
Clicking my tongue, I tilt my head to one side.
Not moving my touch away just yet. “Told you I’m not very good at following the rules.
” Tapping the side of her ankle with one hand, this time I do pull my other hand away from the warmth and softness of the space where I’d love to stay settled for a while longer.
“Ah, but you haven’t done these skates anywhere near firm enough across the top of your ankle here. Wouldn’t want you hurting yourself.”
Before Mia can protest, I’m on my knees in front of her, deftly relacing the boots.
“Always love to show off when given half a chance, don’t you?” Reid comes over to join us.
Giving him a sideways glance, I chuckle. “Only for the special ones.”
“You would have been very dangerous to be around back in your prime.” Nibbling her bottom lip, she keeps her voice low. Making sure that no one else can hear us indulging in a little flirtation.
“Who says I’m past my prime?” With fake shock, eyes narrowed on Mia, I press a palm to the center of my chest. “You just let me show you a thing or two. Then you can reserve judgment.”
“Got a few tricks still up your sleeve?”
“Cowboy here got to show off his ax-throwing skills… Now you can enjoy watching him lumber around like a bear who needs one of those little frames les enfants use.”
“It’s not my fault my knees hate the cold out on the ice,” Reid grumbles.
“Ahh, baby, you can blame your old man knees all you like… doesn’t mean you aren’t terrible at ice skating. You woulda made a fantastic goalie, though. Add on all that extra padding, you’d take up the entire net without even needing to try.” I wave a hand in the direction of his enormous chest.
He gives me a long-suffering look before turning to the pretty girl between us. “Here’s your coffee. Almond milk, half a sugar.” Reid carefully hands over the to-go cup for Mia, who stares up at him with lips parted and brows tugged together.
“That’s… exactly what my usual order is.” She blinks slowly.
“Of course.” He swallows, then hands me my cup. “Did you want something else? I can go back over there and order a new one for you.”
“No—no.” Mia’s green eyes are wider than ever. “I just can’t believe you remembered, is all.”
I have to hide my grin in my own cup. Oh, this sweet girl has no clue.
“How could I not?” Reid gives her a look that I know translates into his I’m besotted with you, but I have no idea how to tell you so, I’ll just provide perfect coffee instead stare.
He then promptly serves daggers in the direction of her idiot ex, while tipping his head back to drink his own. Surely plotting ways to maim the guy, involving a pair of ice skates and a shoulder straight to his ribs.
“Get your skates on, cowboy. Let’s go. Time to watch the big guy turn into a ballerina on ice.
” I pat his thigh as he drops onto the bench beside our girl and reluctantly starts exchanging his usual work boots for a pair of ice skates.
“How much do you want to bet he’ll be a helpless little calf wobbling around out there, Mia? ”
She busies herself hiding twinkling eyes and a grin in her coffee.
He shakes his head, doing up the last of the laces.
“I’d love to watch your attempt at roping.
We’ll see who’s helpless.” This time, Reid mutters under his breath while readjusting Mia’s beanie for her.
It’s adorable watching how attentive he is; those strong hands are so often covered in dirt and blistered after mending fences.
He spends his days using those hands for all sorts of rough work with the cattle and horses, yet with her…
there’s only delicate brushes and touches, as if he’s truly finding it hard to believe he might finally have a chance at enjoying some softness.
We’re solid in our relationship. We love each other wholly. The way Mia fits so perfectly, providing us each with something else we both need, doesn’t take away from any of that. If anything, it just reinforces how good he and I are together.
How much more perfect it feels when she’s around.
I can’t explain the sense of everything fitting into place that Mia brings. Does it seem impossible that we’re feeling this way after only a day? Maybe.
Or perhaps this is one of those Christmas miracles you hear about.
“We can take it slow, just for you, baby.” I tease.
“I’m going to need someone strong to hold onto. But maybe I should stick with Henri if you need a few practice laps on the lake to get in your groove?” Mia tries to smother her giggles.
“Listen, I’ve already had to put up with taking enough shit from Tanner. He just about died laughing when I told him I needed a pair of skates. My pride has had enough of a knock, and I haven’t even set foot on the ice yet.”
“Well, in that case…” Mia tugs on the front of his coat, pulling him down into a gentle kiss. Reid wraps his arms around the small of her back and groans against her mouth.
Christ, they’re so gorgeous together. As much as I want to enjoy today, I’m also two seconds from saying fuck it and dragging them back to bed.
“Suddenly cowboy loves ice skating.” I poke him in the ribs, a stream of white gusting in front of me as I laugh. “What a mystery as to why the rapid change of tune.”
“Since your pride was a little bruised… I thought I should kiss it better.” Mia exhales, hearts in her eyes as they draw apart. Taking him by the hand, they make their way to follow me onto the ice.
“Careful, ma petite chérie.” I help to steady her as she finds her balance on the skates on the frozen surface.
“Oh my god, don’t let go. You can’t let me face plant,” she gasps, but there’s excitement lighting her face as we start to glide gently. “A broken nose is not on my bingo card for this year.”
“Never. I won’t let you fall.”
“Don’t see you offering to hold my hand out here.” Reid chuckles. “Am I not pretty enough to deserve a private lesson?”
I give him a wink. “I’ll save you a dance for later, mon big.”
Gliding backward, I hold both of Mia’s hands in my own and tow her along as I move. She concentrates hard, biting her lip, the further we head onto the ice.
“Show off.” She pokes her tongue out at me.
Pretty soon, our girl finds a little of her rhythm and balance.
Keeping one hand wrapped in mine, her other now reaches for Reid—who doesn’t hesitate to fit her tiny palm inside his own.
And it’s the best feeling seeing the smile light her face, hearing her laughter whenever she loses her balance slightly, and the way she’s playful with Reid is everything.
It’s particularly satisfying to watch her expression, to see her shoulders straighten, whenever we skate past her ex and the fiancée.
I’m pretty sure they’ve spent the entire time complaining about something or other, with the way the other is skating too fast or too slow, and their hands are waving around comically.
It’s in stark contrast to the way Mia hasn’t stopped beaming, and Reid has a boyish grin plastered on his face. Indeed, he’s a whole lot more eager for ice skating than I’ve ever seen before. No surprises there.
And as I turn around and skate backward again, I see that the douchebag ex has already decided to call it quits and leave the ice.
His fiancée is going along unsteadily by herself, a frown etched on her face, when I hear her words drift over.
Something to the effect of Why does that girl get two people to help?
Followed by a muttering that has me changing our plans real fast. What’s so special about her anyway?
Oh, if only this woman knew that Mia is truly one of a kind.
“Ready to make a scene?” I skate faster, grabbing her by the waist. Mia lets out a squeal as I propel her along with more speed.
Reid keeps up with us, but I can tell he’s already disapproving of whatever I’m planning on doing next.
“I don’t think I can skate this fa—AHHHH.” Her green eyes nearly pop out of her head when I whip us around in a circle. Attention is on us from all sides, which is exactly what I wanted, and that’s when I strike.
“Don’t you dare…” Reid barks at me, but he knows I’m always going to look for ways to bend the rules until they’re ready to snap.
Doing my best to hide my smirk, I loop my arm around the small of Mia’s back, then dip her.
I’m not gonna drop her… but she doesn’t know that.
The screech that echoes around the frozen lake is real enough, as she tips off balance, clutching at my jacket.
It’s the perfect fake fall to go with the fake date.
My hands cradle her, ensuring she doesn’t actually hit the ice… something resembling a controlled glide to the smooth, cold surface beneath us.
“Henri. Oh my god.” She glares up at me, lying on her back, and gives me a soft thump on the front of my chest. Right above the spot where my heart has been feeling extremely full ever since she arrived on our doorstep. “You did that on purpose. I was skating just fine before you tripped me up.”
Mia huffs and scolds me, with flushed lips, and loose tendrils of hair framing her beautiful features.
“Someone is making it his business to be busy watching you. We want to make sure he knows just how much attention you’re getting on this vacation.” I poke my tongue against the side of my cheek.
Reid goes down on one knee on the other side of her. “Are you done messing around?” His focus narrows on me.
“I’m alright.” Mia shakes her head, with eyelashes fluttering for a moment. “The view from down here is rather spectacular, actually.” She gives us a salacious grin.
That makes our cowboy shut up real quick. He’s a sucker for a compliment, even if he pretends not to be.
“Now, you get to make a fuss of your girl.” I give him a little shove on his shoulder. “You can thank me later.”
“Oh, can I now?” He slips his hand beneath Mia’s head to help lift her up, eyeing me as he does so.
“Mmhmmm. With that mouth.”
Mia chokes on her laughter, hiding her face in her glove as she sits upright. “You two are naughty.” She glances between us both as we all get back to a standing position. “But thank you for making today the best Christmas Eve I think I’ve ever had.”
Reaching out for her chin, I tilt her face to lift toward the two of us. “This? This is the least you deserve. Let’s go home and have some real fun.”