Cole sighed and looked at Kip. “This is going to be difficult if we don’t take her farther north.”
Kip squeezed my hand, bringing me back from the fog that had settled over my thoughts. “The ice rink? Remember? We were going to skate?”
“Right.” I shook my head, feeling like I’d just woken up. What had we been talking about? Something important, something that filled me with longing, but it was gone now. “Time to embarrass myself.”
Cole held the door open. “We reserved the rink.”
A part of me wanted to run back to the truck, drive home, and lock myself away from all of this holiday chaos they kept dragging me into. But another part, which was growing stronger with each cookie decorated and tree trimmed, wanted to step inside.
“Fine.” I marched through the door, the bell on my sweater jingling with each step. “I’m warning you both now, I have the grace of a drunk reindeer on ice.”
“A drunk reindeer on the ice would win a gold medal.” Kip sounded serious, but when I looked back over my shoulder, the lights on his sweater highlighted his grin.
The skating rink was predictably freezing, though not as cold as I’d expected. Maybe I was getting used to it. Or maybe the whole “frost demon” thing was working in my favor for once.
A strange sense of homecoming washed over me as I stared at the ice. The gleaming surface stretched before me, inviting in a way I couldn’t quite explain.
I stood transfixed at the edge of the rink, my fingers tingling with an inexplicable anticipation, as if my body remembered something my mind had misplaced. And for once, I didn’t feel like running away.
Chapter 12
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.
