“Did you bump it?” She places her hands under my head, and I take the opportunity to take hold of her waist and pull her on top of me. “Oh! You little sneak. Are you even hurt?” She braces one hand on the ice beside my head, the other on my chest, holding herself above me.
“I’m so hurt.” I pout my lip and give her my best puppy-dog look.
“Uh-huh. Where?” She’s basically straddling me at this point, in the middle of the rink. But I couldn't care less if people are watching us. Or worse, filming us.
“Here?” Her finger runs up my chest, and even through the fabric of my coat and suit, I can feel it. I’ve lost my voice, so I just shake my head and swallow.
“What about here?” She traces my lips with her gloved finger. The leather is smooth on my mouth, but I want more.
Wrapping my hand around her wrist, I tug her in closer to me. “I think you should kiss it and make it better.”
“You do, huh?” She’s a breath away now. It wouldn’t take much for our lips to meet.
The speakers crackle, and a calm, overly cheerful voice echoes across the rink. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your last song of the skate session. Please finish your laps and exit the ice when the music ends.”
“I guess that’s our cue to leave,” I say, brushing her lips with mine.
“Sounds like it.” She sits up, straddling my hips, then swings one of her legs to meet the other so she’s kneeling next to me. “Do you think you can get up on your own?”
“Probably not in a pretty way, but, yeah, I’ll manage.” I’m slightly irritated that our moment was interrupted. Again. But I smile instead because I know that just because our time here is up, our night doesn’t have to be over. “Hey, you getting hungry?”
I maneuver myself so I’m on all fours, which isn’t a graceful look, but I just need to get on my feet so I can get to the side and pull my way back to the bench to remove these demon slicers.
“Starving.” She holds out her hand to me as I manage to stand. “I know just the place.”
CHAPTER
FIVE
Liam
She’s nibbling on her bottom lip as she looks at the menu. If New York feels like some sort of Christmas caricature art, Serendipity feels like stepping into a daydream. It’s a mix of retro kitsch, whimsical fantasy, and vintage charm. Pastel-pink walls, Tiffany-style lamps hanging low over every table, and a collage of quirky antiques and old-fashioned clocks. It’s as cute and vibrant as the woman sitting across from me. But not nearly as sexy.
“So, you said this place is known for its frozen hot chocolate?” I ask her.
“Mmmhmm. It’s so yummy. You have to try it.” She sets her menu down and wiggles her eyebrows at me. “It’s practically orgasmic.”
“Orgasmic, you say?” I hold up my arm. “I’ll take two, please!”
She drops her mouth open, entertained by my nonsense.
“Do you want one too?” I tease, smirking.
She clears her throat. “Why, yes, I think I do.”
The waiter comes by to take our order since he probably saw my raised arm. “Are you both ready to order?”
“Yes, I’ll take the bacon mac and a frozen hot chocolate.” She hands him her menu. “Oh, and can I also get a glass of water?”
He nods, then looks at me. “And you, sir?”
“I’ll have a cheeseburger, hold the tomato, but can I get some extra pickles?” I look at him, and he nods. “Great, and I’ll have a frozen hot chocolate too.”
“I’ll get that right in for you.” He takes my menu and walks away.
“So … Vixen, tell me about you. I know you’re from New York and that you know my buddy Aaron. How do you know him?” I ask.
Her earmuffs are sitting in front of her on the table, and she takes them in her hands and starts to twist them back and forth. I can’t tell if she’s nervous or just needs something to do with her hands.
