"I love you, Clara." He tugged me closer, his erection obvious against the buttons of his jeans. I didn't care if anyone was lurking in the shadows. My fingers slipped into the waistband as we continued kissing hungrily.
Beck cleared his throat and pulled my fumbling fingers from the button on his jeans. "I have to tell you something."
"What?" I whispered.
"I'm getting out, Clara."
"I know."
Beck rubbed the back of my gloves with his thumbs. "No, I don't mean someday. Clara. I'm leaving this year."
"Oh," I whispered. I thought we'd have more time together. I needed two more years of preparation to qualify for Nationals.
"I want you to come with me." He let go of my hands and pulled me closer to him. His warm hand splayed across my lower back. "We're both getting out of this town."
"How?" My mind raced. I couldn't afford to pay for training anywhere outside of Chance Rapids.
"We'll figure it out. As long as we're together, nothing else matters.” The kisses were back to soft and slow. When he pulled back, his face was serious. "I love you, Clara Dalton. I'm going to love you for the rest of my life."
"I love you too."
The cocky grin I loved returned. "How much?"
"Is Beck Shepherd, star of the Chance Rapids Bobcats, fishing for compliments?"
"Maybe." His hands slid down to cup my ass. "Or maybe I just like hearing you say it."
"I love you." I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Even though you look better than me in my opening pose."
Warmth pooled in my belly, as the kisses turned hard and hungry. I moaned, pressing my body against his. We'd beentogether eight months and had done almost everything. Could tonight be the night we went all the way?
"Come on." He lifted me off the boards, setting me onto my blades. "We have to meet Locks and McCake at the axe-throwing contest."
"Oh." I thought the night was going in a different direction. One that involved condoms and first times, not axes and hockey players.
He tucked my hair behind my ear. "You're so beautiful."
"Beck—" My cheeks burned.
"I mean it. Sometimes I look at you and can't believe that you're mine."
I took his hand and pressed it over my heart. "That's all yours.”
We skated off the ice together, hand in hand, on our way to take our frustration out on wooden targets with axes. I didn't know it at the time, butwouldbe the night we did everything.
We were idiots, and we were so happy.
After sweeping allthe junk back into the drawer with my arm, I marched over to the woodstove with the envelope in my hand. But as the hinges creaked and the fire flared, I couldn't bring myself to throw it in.
“Dammit.” I tossed the envelope back in the drawer and stuffed the spare keys in my pocket. Dash lifted his head. "I'm fine, Dashie-Doo.”
My phone buzzed with a text from Megan.
Cookie decorating at the church has been moved to noon. You can leave work early. I know Mrs. K is counting on you!
Usually, I loved the Benevolence Society's Christmas bazaar preparation parties. The ladies gossiped harder than anyone in town, and for one day the church basement smelled like sugar and cinnamon, instead of musty old carpet. But today it felt like something else I had to survive, like the upcoming town meeting.
Racks covered in sugar cookies lined long tables covered in plastic cloths.
