Another nod. “It depends on how things go, but the rink might become an annual event.”
“Traditions like that are part of a small-town holiday.” Even without snow, Wishing Bay still had memorable events to make the holiday special. The cookie swap was one of her favorites. The Nativity on Ice show had been her favorite, but people would quickly forget that tradition like they had forgotten the rides in the town’s fire truck when she’d been younger.
In the center of the rink, a young girl prepared to spin but fell on her bottom. She slapped the ice with her gloved hands and then wiped her eyes.
Oh, no. Tasha understood the frustration well. She motioned to the skater. “Do you mind if I help her?”
“Go ahead,” Elias said.
She glided over to the girl. “Want help?”
As the girl nodded, her lower lip stuck out. “My mom showed me a video on how to do a spin, but it’s not working. All I do is fall. And fall. And fall again.”
“Learning to fall the right way is an important skill to have.” Tasha told her the easy way to get up from the ice and waited for the girl to stand. “Have you learned a two-footed spin?”
“No.”
“Let’s have you try that, then.” Tasha showed the moves. “Stand straight. Be sure to keep your head up and hold out your arms.”
The girl did everything Tasha had said. “Like this?”
“Yes, now march, so you turn in a circle, then you stop marching as you bring your arms in and…” Tasha spun. “Voila.”
An awe-filled expression stared up at her. “I want to do it.”
“Me too,” Elias chimed in from behind Tasha. “If there’s room for one more.”
“There is,” Tasha encouraged. “People practice tricks and spins in the center part.”
After a few attempts, the girl spun. She stopped and raised her hands above her head. “I did it.”
Elias tried and spun. “Me too.”
“Great job.” People stared at them. Maybe they wanted to learn too. “Please be careful in the rental skates. They aren’t the best for spins and jumps.”
The girl nodded so fast she resembled a bobblehead. Then she did another two-footed spin.
Tasha glanced at Elias. “My job is done here.”
“You’re a talented skater and a wonderful teacher.” His gaze met hers, sending goose bumps prickling her skin. “Thanks for showing me how to get up and spin.”
She stood taller, basking in the praise.
Tasha should look away, break whatever drew them together, but she didn’t want to. It had been so long since she felt a potent attraction like this. She didn’t want this connection to end.
Not smart.
She was finished with handsome men. Men in general. Elias wasn’t Drew, but he had that same confident air. Falling for him, whether in like or in love, would be a mistake because opening her heart to anyone only led to disappointment and hurt.
Tasha swallowed. “We should—”
Someone screeched. “Oh, my goodness. That’s Tasha Ramson.”
The nausea returned with a vengeance. Tension formed between Tasha’s shoulders.
There goes my peaceful small-town Christmas.
But she had only herself to blame.
