CHAPTER FIVE
A dozen people crowded around Tasha with requests for photos and autographs. Elias recognized most, but that didn’t stop his protective instinct from ramping into overdrive. No one was a physical threat, but the flash of panic in Tasha’s eyes sent adrenaline shooting through his veins. He wanted to comfort her—keep her safe. Even when the panic vanished as fast as it had appeared, he wanted to do that.
She wasn’t okay.
Her breath came in rapid huffs, and even though she wore a smile, it wasn’t genuine. Elias leaned closer to her. “I’ll get you out of here.”
She replied with a slight nod. If he hadn’t been paying attention, Elias would have missed it.
“Everyone not skating is in the way.” He used his in-front-of-the-judge voice. “Either start moving or get off the ice.”
Gigi, a local teenager, held out her phone. “We want a selfie with Tasha.”
Her best friend, Belle, nodded. “Is Alek here?”
“The Volcanoes are on a road trip this week,” someone behind them said. “They’re on a winning streak thanks to Ramson.”
Belle leaned toward Tasha. “Is your family going to be in Berry Lake for Christmas?”
Elias wasn’t getting into a discussion out on the ice. He placed his arm around Tasha, doing his best bodyguard impression to push his way through the crowd and lead her off the rink.
“How do you want to handle this?” he whispered.
“A few photos.” She spoke so quietly he strained to hear her. “There aren’t that many people.”
For now.
News traveled wildfire-fast in Berry Lake. With one member of the Volcanoes part of this town via his wife, people following the team would know about Tasha’s all-pro hockey-playing brother. Elias did, but he’d failed to make Tasha’s connection to Alek.
“Shoes?” Elias asked.
“Let’s get this over with first.” Her resigned tone contradicted the smile frozen on her face.
He wanted to whisk her out of there, give her a hot chocolate, and kiss the worry from her eyes.
Whoa. Where had that come from?
The crowd got louder.
Elias clapped his hands, but the gloves muted the sound. He would have to use his voice to get people’s attention. “If you want a photo with Tasha, line up. She won't be here for long.”
Soon, only the four-foot-tall-and-under crowd remained on the ice. Everyone else stood in line.
Elias stayed a short distance from Tasha, his senses on alert, ready to step in if necessary. She, however, handled everything—and everyone—with grace. This clearly wasn’t her first rodeo, and she impressed him with her willingness to do an impromptu meet-and-greet.
The minutes ticked by. Tasha called for the next person and greeted them as if they were her new best friend. She posed for as many photos as each wanted to take.
His respect for her soared.
But would her being famous change things? They’d only just met, but Elias had fun skating with her. He’d planned on asking her if she wanted to grab a coffee after they’d finished, but he didn’t know if she would want to hang out after talking to so many people. If she didn’t, he hoped skating still counted as a first date because he had ideas for other dates after that.
Uh-oh. The noise level increased. More people had shown up and stood in line. She would be here all night.
No way. He wouldn’t let that happen.
The corners of her lips continued to tip upward, never wavering, but she’d been shifting her weight, lifting the left skate off the ground. Her feet must hurt.
Sam Cooper, in his deputy’s uniform and hat, strolled up. He'd returned to Berry Lake in October after living and working in Seattle for a few years. “Need a hand?”
