“You came to the right place. So, you’re on vacation for the holidays?”
A quick internet search would tell him what he wanted to know. Might as well tell him the truth since he’d been open with her.
“Yes, but I’m also unemployed.” The word left a bitter taste in her mouth. She took a gulp of water. “I worked at my parents’ ice rink in Wishing Bay until a few days ago. They sold it but didn’t tell me until they told everyone else who worked there. It was quite a shock.”
“I can’t imagine. That must hurt.”
Present tense. Not past. “Yes, and my brother came through in a big way. He rented the cottage for me.”
Elias’s gaze softened. “Is your family joining you here for Christmas?”
“No. Alek has four days off from games. He didn’t want to leave town, so my parents are spending the holidays with him. Honestly, I didn’t want to be around my parents this Christmas. But Seattle is the last place I want to be this December.” As she realized what she’d said, heat flooded her face.
“Sorry for asking so many questions. Occupational hazard.” He sounded sincere. “And I want to get to know you better.”
“Same with you. But I bet you have special lawyer superpowers to pry out information.”
“Guilty as charged,” he admitted in a playful tone. “But I have to ask. What’s so horrible about Seattle?”
Tasha ate more pizza. She’d opened the door to that question. “Long story, but I’ll try to be brief. Ever hear of the Nutcracker Holiday Ice show?”
“My grandmother mentioned it. Lots of big-name skaters. It’s being televised as a holiday special, right?”
Tasha nodded. “I was hired to choreograph the show. Seattle is the opening city.”
“Wow.”
Her face burned hotter, but she had nothing to be ashamed about. Still, the thickness in her throat made her take another sip of water. “That’s what I thought at first, but two weeks later, I was let go. A more polite term than fired.”
His expression hardened. The quick change in his demeanor surprised Tasha, but she assumed a determined set of his jaw and lines between his eyebrows might be his lawyer face. Still attractive, but more serious.
He leaned forward. “Washington is an at-will state, so employers don’t have to give you a reason, but did they tell you why you were let go?”
“No, but another skater let it be known they didn’t want to work with me and complained to the producer. I hadn’t choregraphed that routine on purpose because of our past, but they are a big name now and I’m…not.”
“You had two big hits right after another.”
“It sucked big-time.” Another way of saying being fired from the ice show and the rink devastated her. “But if I were touring with that ice show, I wouldn’t be in Berry Lake to help with yours.”
His eyebrows drew together. “It won’t be the same caliber of performers.”
She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me whether brand-new or competitive skaters audition. I’ll make the best program I can.”
“You will.”
Tasha wished she had his confidence. Hers had been wavering since she’d been fired. “Thanks.”
“You’re what Berry Lake needs.”
What about you?
Strike that. A new friend made the most sense. Given her circumstances, a friend might be pushing it. Still, hearing his words brought tingles. “You know all the right things to say.”
“I try.”
“You’re succeeding.” She ate more pizza to keep from making goo-goo eyes at him. “Now that I’ve shared a deep dark secret, it’s your turn.”
He finished a slice and wiped his mouth on a paper napkin. “A deep dark one, huh?”
