When had he arrived?
He stood at the boards and waved.
Tasha waved back. He’d seen her skate. But skating in front of anyone else after what happened her first time there…
She would skate for Elias. Forget about everyone else.
Tasha swallowed. “Okay.”
“Want me to play the music?” Gigi asked, her voice full of excitement.
“Yes, please.” One deep breath followed another. The icy air stung, but Tasha hoped it numbed her nerves. She positioned herself a few feet in front of Belle and glanced over her shoulder. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
The strains of “Angels We Have Heard on High” played. Tasha focused on Elias. She’d choreographed the routine out on the lake, but under the lights on the rink, she lost herself in the music.
Tasha flew across the ice. One stroke led into a jump. She landed and skated into the next move and then another. She nailed each jump and spin. And it was over.
Applause sounded.
“I did it!” Belle raised her hands in the air in victory. “Not as well as you, Tasha. But I figured out where I was making a mistake. Thank you.”
Tasha’s heart pounded. She tried to control her breathing. Not from exhaustion but exhilaration. Something she hadn’t experienced in more than three years.
She smiled. “You’re welcome.”
Belle swayed as if she were skating the sequence in her head. “I want to try it again.”
“Go ahead.” Tasha left the girls and skated over to Elias. “Hey.”
His bright gaze matched the smile on his face. “The way you skating. Amazing.”
He hadn’t looked that happy before. Tasha hoped she had something to do with his expression. “Thanks.”
“No, seriously.” Elias held her hand, raised it to his mouth, and kissed the top of her glove. “I’ll admit I’m not a skating expert, but watching you skate takes my breath away.”
“I appreciate it, but we’re hanging out, so you have to say that.”
He leaned into the board and kissed her hard, leaving her breathless.
“We’re doing more than that.” He brushed his lips over hers one more time. “But we decided not to label it.”
“Right.” Logically, they didn’t need to, but her heart wanted to put a name on whatever this was.
“Tell your skaters it’s time to go home because we’re celebrating tonight.”
“I thought you looked happy.”
“I’m over the moon. If I knew how to dance a jig, I would, but I’ll save you from that living nightmare.”
She laughed. “You’re practically giddy.”
“I feel giddy.” He laughed, and Tasha’s heart wanted her to record the sound. “My father handed me a stack of resumes to review. They’re hiring new staff.”
Tasha shrieked. She threw her arms around his neck. “Yay! I’m thrilled for you.”
He hugged her tightly. Being in his arms felt good, natural, where she belonged.
