‘We’ll see about that.’
He cupped her face with his hands, pressing his lips to hers and pushing her body back against the Perspex surround of the rink. He’d never met anyone like her.
Hayley was feeling that deep pull of longing again, just from the touch of his mouth. He was stripping her bare with his kiss, setting fire to her heart. She wound her fingers through his hair and dragged him closer still.
‘Mum!’
Angel’s voice had her falling away from Oliver and jarring her elbow on the railing. ‘Ouch!’
‘Why are you kissing Mr Meanie?’ Angel hissed as Michel skated up to join her.
‘Mr Meanie?’ Oliver said.
Hayley smiled. ‘Michel, this is Oliver Drummond.’
Angel pulled a face and folded her arms across her chest.
‘It is nice to meet you,’ Michel greeted, holding his hand out to Oliver.
‘Likewise. I’ve been watching your moves on the ice there. Did you play hockey?’ Oliver asked, shaking Michel’s hand.
‘Oh no, in Belgium we skate just for fun,’ he answered. ‘You are coming on the rink?’
‘I don’t think so, I—’ Oliver began.
Hayley tugged at his sleeve. ‘Why not? Didn’t you tell me you were an expert on skates?’
‘I may have exaggerated a little and I haven’t done it for years,’ Oliver added.
‘Well, you can’t be any worse than me. In fact, if there is anyone worse than me, I’d really like to meet them,’ Hayley said.
‘OK,’ Oliver said, clapping his hands together. ‘Now I’ve been put on the spot, I think I ought to get out on the ice and show you what I’ve got.’
‘Oh my God, are you going to wave your hands in the air like you just don’t care?’ Hayley asked, slipping on her jumper sleeves.
‘Only ifyoudo. Wait,you’llneed both your hands to hold on to the barrier,’ he teased.
Angel laughed. ‘That’s funny.’
‘Right, that’s it! You’re going down, mister!’
55
DEAN WALKER’S APARTMENT, DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN
Angel had been standing in front of the mirror in Dean’s hall for the past twenty minutes. First her hair had been down – brushed flat – then it had been parted and palmed into position – then it had been swung up into a high ponytail. Now she was trying to plait it but Hayley could see she was all fingers and thumbs.
‘Do you want me to?—’
‘No.’ Angel shook her head.
‘I’ll do it really quickly.’
‘That’s the problem. It won’t look right.’ Angel let out a heavy sigh.
Hayley knew what this was because she was feeling exactly the same. It was trepidation. Angel’s very first outing alone with her newly found dad.
Without asking, Hayley stepped forward and began braiding Angel’s hair.
