“Sorry. I just need to get my balance,” he said, holding on to the railing, his legs quivering.
She wondered if she needed to go get him one of the orange cones that kids worked with on the rink. He really didn’t seem to have any ability to balance at all.
She turned toward him and said, “Just watch me. Push off on one leg, then the other. Try your best to stay upright.” Something told her he might just fall on his butt, but it was a rite of passage when learning to skate.
Suddenly, Xavier zoomed past her, his movements full of agility and power. He skated roughly fifty feet, then performed a turn and headed straight back in her direction skating backward.
“Hey! You said that you didn’t know how to skate.” She placed her hands on her hips. Not only could he skate, but he resembled a pro hockey player as he zoomed across the ice.
A smile crept across his face. “Nah. I said that it wasn’t something that I learned to do in Arizona.” He grinned at her, transforming himself from good-looking to drop-dead gorgeous. “I actually learned right here in Moose Falls. Just not at this rink.”
“Stinker!” True said, sticking out her tongue at him. “You sure fooled me.”
He skated toward her at top speed, stopping mere inches from her. Before she knew what was happening, Xavier reached for her. Seemingly not caring that eyes were upon them, he placed his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. He looked down at her, his eyes twinkling with purpose. “Please kiss me,” she murmured. Ugh, she had meant to talk in her head, but she’d spoken her desire out loud.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Xavier said, his wide grin only enhancing his dark good looks.
He dipped his head down for a kiss. His lips were frosty cold, but within seconds their lips heated each other’s up. She felt his hand brushing tendrils of hair from her face before cradling the side of her neck in his palm. Normally she shied away from PDA, but at the moment, she was swept away by the kiss. True parted her lips, inviting Xavier in. For what seemed like an eternity, they stood on the ice kissing. She was lost in it, tumbling, falling into the void where nothing else mattered but this moment. Out of nowhere a loud honking sound rang out, causing them to pull apart and look around.
“It’s the Zamboni,” True explained. “They’re letting us know to get off the ice so they can clean the surface.”
“I always wanted to drive the Zamboni when I was a kid,” Xavier said, wiggling his eyebrows as if he were still a mischievous child. “That would’ve been a blast.”
“Goals,” True said, chuckling at the idea of a pint-size Xavier careening around the ice in a Zamboni. “If you play your cards right, maybe we can arrange that.” She winked at him. “The owner is a personal friend of mine.”
“Don’t play with me, girl. If I can scratch that off mybucket list, I’ll be a happy man.” He reached for her mittened hand and clasped it in his.
Once they were off the ice, True took her mittens off and placed her fingers on her lips. They still felt all tingly from their make-out session. This man was quickly endearing himself to her even though the idea of falling for him terrified her. She needed to remind herself to put on her shield of armor before it was too late. Getting too attached to him might blow up in her face.
At moments like this one, True felt as if she didn’t have a single defense against Xavier Stone.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Last stop on the Moose Falls tour,” True announced as they pulled up to a log cabin–style home surrounded by an abundance of trees. Furls of smoke emanated from the chimney, making the home seem cozy. Xavier thought it was a beautiful place, the very image of an Alaskan storybook home snuggled in a peaceful woodland setting. He even caught a glimpse of majestic-looking mountains looming in the distance.
“Where are we?” he asked. He had a hunch it was True’s home, but he didn’t want to assume she would take him there as part of his Moose Falls tour. If so, he was honored. The place was spectacular.
She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “My place. I figure introducing you to Jaylen will score me major points. And you can give him that jersey yourself.”
He was pretty blown away that True had brought him home. She was a private person, and he was now being invited into her world. He knew better than to overthink the gesture. True’s motivation was clear. She would do anything for her baby brother.
“That’s a great idea. Can’t wait to meet him.”
Xavier didn’t know why he felt nervous as they headed inside. So far, today had been amazing. Seeing Moose Falls through True’s eyes had been an eye-opener. He now knew what mattered to her most of all in this little Alaskan town. He wanted to uncover everything about this woman, one day at a time. Xavier sensed she didn’t reveal herself to most people, so he suspected this was a bit of a big deal.
“I’m home,” True called out as she pulled off her boots. Xavier followed suit and yanked his own off before placing them beside True’s on the mat. Xavier looked around his surroundings. The immediate impression of True’s home was comfort and warmth. True had made a home for herself and Jaylen. Earthy tones. Nothing too fancy. The smell of baking cookies wafted in the air, a sensory delight that caused his stomach to grumble.
Shuffling feet heralded the arrival of an older woman with a kind face and a shock of white hair. “Hey. We’re in the kitchen baking cookies. Our last batch is about to come out,” she said, smiling at them.
“Hi, Annie. This is my friend Xavier.” True turned toward him. “This is Annie Swenson. She’s Jaylen’s sitter.”
“You’re one of Hattie’s grandsons, aren’t you?” Annie asked, her blue eyes twinkling. “She’s talked a lot about you over the years.”
“Nice to meet you, Annie,” he said. Once again here was further proof that Hattie had held him and his brothers in her heart for all these years. He didn’t think he could possibly feel any guiltier for being absent from her life. So many questions were burning inside him. How had everything gotten so messed up?
“Annie! The timer went off.” A child’s voice called out from the kitchen. When Xavier and True walked in, Jaylen’sjaw dropped. He began to babble nonsensically. He couldn’t take his eyes off him.
“Take a deep breath, buddy,” True instructed him, wrapping her arms around the boy.
