“Same,” Tripp said. “I learned to have better technique when I started hockey, obviously. But before that I just liked to fool around on my skates. Want to goreallyfast?”
He was holding out his hand.
She glanced over at the girls, but they were already at the cocoa stand with Gram and Grampy.
Life is too short to worry about what everyone else thinks,a little voice in the back of her head whispered.
“Sure,” she said, a little surprised at herself.
When he wrapped his big hand around hers, she could feel his heat, comforting and protective even through their gloves. And another tiny piece of the ice around her heart melted without her meaning for it to.
He started off, and the next thing she knew, they wereflyingaround the rink. If she thought she’d been really speeding before, she had been very, very wrong.
“Look,” she heard Posey squeak from out in the park. “They’re going sofast.”
“Hold on tight,” Tripp murmured, speeding up until Jillian thought they might actually take flight.
Her hair lifted from her shoulders while the cold breeze cooled her cheeks, and Tripp’s warm hand held hers as the park and the little townbecame a blur.
When he finally slowed to a stop, she found herself laughing so hard that she could hardly stand.
“Are you okay?” Tripp asked, his hand tightening around hers.
Gasping for breath, she straightened up and wiped tears from her eyes with her free hand.
“Yes,” she said, panting. “Yes, sorry. That was… really,really… fun.”
Tripp threw his head back and laughed, and the deep, joyful sound warmed Jillian’s chest more than any hot cocoa.
“Now what?” he asked, gazing at her with eyes as blue as a summer sky.
“I’m hungry,” she said without thinking.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Ravenous, actually,” she admitted.
“I know just the thing,” he told her. “Do any of you have allergies?”
“Nope,” she said. “We’re lucky that way.”
“And how do you feel about all-day breakfast?” he asked.
“I’m in favor of it,” she said, laughing.
“Then we should go to Bean Counters,” he told her. “It’s the best breakfast in town. And it’s right across the street, so we’ll be eating before you know it.”
“Oh, the new place on the corner,” Jillian said. “I’ve been wanting to try it.”
“Now’s your chance,” Tripp said.
They headed off the ice, traded their skates for shoes, and walked over to the bench where the girls were chatting with their great-grandparents.
“Who’s hungry?” Tripp asked.
His voice was so deep and loud that Jillian was pretty sure the people across the park could hear him. But his energy was so positive that she was sure no one could mind.
“Me,”Posey chimed.
