Page 95 of Caught in a Loop

The hardest part about growing was letting Vicki go. But I knew she was meant for bigger and better things. Although she’d talked about wanting to become a vet tech, she found her niche as a junior designer working for Daphne. I have to say sheistalented. And she still helps out at my monthly clinics.

As our program music crescendos, Fernando sets me down and we hit our ending pose.

“Well done, Dr. B,” he says softly into my ear.

We stand upright, take our bows, and leave the ice, high-fiving Charlie and Frankie on the way. The rink’s newly crowned Olympic champions are the closing act.

“That was so good,” Gemma gushes, pulling me into a firm hug. “Tim took a video. I’ll have him send it to you as soon as we get home.”

“Don’t forget about me.” Fernando pouts.

“You were your normal self.” Gemma rolls her eyes. “Your performance was good, just not as brilliant as Ava’s.”

“I meant, I want a copy of the video too,” he says.

“Oh.” Her cheeks color.

“Anyway, do you mind if I steal Ava for a second? There’s something I need to ask her.”

“Sure.”

Fernando takes hold of my hand and leads me to the coaches’ room. It’s empty, but there are bags, jackets, and costume pieces scattered about.

“What’s up? Do you have some corrections and feedback for me, Coach?” I tease.

Fernando remains quiet. He removes something from a hidden pocket and slowly gets down to one knee. My mind goes blank, and my hands fly to my mouth as I realize what he’s about to do.

“Ava, in the short year we’ve been together, you’ve managed to make me fall in love with you more than I ever imagined was possible. I thought love was something I’d never be lucky enough to experience again, but you showed me how wrong I was.” From behind his back, he pulls out a black velvet box. Inside is a princess-cut diamond on a gold band with smaller baguette diamonds. “Will you make me the happiest man alive and become my princess?”

“Yes!” I shout.

He smiles as wide as a prince discovering he’s been named the heir to a kingdom, flashing all his pearly whites. As he stands, he slips the ring onto my finger. It’s a little big, but nothing that we won’t be able to take care of by resizing it.

“Prince Fernando, you’ve made me the happiest vet alive.”

He grins. His eyes are shining as bright as a Tiffany diamond. We move toward each other without thinking, being pulled by something magnetic. We lean in and our lips meet. They’re soft and silky.

His hands find my waist, as mine slide up his chest and around his neck. I can feel the warmth of his skin through the fabric of his costume and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat mirroring mine. Everything else falls away. All that exists is us.

He tilts his head slightly, deepening the kiss, and I melt against him like I’ve been waiting my whole life to be in this exact place.

“Fernando, Ava, are you in here?” Leslie, Charlie’s sister, bursts into the room a moment later, sounding frustrated. “I need you two for the finale. You can kiss all you want later. Right now, you’re on my time.”

We slowly break apart.

“Leslie, not now.” Fernando groans. “Ijustproposed.”

“In here?” She wrinkles her nose. “Why didn’t you do itsomewhere more romantic like the rink’s garden area or even after your performance?”

“Because I wanted it to be private and in a place where I thought nobody would disturb us.”

I giggle, covering my mouth with my hand.

“Well, you chose wrong. Anybody could walk in here. You’re lucky it was me.” She huffs. “Anyway, I can stall and give you guys two minutes, but then I need you lined up for the finale and bow.”

“Fine. We’ll be right there.”

“You’d think they’d at least lock the door,” Leslie mutters on her way out.

“Ignore her,” Fernando says, licking his lips. “Now where were we?”

“Right here.” I gaze into his eyes, ready to kiss him again. My mind is focused solely on this man. Forget the finale. I’m dreaming about our future and the whole new world we’re about to create together.