Page 11 of Pay the Piper

“I’ll take my chances. I’d rather be fat and happy anyway.”

“Easy for you to say, muscles. I’m sure you don’t feel the same way about your women.”

Is she insane? If she thinks I would care about some happy weight, she’s out of her mind. There’s no universe in which I would have my lady eating apples all day just to keep her figure. I can throw around twice her weight. If she wants to eat candy, I’ll feed it to her while she lies in bed.

Raising a brow, I stare into her eyes. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, lesnaya.”

Her breath hitches, but to her credit, she doesn’t falter long. “Anyway, yes, on the ice. Here’s the thing. I can tell you’re athletic and you, um, obviously have the strength. It’s confidence you lack. And despite what you say, maybe even a little balance work. So we’re going to simulate those movements on a solid surface for a while and gradually add in ice time.” Abby smirks. “That is, as long as you can find big enough shoes.”

With a wink, I grab the apple from her hand and take a bite, tossing the pack of gummies at her for her to have instead.

“What are you even doing this training for anyway?” she asks, opening the bag and popping a few bears into her mouth.

“You know Ellie, right?”

She nods.

“So you know that her husband and brothers all play for the Thunder Bay Rising Tide Hockey team?”

She nods.

“I’m really close to them, and they wanted someone on or near the ice at all times for…security. The problem is, none of their usual bodyguards have experience on the ice. They trust me implicitly, so here I am, learning how to skate with you.”

“You’re telling me out of everyone, you’re their best option?” She chuckles.

“Wow,” I gasp. “You know what? No more treats for you, meanie.”

I snatch the bag back and grab a handful. “Gowd this is sho much better than apple,” I mumble with a mouth full.

She laughs, and I notice for the first time that even though I’m still dripping sweat, she’s not even flushed.

What is it about the women in my life never getting winded? Wait, is Abby technically considered a woman in my life yet?

The answer arrives immediately.

Yes.

“So we’re doing this every day, right? Isn’t that what Ellie said?”

“Oh, I can’t do it every day but—”

“Abby, let’s be honest, if we are going to have me skating convincingly in the next month, it’s going to have to be daily.”

“Misha, I have a job! I can’t just—”

“We’ll figure it out. For starters, when can you meet again?”

“Hmm…” Abby snatches the candy back. “Two days?”

“Done.” I extend my hand to seal the deal. The moment our fingers touch, it’s those damn tingles.

Yep. Abby is going to be in my life, whether she knows it or not.

Chapter 6

“Good. Now close your eyes and do it for me again.”

I swear Misha’s eyes flash at my praise, and he grunts a curse as he loses his balance and stumbles off the BOSU ball.