Page 16 of Capture The Moment

“No problem,” Will said, smiling down at her.

Up until then, Harper had almost forgotten they were on a date. It felt more like she’d been ice skating with a friend or an acquaintance. But when she looked into Will’s eyes, she saw a flicker of awareness there, and she quickly stepped back.

“You ok?” he asked.

“Maybe we should take a break.”

“Sure. Hang on to my arm in case you’re still a little unsteady.”

To refuse would have made her seem foolish, so she obliged, and they slowly skated off the ice. Once she was seated on the bench where they’d left their shoes, Will offered to get them some drinks and snacks while she rested. Nodding, she gave him a weak smile before he walked away.

Just when I thought everything was going great, she thought, shaking her head. The minute she’d caught Will looking at her like a woman he was attracted to, she’d freaked out. Which was asinine because wasn’t that what she wanted? Is it me? Is it him? Maybe it’s still too soon.

Will returned with two sodas and a large bag of popcorn. “Diet Coke, right?” he said, handing her one of the cups.

“How’d you know?”

“Julia told me.”

Harper smiled for real that time. “What else did Julia tell you?”

He sat down on the bench, setting the bag of popcorn between them, and she wondered if he could sense that she needed the extra space.

“Just a few things that she thought might be helpful for me to know.”

“Such as my Diet Coke habit?”

Will nodded. “And your favorite foods, music preferences, that sort of thing.”

“Was it her idea for us to go ice skating?”

“No. That was all me.”

She laughed, starting to feel more at ease again. Whatever hang-ups she had about dating other men, she’d have to get past them; otherwise, she was sure to end up a lonely old lady someday.

After they ate some popcorn and finished their drinks, Harper stood up and declared, “I’m ready to go again.”

Will shot her a skeptical look. “You sure?”

“Positive.”

“Ok, then. Let’s make sure we keep a safe distance behind other people this time.”

She didn’t hesitate when he offered up his arm to help her out on the ice, nor did she let go immediately. Will looked pleasantly surprised as they skated around the rink a few times, arm and arm, and it wasn’t until she heard one of Blake’s favorite songs come over the speaker that she gently let go.

“Thanks a lot, Will,” she said an hour later, when he’d pulled into her driveway. “I had a really good time.”

He’d put the car in park but left it idling, and she briefly wondered if he were waiting for an invitation to come inside.

“I did too. Thanks for going with me.”

Harper put her hand on the door handle, but before she opened it, Will placed a hand on her other arm.

“Harper?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to sound too forward, but is it ok if I call you again?”