AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Men’s twelve, two in kids’, and—” Clark pointed to Merry.
“Size eight in women’s.”
“Coming right up.”
“Can I go watch?” Jace asked.
Clark nodded. “Sure, we’ll be right there.”
Jace ran off to the edge of the rink. There were a few families and couples on the ice, some of them shuffling awkwardly while others glided with ease.
“I’m assuming you’ve been ice skating before,” she said.
“A long time ago, so you may be holding both of us up on the ice.”
“I’ll hold your hand unless you try to take me down and then you are on your own.”
He lowered his voice. “What if I promise you can land on top of me and cushion your fall?”
Merry’s cheeks burned. She glanced at Burly, but he was at the other end of the counter. “I’d say you are too hard to be a cushion and also there are kids at this rink. People will talk.”
“They’ll talk about how much I like you on top of me?”
She pushed him playfully, watching Jace run back to them.
“Behave.”
“Hard ask when all I can think about is getting you home.”
Is he asking me back to his place again?
“There are real little kids skating out there,” said Jace.
“I told you it will be fine,” Clark said.
Once they collected their skates and handed over their shoes, they sat down on one of the benches to put them on. Jace got his skate over his foot and held it out to Merry. “Can you tie them?”
Clark snorted. “You can tie your own skates.”
“I want Merry to do them.”
“Want me to do the other?” Clark asked.
“No, you tie them too tight.”
“Well, geez, I see how it is.” Clark shot Merry a bemused smile as she tied the skates.
“There. Bunny ears are beautiful and you are ready to rock.”
Jace got to his feet, his legs wobbling a little. A teenaged girl in a Mistletoe Ice Rink sweatshirt stopped in the opening of the rink with a wide, welcoming smile.
“Hi there. Is this your first time skating?”
“It’s his first time,” Merry said.
“Would you like a free lesson to get you started?”
Merry and Clark looked at each other and Clark shrugged. “Sure. That okay with you, buddy?”
