Page 63 of Breaking the Ice

“It is,” she says quietly. “But I don’t know how it’s going to work. I still live in Maple Falls and you live in California.”

“One day at a time, Ellie. I promise there is no obstacle so big we can’t work it out.” Then I tell her, “I’m going to be back in town tomorrow. Do you want to have our first official date out in public?”

She surprises me by answering, “I’m not really an out-on-the-town kind of girl. How about if I cook for you tomorrow?”

As if I didn’t already know that Ellie wasn’t like the other women I’ve gone out with. Everyone else wants to be photographed with me, and Ellie wants a quiet night in. “That sounds like a great idea,” I tell her. “Plus, that way there won’t be any prying eyes when I kiss you.”

“Or when I kiss you,” she practically purrs.

I know without question that Ellie Butler is my future, and I can’t wait to experience life with her at my side.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Ellie/Two Weeks Later

“Let’s go, Mom!” I call across the house. My mom was cleared by the doctor twelve days ago to resume normal activities. Not only has the brain bleed healed on its own, but the turmeric Zach gave her seems to really be helping with her pain.

I hear the low whirring of her wheelchair before I see her. My mom drives into the living room wearing a pretty summer dress and a smile. “I love this thing!” she says excitedly. Then she sees Zach. “We couldn’t have gotten this without you, Zach. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me,” he says. “Thank your daughter for being a PR mastermind.” He smiles in my direction. “Tony asked if you wanted to move to LA and work for him.”

I shudder. “I’d rather become a professional mud wrestler.”

“Is that a thing?” he asks in horror.

“Who knows. I’m just saying that I never want to be in PR. Especially if it means working for people like Yolanda.”

“How about people like me?” he asks with a wink.

Walking over to my purse, I open it and hand him an envelope from inside. He looks confused while opening it. Then he holds up a check. “That’s your money back,” I tell him.

“I don’t want it.” He sounds offended.

“I don’t either.”

“I thought you were going to use it to help with things around here.”

“I’m using Yolanda’s money for that,” I tell him. “I was going to give hers back, too, but I’m so mad at what she’s done to you that I’ve decided to keep it.” After a beat, I add, “Although if she asks for it back, I’ll probably give her whatever I haven’t spent.”

Looking at my mom, Zach asks, “Would you like a check for forty thousand dollars?”

My mom shakes her head. “Ellie told me everything, and you can rest easy that neither of us wants your money.”

Zach looks like you could knock him over with a feather. “Fine. But I’m paying for everything at Maple Fest today.”

“You have yourself a deal,” I tell him before sealing our pact with a kiss.

“I knew you two were going to be a perfect match!” my mom cheers.

Zach asks us, “What do you say that after this hockey tournament is over, I take you both to stay at my house on the beach?”

“You don’t have ramps,” I remind him.

With a wink, he tells me, “I do now. I had my brother hire someone to install them the day I left.”

“Don’t you think you might be putting the cart before the horse?” I ask.

“What does that even mean?”

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