Page 95 of Expose on the Ice

I skid to a halt, my sneakers scraping against the pavement as I narrowly avoid a collision. My heart, already racing from the run, seems to skip a beat as I look up and meet a familiar pair of intense gray eyes.

Carter.

He stands there, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his jacket, looking as if he’s been waiting for me. His hair is slightly disheveled, as though he’s been running his fingers through it repeatedly, and he sports an uncertain look on his face.

He’s here!My mind’s voice is a shouted squeal, nervous and elated.And God, he looks good.

The early morning light catches the sharp angles of his face, highlighting the stubble along his jaw. Even in a simple jacket and jeans, he exudes an effortless magnetism that makes my heart race faster than any run ever could.

“Carter,” I manage, my voice embarrassingly breathy. “How did you know I’d be here?”

He shifts his weight, looking almost sheepish. “I, uh, might have asked Jess where you usually run.”

“Oh,” is all I can muster in response.

Eloquent, Lily,my mind mocks me.Real smooth.

We stand there for a moment, the silence stretching between us like a living thing. I’m acutely aware of how I must look – sweaty, flushed, my hair a mess. Meanwhile, Carter looks like he’s stepped off the cover of a magazine.

I’ve missed him more than anything in my entire life. I’ve missed his crooked smile, the way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he laughs. I’ve missed the quiet moments we’ve shared, the stolen glances, the spark between us when we’re close.

“I read your article,” Carter says finally, breaking the silence.

I swallow hard. “And?”

He takes a second before meeting my eyes. “It was… intense. Seeing everything laid out like that.”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. My heart is hammering so hard I’m sure he can hear it.

Carter takes a step closer. “Did Frank really threaten you?”

“He said if we stayed together, he’d ruin you. And I didn’t want that…”

“What changed?”

“I missed you. And I couldn’t watch your reputation be dragged through the mud,” I say, taking a shaky breath. “You deserve to have your story told – the real story, all of it, all three dimensions, the good, and the bad, the clear and the cloudy. Andyou deserve to make choices about your future after that, yourownchoices, free of secrets and hidden agendas and threats.”

“You risked a lot,” he says.

“What we had – what we could still have – is worth fighting for,” I say.

His eyes widen slightly, and for a moment, I fear I’ve said too much. But then a slow smile spreads across his face, and I match it as my breath catches in my throat. I take a tentative step closer, close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from his body.

“I meant every word,” I say softly. “And I meant what I said at the end. Where we go from here… it’s up to you. If you’ll have me.”

Carter’s gaze intensifies, and I feel like I’m drowning in those stormy gray eyes. His hand comes up, hesitating for just a moment before cupping my cheek. The touch sends a shiver down my spine, and lights a spark of hope inside me.

“Lily,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing lightly across my cheekbone. “I think I’ve decided.”

I raise an eyebrow, trying to ignore the way my pulse quickens at his proximity. “And?”

Carter reaches out, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. The touch sends a shiver down my spine. My heart, my brain, my skin, my bones – every part of me – wants him more than anything. More than air.

“And I realize,” he murmurs, “that it’s never really a choice at all.”

CARTER

I cup Lily’s face in my hands, drinking in the sight of her – flushed cheeks, bright eyes, and that determined set to her jaw that I adore. Without another word, I lean in and kiss her, and in that exact moment, it feels like everything is perfect again.

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