Page 18 of Tangled with the Tight End

“Yes.” Gino pumps his arm in the air. Glad someone’s happy.

She grabs her coat off the hook by the door. “Let’s go see some toys.”

eight

NORAH

I squat infront of Gino, zipping his coat to his neck. “It’s cold outside, but the two stores I want to show you are warm, okay?”

“Ready.” He beams, making my heart flop in my chest. I’ve always wanted kids, and with Eden having Angelo, that only increased the ache in my chest. But my prospects for marriage and a family flew out the window when my ex refused to come back. It’s either marry Sawyer, move away, or have a meet-cute up at the lodge with a gorgeous stranger who can’t get enough of me and sacrifices everything to stay in Evergreen Lake for eternity.

“Let’s go.” I rise to my full standing position to find Gabriel watching us with his hands shoved into his pockets. Okay, I’ve already had the meet-cute with the gorgeous stranger, but the likelihood that he’s going to become obsessed with me is miniscule, so miniscule that he didn’t want me to walk down the street with him and his son.

As if he’s coming out of a haze, Gabriel slaps on a smile. “Where to?”

“Turn to the right when we go outside. I want to show you something.”

I make a move toward the door, but he rushes past me and opens it. “After you.”

As I brush past him, I inhale the scent of his cologne and shiver. I thought freshly baked cookies and scones smelled delicious, but they aren’t the only things I’d like to slather in icing and devour.

He’s leaving town. He can’t wait to resume his career. His wife was a model. Long legs. Thin. Big boobs. Enormous green eyes. And blonde hair. I should know what she looks like because last night I searched for him and his wife on the internet and nearly cried. They looked perfect together on the beach in Florida. A guy like him is not going to go from that to me.

We’re silent as we trudge toward the first place I want to show them. If it was Gabriel and I alone, I’d take him to the Sips on Main, a couple of streets away, for a more adult conversation, but we have Gino with us. Gabriel’s jaw flexes as he strides beside me. “Is your knee, okay?”

He shifts his head around to face me. “Why do you ask?”

“You look like you’re in pain.” Either he’s hurting, or he’s miserable that he’s having to spend the day with me. Remember that when you go to sleep tonight so you don’t wake up from dreams of rolling around under a Christmas tree with him with wrapping paper stuck to your ass.

“I’m fine.” He relaxes his shoulders.

The sidewalk is clear except for a few streaks of caked-on snow, but the ground is hard under my boots. When we step down to the street, our footsteps squish in the slushy tire tracks. At night, the remaining snow freezes, and during the day, when the sun warms the snow, everything turns to dirt mush.

“Gino.” I grab his shoulder to gain his attention.

“Yes?” His inquisitive eyes search mine.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“What?” He claps his hands and hops up and down.

“There’s a pond just over here.” I point past the edge of the road to a slight incline. The pond isn’t visible unless you’re in a vehicle. “It’s used as a skating pond in the winter. The hockey coaches use it for skating practice and games, but it’ll open for public use on December 6th.”

“See it?” He switches his attention from me to his father.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s fine.” I place my hand on the coat covering his forearm. “It’s safe. I saw some of the teams practicing last weekend. The water is frozen, and his boots aren’t too slick. If you’re worried, he can stay near the edge.”

“Okay, but be careful.”

“Yes!” Gino pumps his fist in the air again and runs over the berm.

“He’ll be fine.” I squeeze tighter. “Come see. I’ve been skating on the pond since I was barely older than Gino.”

“Fine,” he huffs as if it’s against his better judgment. “I trust you.”

And with those words, my knees buckle. He grasps my gloved hand in his and drags me in Gino’s footsteps. Although ours are four times his size.

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