Page 40 of A Twisted Gift

It only takes a few minutes, and then I’m pulling into the empty parking lot at the rink. They’re closed since it’s a holiday, but I booked it a few days ago just in case she said yes, so we have the entire place to ourselves until noon. It cost a pretty penny to rent it out at the last minute, especially since it’s Christmas Eve, but everyone has their price.

Inside, I guide us past a sign in the lobby that says, “Closed for Private Event,” but Raina tugs on her hand.

“I don’t think we can go in, Erik. The sign says they’re closed.”

“We can.”

“But—”

“Wearethe private event, little rose.”

Her jaw drops. “Oh.”

“Erik Hawthorne?” a man calls as we get closer to the rink.

“That’s me.”

“Come this way. I’ll get you set up with skates.”

We follow him to a counter, and I give him our shoe sizes. A moment later, I’m guiding Raina to a nearby bench, our skates in my hands.

“What do you mean, we’re the private event?” Raina asks as we slip out of our boots.

“Places like this can get crowded. I didn’t want you to get overwhelmed or risk anyone knocking into you and hurting you. Well, that, and they’re usually closed on a day like today.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

Once she has her skates on, I tighten the laces for her. She’s capable of doing it herself, I know, but I can’t stop myself. I love taking care of her.

“Let me do yours,” she says when I finish. She’s on her knees before I can stop her.

“What—no, Raina, you don’t have to do that.”

She sighs, sounding a little frustrated. “You didn’t have to do mine, either.”

“That’s different. You—”

When she looks up at me, the protest dies on my tongue. This isn’t a picture I expected to see outside of my head. Raina, on her knees in front of me, gazing up at me with those blue eyes so full of determination.

Dammit.We may be alone, but this is the last place I want to deal with an erection.

“I what?”

“I—” Clearing my throat, I scour my brain for what I was about to say, but it’s gone. “I lost my train of thought. Here, just…” I hook my arms under hers and pull her up. “Thank you for tying them for me.”

She smiles, satisfied. “You’re welcome. Now we skate?”

“Now we skate.”

I step onto the ice first. It’s been years since I’ve done this, but I still remember the basics. Knees slightly bent, feet not too far apart, and weight centered.

“Hold onto the wall to start off,” I tell Raina.

She does, practically clinging to it from the moment she gets onto the ice. “This—this didn’t look so scary in the movies.”

“You just have to get the hang of it, that’s all. Move your feet so they’re not so far apart. There you go, that’s it. Now bend your knees just a touch.”

“But how do I—ohhh!” She slips but manages to get her weight back underneath her.

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