Page 50 of Second Chance Christmas

Reality burst through their tiny bubble like a frigid blizzard. Of all the times. He didn’t know if he felt relief or irritation. Or a little of both.

He snatched up his two-way. “Go ahead, Kade.”

Ivy’s gaze dipped to where the paints were at their feet. “Mrs. December phoned in. Said to let you know not to worry about coming to her place. She said the girls got an early start on the baking, but from all the laughing and cutting up, if you ask me, they got started on the wine first.”

“Oh man, I totally forgot.” Ivy stopped dead in the middle of the room. Eyes wide, she cupped her hands over her mouth and managed to catch the side of her face with the tips of her paintbrush. He smiled.

“No problem. Thanks for letting me know.”

He took his time hooking his radio to his belt before he crossed the room to her. She still stood stalk-still, guilt causing her nose to scrunch up the way it used to in high school. Thank God some things never changed.

He pulled a rag from his back pocket and dabbed at the wet paint on her cheek.

“Sometimes I should not be allowed near wet paint.”

“You look cute with all the little droplets in your hair, too. It’s like tiny snowflakes and speaking of snowflakes,” he grinned down at her, “I have an idea. Do you still like the snow?”

Her eyes narrowed which only made him want to laugh, but he didn’t. Instead, he held his hands up in defense and succumbed to the power of her daring look. “You said no candles, table, wine and along that line. Right?”

“A little late for that after this morning.”

“True, but I still feel the need to show you a good time after taking such daring advantage of your lack of clothing this morning. This has none of those things so you are bound by the power of a promise to oblige the chief.”

“Chief, huh?” He loved the curl of her lips. How she tried to fight the smile.

“If it helps, I’ll say please,” he added to help his own cause, moving a strand of hair away from her face.

“Well, what exactly does the chief have in mind?”

God, he loved how she pushed him to the line.

Her words were softly spoken, but curiosity filled every syllable and her eyes gave her away too. They always had. If you wanted to know what Ivy Sunday thought or felt all you had to do was look closely. Her eyes never lied. It is what he loved about her. So honest, never hiding a thing. Whether she meant to or not.

He took her hand. “Follow me, baby. You’re going to love this. That is unless you want to stay here and I fuck you in all the rooms before guests arrive.”

he got the gasp of surprise he’d aimed for with another tinge of heat to her cheeks.

“Lead the way,” she husked though he could see her considering her options.

When he arrived earlier that morning the sun caught on the lake’s frozen surface and brought back the same memories they’d talked about earlier.

Downstairs he grabbed a couple of coats from the hall closet and they slipped them on as he ushered her out the back-kitchen door.

“Are you going to tell me your big plan or do I have to guess?” Mirth lit her face with like a thousand Christmas lights.

“A little mystery is a good thing,” he said, passing the pad of his thumb over her plump bottom lip. “You’ll see. Be careful, watch your step.” He took her hand in his and guided her off the porch and past the gazebo. He led them down a small path that snaked along the beach and came to an abrupt end at a bench hidden beneath low pine branches. Earlier he’d come down here waiting on Ivy to wake when the idea struck. He only had to wait for the perfect time to execute.

“Do you still remember the moves from your winter skate-off in high school?

“Pshhh.” She lost her balance a little and he tightened his hold on her, earning him a warm smile. “How could I forget? I won first place and Dad had it framed for the mantle. It’s still there and he still talks about it to all his friends. Poor people,” she added.

She raised her hands above her head and twirled on her toes, emulating one of the moves he’d watched her practice all winter when they were teenagers going steady.

“Hmm. Maybe a repeat performance, then?” He pulled two pairs of ice skates he’d found in the attic that morning and tucked them beside the bench in the hope he could pull her away from work.

His eyes widened. “It’s been forever, Aspen. I don’t know if I can.”

He dusted snow off the bench and pulled her down next to him. He reached for one of her feet. He slipped her boot off and slid on the skate.

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