Page 43 of Shining Through

This was broken by the sound of footsteps and someone clearing their throat. Startled, they both turned to see Anton Belikov, who had come from the rink. He wasn’t smiling. “Hello, Tabitha.”

“Hi.” She swallowed hard, and her cheeks flamed hot.

Anton and Daniil spoke in Russian. She couldn’t tell if the coach was angry, or if it was the alien, harsh sound of the language. The only word she understood was “da.” Yes. Then Anton walked away.

She grimaced and looked back at Daniil. “Are you in trouble?”

Daniil waved her concern away. “He doesn’t stay mad. But I have to go. The ice is waiting.”

Tabitha hoped that was all it was, but if so, why hadn’t Anton spoken English? She’d heard him do it enough times. “Good luck this afternoon.”

“Even though I’m skating against your friend?”

She grasped the open front of his red and white training jacket. “You’re my friend too.”

He chuckled. “Is that all?”

She rolled her eyes at his cockiness, even as it made her smile. “I guess we’ll find out.”

“Midnight,” he said, making the word sound like a seduction. “Don’t be late.”

~

At 11:45, Tabitha slipped out of the hotel, staying in the shadows. She didn’t want to risk being seen at midnight, wearing a pencil skirt and stilettos, her supposed fiancé nowhere in sight.

After going out with the other U.S. skaters to celebrate Brett’s silver medal and Mia’s gold, her friend had slipped away to meet Sergei. Now it was Tabitha’s turn for an illicit rendezvous.

Seated on the concrete bench beside the driveway, she tugged the hem of her skirt. He hadn’t said where they were going. That he might take her to some out of the way motel was both thrilling and terrifying. She wanted him, but her emotions were still raw. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. She checked the time; 11:55. She could message to say she’d changed her mind. The rumble of an engine pulling up said it was too late.

His gaze raked over her short black skirt, fitted white t-shirt and towering red high heels. “That skirt looks even better tonight.”

She laughed. “Listen I was going to duck upstairs, to um, change clothes.” Her cheeks flamed hot. “It’s kind of chilly, and—”

“You can borrow my jacket.”

Apparently, they were going someplace where she’d need one, not a cheap motel where her clothes wouldn’t be a concern. “Where are we going?”

“Someplace you’ll like, trust me.”

She tugged at her skirt as she got in the car. His gaze lingered on her legs, and something about the way he was devouring her with his eyes, bolstered her confidence. She had power here. She sat up a little straighter and tossed her hair back over her shoulder.

They sped through the glittering midnight city and then followed a winding road through a large park. The park ended at a towering bridge that led to a coastal highway. Just past a sprawling marina, he pulled into a parking lot. As they got out, he removed his leather jacket and draped it around her shoulders.

A pier stretched out into the dark bay, past rows of anchored sail boats and small yachts. She walked quickly at his side, taking care not to catch her spike heels on the wooden planks. At the very end was a small, clapboard building illuminated with soft lights. Daniil held open the door.

Inside, angled tables with white tablecloths and flickering candles filled the small main room. A few were occupied. A handful of customers sat at the bar. In the corner, a pianist and an acoustic guitar player performed on a small stage. Daniil touched her back. “Choose a good table and I’ll get our drinks.”

She liked the one in the corner facing the water. Daniil joined her a few moments later, with their drinks. Vodka and tonic for him. A chocolate martini for her.

“This isn’t what I expected,” she said.

He gave her a sly look. “And what were you expecting? Mirrored ceilings and dirty movies on pay TV?” She laughed, and dropped her forehead to her hand, hoping he didn’t notice the color rising in her cheeks. He’d read her thoughts pretty well. “We might get to that, but for now?” He gazed around the room. “When I found this place, I thought of you.”

She held up her glass. “To lovely places and gold medals. Congratulations.”

He touched the rim of his glass to hers. She sipped her drink, which was sweet and decadent. “Your program was excellent. “I think it’s interesting that your short program is the serious, classical one, and your free skate is to a rock song. Most people do it the other way around.”

“I do it the way I enjoy, and for me it works.”

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