Page 95 of Rainbow Kisses

“I heard someone was looking for me.” She spoke directly into my ear, her breath brushing against the lobe and raising gooseflesh all over my body. “I really hope it was you.”

Pulling back so I could stare into those beautiful eyes, I smiled, watching her lips curve in an answering grin. “I’ve been looking for you all my life, Rainy. I’m here to stay this time.”

“I’m sorry?—”

“I’m sorry?—”

We laughed as we spoke over each other, and I set her on her feet. Then I bent and kissed her.

And the town cheered.

The crowd had dwindled downto mostly adults by around nine o’clock, and the park looked magical.

White twinkle lights sparkled everywhere, from poles and trees and draped overhead between all the little stands. Couples gathered around the firepits, drinking spiked hot chocolate and beer and something Mitzi, the Tea Room owner, called Fire in the Hole. I didn’t have a clue what was in it, but holy hell, it definitely warmed up your insides.

I’d gotten Maddy out on skates on the pond earlier in the night, but she and Linny had left a few minutes ago. Not to wait up for me. And I’d find my own way home. Eventually.

“Come skate with me, Rainy.”

I glided to the edge of the frozen pond and held my hand out.

“I don’t know.” Rain put her hands on her hips and smiled at me. She’d already put on her skates. “You have some pretty fancy moves, if I remember correctly. And I’m not sure we have the right music.”

Something slow and full of guitar played over the speakers. A few other couples skated around the perimeter of the ice, but I only had eyes for her.

“I promise not to show off my moves if you hold my hand.”

Her smile widened as she stepped on the ice. But she skated past me, hands behind her back until she was as few feet away, then turned and skated backward, holding out her hands.

“Come on then, make it worth my while.”

Grinning, I skated up to her, scooped her off the ice as she gasped, and spun her around like we were pairs skaters. I owed that ice dancer in college a beer if I ever saw her again.

Rain continued to laugh as I lowered her back to the ice, then turned and took her hand, pushing off and tugging her along on a leisurely path around the outside of the ice.

“I want you to know,” I said, “I had already decided to come back before Rebel came to talk to me.”

She blinked up at me. “Wait. What?”

“He didn’t tell you?” I snorted. “That figures.”

She looked mystified. “I had no idea. Why?”

“Because he loves you, and he said I made you unhappy. Then he threatened to punch me if I didn’t make it right. I want to make it right.”

“Brian—”

“I thought you were happy to see me leave. The way you looked at me when I walked out your door… It felt like you were already wiping your memories of me.”

Grimacing, she released my hand to thread her arm through mine, bringing her closer. “I hate to be wrong. I mean, I’m not always right, but I thoughtwewere right. That we were meant to be together. And when you left, I just thought…I’d screwed up again.”

“You didn’t screw up. I did. I should’ve made it clear nothing would keep me from coming back to you. I missed you. Every single day. I missed you.” I didn’t bother with subtlety now. I just needed to know. “It felt like my heart was being crushed.”

She looked up at me, eyes sparkling. “Me too. Every day.”

“I love you, Rainbow.”

“I love you too.”

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