Page 123 of Fear of Falling

JOSIE

Two weeks later …

“Just pose right there.”

“Like this?” Landon asked as he crossed his arms, standing awkwardly in front of his office door. He looked so uncomfortable, and I was trying my best not to laugh. It was obvious he wasn’t a big fan of being in front of the camera.

“Maybe widen your stance a little and loosen your shoulders so you don’t look too tense,” I suggested.

We were currently at the hockey rink Landon owned,Hockey Haven. A while ago, Wyatt told me how much this place meant to Landon and the kids he taught, so I came up with an idea that could help the rink and give kids a fun experience. It had taken a bit of convincing—well a lot of convincing, to get Landon to agree to do it. Especially after he learned it would be featured inFusion Weekly.

I didn’t want to brag but being in the magazine had helped a lot of business around here. I’d seen businesses bounce back after their place was featured. The publicity helped so much. And I just knew as soon as the article came out, this place will beflooded with kids and their parents. The fact that he happened to be the brother of Wyatt Boone was just an added bonus.

“Like this?” Landon fixed his stance, looking much better. With a nod, I brought my camera to my eye and snapped a few pictures, trying out different angles. I could tell how uncomfortable he was, so I tried to make it quick. I only needed a few more pictures of him near the ice and he’d be good to go.

“Just a couple more, then you’re done, I promise.” I sent him an encouraging smile.

“Do you think this will help?” he asked as we walked towards the ice rink, filled with the sounds of skates on the ice as kids talked loudly, brimming with excitement.

“I think so. The pictures will help people see what the place is like and having a written interview about you shows people who you are. And people are always looking for a place to ice skate and this is the perfect place. You could even do a weekly event where people can skate with music and what not.”

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Landon nodded. I hid my smile. I could tell this place was his baby and he liked to do things his way. But maybe he could be open to suggestions after all.

Stopping beside the skating rink, I instantly looked for one person. It didn’t take long to see Wyatt surrounded by a bunch of little kids in skates. From here, I could hear the kids asking him question after question, talking in loud, excited voices.

“The kids love him. They always ask when he’s coming to play with them,” Landon said as he watched me watch Wyatt with the kids.

“He’s cute with them.” Seeing my boyfriend interact with the kids was enough to make my knees weak. Guys who were good with kids were incredibly attractive.

“About once a month we do a thing where all the kids can come and do a little scrimmage against Wyatt, Trevor andBryton. Some of the other players come too, but those three always show up.”

I hadn’t known that.

The fact that not just Wyatt came every month to play with the kids was incredible. Just another reason to make me fall more in love with him.

I could tell that my window of cooperation with Landon was rapidly closing, so I directed Landon over to the side of the rink. Directing him in different positions, I quickly snapped the last of the images I needed.

For someone who hated being in front of the camera, Landon did well. He listened to my directions and moved where I wanted him to without complaining. As far as pictures go, he was by far one of my easiest clients. I’d had my fair share of horrible people wanting to tellmehow to do my job.

“I think I got it,” I finally said, clicking through the pictures on my camera and liking how they’d come out so far. “I just need one of you with the kids and Wyatt then you are done.”

“Yo Wy!” Landon shouted across the ice to his brother. Wyatt’s head snapped in our direction as Landon waved him over.

I grinned as Wyatt led the group of little kids towards me, their little legs trying hard to keep up with Wyatt’s long ones.

As he neared, I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth. Clad in a pair of joggers and a Toronto Knights sweatshirt he looked delicious. My eyes raked up and down my boyfriend's form.

And to think he’s all mine.

The number of dirty thoughts running through my head should probably be illegal, especially considering little kids were standing in front of me.

“You guys ready for us?” Wyatt asked, his eyes fleeting over to me. Looking me up and down like I just did to him. The heat in his stare had me wishing we were alone.

Ever since we’d said ‘I love you’ to each other, we’d barely left each other's side. The only time we did was to go to work, practice and his games. Even when we hung out with our friends, we were always holding hands, pressed against each other. I literally couldn’t get enough of him.

It’s been two weeks since the incident with the article. After Wyatt apologized, we both agreed that we didn’t want to hide our relationship. People were going to talk anyway, so let them. I was in love with a hot hockey player and if it pissed people off then so what.

We’d had a few run-ins with the paparazzi, but thankfully they weren’t as pushy after Wyatt posted a picture of us on his Instagram. It was weird having people with big cameras following you, but I knew I’d eventually get used to it.

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