Page 8 of Waltzing on Ice

Reporters eat it up, whispering about how tragic it must be for Lucas to see Daisy with her new partner, romantically involved no less. I catch bits and pieces of the murmurs. Poor Lucas. He and Daisy were so perfect together. Can you imagine having to watch your ex fall in love with someone else—on and off the ice?

I grind my teeth, barely resisting the urge to march over and wipe that melancholic, brooding look off his face.

Beside me, Daisy shifts. She’s tense, her fingers clenching around the stem of her water glass. The flickering candlelight casts shadows across her face, making the worry in her hazel eyes more pronounced.

I lean in, keeping my voice low. “Ignore him.”

She exhales sharply. “He’s making me look like the bad guy.”

I smirk. “That’s because he knows how to play the game.”

Her gaze snaps to mine. “And you don’t?”

I chuckle. “Oh, I do, sweetheart. I wouldn’t waste my time pretending to be heartbroken over something I threw away.”

Her lips part slightly, like she wasn’t expecting that. Neither was I if I’m being honest. But it’s true. Lucas didn’t lose Daisy—he let her go, thinking he could do better. Now, he’s realizing just how badly he screwed up.

I have zero sympathy for him.

Daisy tears her gaze away and takes a sip of her drink. I can tell she’s still rattled, and I don’t like it.

Without thinking, I reach for her hand. “Come on.”

She blinks up at me. “What?”

I nod toward the far end of the room. “Let’s get out of here for a minute.”

For once, she doesn’t argue.

I lead her out onto a private balcony overlooking the city. The cool night air rushes around us, a stark contrast to the stifling heat inside. Daisy crosses her arms over her chest, staring at the skyline, her shoulders still tight.

I lean against the railing beside her. “Talk to me.”

She lets out a quiet laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Bullshit.”

Her eyes flick to mine, surprised.

I hold her gaze. “You let Lucas get to you. Why?”

She exhales slowly, looking away. “Because he’s making a spectacle out of something that is private and people are eating it up.”

“People will believe whatever fits their version of the truth.”

She sighs. “I hate that.”

I smirk. “You and me both.”

For a moment, it’s just us, the hum of the city below, the distant sound of music from inside. I don’t know why I do it, butI reach out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She stills, her breath catching.

“I meant what I said back there,” I murmur. “Lucas didn’t dump you, he lost you. You were always too good for him and he knew it.”

Daisy looks up at me then, the air shifts. Her lips part, hazel eyes flickering with something unreadable. My gaze drops—just briefly—to her mouth.

I could kiss her. Right now. Just lean in and close the space between us.

Iwantto.

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