Page 37 of Attached At Heart
Gemma managed to answer me first. “Noah is a close friend of my brother,” she said sweetly. “Julian and Noah played football in college together, but we reconnected more recently because Chloe is one of my figure skating students,” she explained, nodding to the nine-year-old who’d just entered the room in a ball of energy, making a beeline for the baby. She walked straight up to her uncle, bent down to inspect her cousinwith soft eyes before she looked up, and they widened into the perfect puppy dog plea.
“Can I hold her?”
Noah’s grin kicked to the side. “Sure, Lo. Sit next to me, okay?” She hopped onto the couch next to Noah, settling in and holding her arms out, ready for a baby deposit.
I smiled at the scene, watching Noah carefully place his daughter in Chloe’s arms, who held very still. She seemed practiced, like they’d gone through these motions before, and it was so precious that my heart felt like bursting.
Noah observed Chloe holding Delilah for a few moments before switching his attention back to me. “Yeah, these two are quite the skating stars,” he said, warmth in his tone. “Chloe actually has her first show next week.”
“I’ve always wanted to learn how to figure skate,” I admitted, smiling at Chloe, who had lifted her head, realizing we’d been talking about her. She wore a sheepish smile that told me she loved the attention but would never admit it. “It’s so fun to watch. I bet you’ll do amazing in your show, Chloe.”
“You should come!” she encouraged, her eyes alight with a glow now. “And then Gemma can teach you how to skate!”
I laughed, feeling infected by Chloe’s contagious enthusiasm. Before I could respond, Gemma chimed in.
“It’s never too late to learn, you know.”
“I’m sure Delaney would pick it up quickly,” Blake added, his breath warming the exposed skin on my shoulder. But my body responded like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me; goose bumps pebbled where I felt him. Which was everywhere. “All the years of dance would help, right?”
“Oh, absolutely.” Gemma perked up. “What kind of dance?”
“Ballet,” Blake answered, seeming eager to share that about me. Seeming eager to play the role of a husband wanting to show his wife off. I’d never been particularly proud of my yearsas a dancer because it only reminded me of the things I did to make my parents happy, but in this moment, I suddenly felt differently.
“She’s a ballerina,” he added, as if it weren’t clear enough. And then he brushed his lips over my shoulder, in the exact spot I’d felt his breath a moment ago. Where goose bumps had pricked my skin. He smoothed his lips there like he was trying to get rid of them. But all he was doing was making it worse.
“Iwas,” I clarified, “but I’m not anymore,” I said, trying not to sound as breathless as I felt. “And I’m sure dancing on solid, dry ground is a lot different—easier—than dancing on ice.”
I could feel Blake hovering over my shoulder. More accurately, I could still feel his lips. The ghost of them. His breath fanning over the spot he’d just kissed. A shiver worked through me, and Blake pulled me in closer. There wasn’t an inch of separation between us.
“Classical ballet training is absolutely an advantage when learning to figure skate,” Gemma said sincerely. “Let me know if you ever want to try it out.”
I smiled at Gemma, trying to focus on Blake’s sweet family and not the confusing way my body reacted to his. “I will, thank you.”
“Are you cold?” Blake whispered in my ear. Once again, I could feel his lips, but this time, he didn’t let them touch me. I couldn’t decide which was worse, having his mouth on me or wanting his mouth on me.
I shook my head, not trusting myself to look back at him.
Natalie entered the room a second later and announced it was time for dinner. Noah helped Gemma to her feet and then took Delilah from his niece. The four of them started to make their way to the dining room, but I didn’t know how to move.
“Did this make you uncomfortable?” Blake asked quietly once his family was out of earshot.
I shook my head again.
Uncomfortable and confused were not the same thing.
“You still okay with me taking the lead?” he asked, trying to get more out of me.
I nodded, twisting to look at him for the first time since we’d sat down. His dark eyes were earnest.
“You’re very good at it. You’re doing a better job than I probably would.”
Blake chuckled lowly at that. “Yeah, well…” He trailed off. “My family is affectionate. I know what they probably expect to see.”
I nodded again. That made sense.
“They like you,” he added when I was silent. “I can tell.”
“It’s nice to meet the rest of your family after so many years.”
