Page 20 of A Christmas Spark
She could see how happy Katie was. Her smile was bright, the conversation from earlier completely forgotten. She picked up speed immediately, making Imogen’s heart flip a little in her chest, but Katiewasremarkably good at skating. She’d signed Katie up for lessons last winter, and Katie had really taken to it. Whenever there was extra time outside of lessons, like today, to skate, her daughter always wanted to be at the rink.
Imogen looked around as she sipped her cider, letting out a deep breath and feeling some of the tension drain from her muscles. They would drop Katie’s letter off today, and she would make sure that every other thing on Katie’s list showed up under the Christmas tree, so that Katie wouldn’t be disappointed when a husband didn’t show up for her mom. And maybe later, when the holidays were over, she would sit down with her daughter and explain that it wasn’t quite as simple as that, and that the complications that came with a relationship weren’t worth risking the happiness that they currently had.
“She’s really something, isn’t she?”
Imogen jumped, nearly spilling her cider at the sound of Lincoln’s voice next to her. “Oh my gosh, I didn’t hear you come up,” she gasped, half-laughing as she dabbed at the corner of her mouth with one hand.
“Sorry,” he said with a grin, his green eyes sparkling. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t, I was just—” Imogen couldn’t help but return his smile. “I was just off in my own little world for a minute.”
“You deserve a minute to zone out, as hard as you work.”
Imogen looked at him, surprised. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was that she was surprised about—that he thought she worked hard, maybe… although she definitely did, or possibly just that he’d noticed. There weren’t many people in her life,other than Vanessa and her daughter, that she had to notice things about her.
“That’s nice of you to say,” she said with a small laugh. “Normally I’m fine. It’s just… you know, the holidays can get crazy, and the shop is always so busy, plus there are so many school events, and then decoratingmyhouse, and making all the Christmas magic happen for the season for Katie…” She trailed off. “Wow, you did not need to hear all of that. I’m sorry. I’m rambling now.”
“No, I’m happy to listen.” Lincoln leaned against the rink wall, that smile still on his face.
He really was very handsome, Imogen thought. He’d been good-looking when they were younger, but he’d grown up to be even more so. His fluffy, tousled dark hair and those bright green eyes were both charmingly attractive, and all of his hard work at the rink meant that he’d grown into his height, more leanly muscled than she remembered him being in high school.
Imogen was jolted out of her momentarily wandering thoughts when Katie skated up to where she and Lincoln were standing, a shower of ice coming from her skate blades as she skidded to a stop. Imogen saw her look between her mother and Lincoln, a sly expression sliding onto her face.
“Hi, Mr. Iceman!” Katie called out, a bright smile on her face. Imogen frowned, looking at her daughter, at Lincoln, and then back again.
“Mr. Iceman?”
Lincoln shrugged. “I think that’s my nickname. She’s started calling me that at skating lessons. I think it’s catching on—at least three other kids are calling me that now too.”
Imogen pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. “Is that so?”
“It’s a good nickname!” Katie said defensively.
“It is,” Lincoln agreed. “Very fitting. I could also be Mr. Pizzaman, if you like. The concession stand is about to open, and you both look hungry. I have it on good authority that there’s a sausage and pepperoni pizza about to come out of the oven any second now.”
“Ooh, pizza!” Katie clapped her mittened hands together. “Can we have pizza, Mom? Please?”
“Well…” Imogen hesitated, thinking of the dinner she’d planned to cook that evening.
“It’s on me,” Lincoln said, flashing her a smile. “As long as I can eat a slice with you ladies?”
“Yes, please!” Katie exclaimed, and Imogen sighed. She felt sure that she knew what her daughter was up to.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said to Lincoln and he shrugged, that grin still on his face.
“Happy to. I’ll be right back.” He winked at Imogen, heading off in the direction of the concession stand, as Katie beamed victoriously.
“Ilovepizza,” she said enthusiastically, as she tugged off her skates and joined Imogen at one of the small tables near the concession stand.
“I know you do. It’s very nice of Mr. Blackwell to treat us to pizza,” Imogen added, already looking to see if she had any cash in her purse that she could give Lincoln to pay him back. It was a friendly gesture, she knew, but there was something about it that made her feel a little odd. As if maybe it meant something more than just him being friendly… and she definitely didn’t want to encourage that.
Right?
“Lincoln is very nice. And handsome too, don’t you think?” Katie looked at her mother, who sighed.
“Don’t start matchmaking, Katie. And it’sMr. Blackwell. Remember to be polite.”
Katie scrunched her mouth up, looking at her mother narrowly, but nodded. A few minutes later, Lincoln arrived with their pizza, as well as sodas for all of them.
