Page 49 of With All My Heart, Joy

Isaac had no idea what Paisley meant, but Joy seemed to. She skated ahead, pulling them into a curve. When they had formed a three-person circle with a small opening between him and Joy, her eyes darted to his.

His breath came fast and short as he extended his gloved hand. She reached for it tentatively, as if she might pull back any second. She didn’t, and as their hands interlocked, gloves and all, a rush of connection surged through Isaac. His body jolted as if he’d been shocked.

Joy stared at him, unblinking, before she tore her gaze away. But her hand remained gripped in his while they rotated in a circle. Paisley’s laughter tumbled through the air, a sufficient distraction, and Isaac took advantage of the hubbub to study Joy in the lamplight.

She wore a bright pink knitted hat with a large pompom. She’d made it herself. He knew thanks to binge-watching her videos like the idiot he was.

Her dark blond layers jutted out at perfect angles underneath the hat. Her makeup, as usual, was perfectly done but notoverdone. The cream-colored pea coat she wore gave a sophisticated contrast to the playful hat. The combination of looks summed up her personality quite well. Her hands were cloaked with thick, bright pink gloves stamped across the back with the Columbia logo.

She was beautiful. But he already knew that.

“Come on, Joy,” an irritated voice intruded into their intimate circle, the cameraman reaching to grab Joy by the shoulder. “You really want to spend your evening with an old fogey and his…kid?”

Isaac’s body went rigid, and he jerked his hand out of Joy’s loose hold. It was a good thing this guy had decided to hold back the slur on his tongue. Isaac didn’t want to be booked for assault tonight, but no one messed with Paisley.

He didn’t expect the incensed look that filled Joy’s face as she yanked the recorder out of the young man’s hand. “Not another word, you jerk. Isaac and Paisley are myfriends. They have a lot more manners than you, and they don’t want to associate with me to have their faces in a video. Now leave me alone!”

“But—”

“Go, Danny!”

He’d never heard Joy raise her voice that loudly. And it was on his behalf. His and Paisley’s. That shouldn’t send a rush of satisfaction to his chest. But it did anyway.

Danny skated away, gesturing animatedly to the other friends, his motormouth running. They all laughed like it was the most hilarious thing they’d ever heard.

“Fake friends, fake friends,” Joy muttered over and over. She stood stock still, her arms at her sides.

“Thank you,” Isaac said softly, touching her shoulder. She would probably say no. But her defense of him made him bold. “I’m taking Paisley for hot chocolate when we’re done here. Would you like to join us?”

Chapter Thirteen

Isaac’s question hung in the air. Joy hoped he couldn’t see the panicked breaths she gulped into her lungs. She had just told off the friends who were always willing to help her shoot videos. She needed them. And yet, she felt no sorrow to be rid of them. She didn’t regret cutting her video off right in the middle to skate with Isaac and Paisley. And she couldn’t say no to Isaac’s invitation.

There was no point in trying to deny it any longer. She cared for Isaac. Age difference and all.

“Sure. I’d like that.” She dared to meet his eyes. They were dark, fathomless pools of admiration, zeroed in on her. “Fresh Ground?”

His eyes crinkled at the sides. “Naturally. I got your letter today, by the way. I wasn’t expecting that.”

She shrugged and began skating again, sans hands holding. Paisley was balancing precariously on her own. The practice was probably good for her. “It felt right.”

When he didn’t answer, she was relieved.

“Paisley, you ready for hot chocolate?”

“Not yet. Eeeh!”

Joy turned sharply at the sound of Paisley’s shriek and found she was closer to the girl than Isaac was. She dove down, landing on her knees, and caught Paisley’s head before it slammed into the ice.

Isaac was panting when he stopped beside them. “I think that’s enough for one night.” He sent a grateful look to Joy. “Thank you.”

Fresh Ground was two blocks from the park, so after Isaac stowed his and Paisley’s ice skates in his car, Joy suggested walking. Snow floated down like powdered sugar from a sifter, the air devoid of lake wind in a rare occurrence.

“Isn’t it magical?” Joy lifted her face to the snow that had just begun falling as they walked, welcoming the icy sting as it pelted her cheeks. Isaac’s silence prompted her to seek out his gaze. It was directed straight at her, undiluted longing etched on his face. Heat rushed to her neck, an answering buzz spiraling through her belly.

Isaac Miller liked her a lot.

“Hot choc-o-late, hot choc-o-late,” Paisley sang, skipping at Joy’s side. She tended to break up long words into separate syllables, resulting in a choppy sound to her speech.

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