Page 75 of Tempt Me Forever

She was right, but when it came to her, I couldn't help but be overprotective.

We went up and down the hill a few more times. Kimberly was tireless, but she was right. This was a lot of fun.

"It’s so quiet. I love that about snow. It’s like the world stops. This is the best date ever," she said when we got up from our fifteenth or so slide down. Kimberly’s cheeks were red, and snow clung to her hair, but her smile was huge. She really meant it.

"I was going to take you to a fancy restaurant before Suze called for help," I said.

"I know. The location was on the calendar invite, remember? All so official. Instead, I got you cooking for me, some baby time, and now you brought me sledding.Andwe've got the entire hill to ourselves under the full moon. What can be better than that?"

"Going home with you," I replied.

She snorted. "Well played. But first, I want us to take one last ride down and maybe use the edge of the hill. It's a bit steeper, and the snow is still fresh."

"Your wish is my command." And I didn't just mean when it came to sledding.

She was even giddier than before as she set to go down the hill. I'd miscalculated the angle—it really was steeper, so she was going even faster than before. I immediately leaned forward, too, and the sled sped downhill.

"I love going fast," she exclaimed. She was using both her hands to steady the sleigh.

"Can you steer it toward the flat area?" I asked as loud as I could.

"Not easy to control," she yelled back, "but I have an idea. Let's roll out of it."

That was one way to stop, but not ideal. "Are you serious?"

She literally rolled off the next second, right into the snow. I knew I could steer mine, but this seemed more fun, so I rolled out of it too. I hit the ground with a thump, getting snow everywhere. She rolled on her back, laughing out loud.

"This was amazing." She pushed herself up on one elbow.

"Are you hurt?" I asked her.

"No, of course I'm not. Where are our sleds?"

They’d stopped at the base of the hill after having slammed into a fence.

She winced. "I hope they survived the trip."

"I'm sure they did," I said. "You wouldn't want anything happening to your pink sled, huh?"

"Of course not." She lay down on her back.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Ruining my perfect coat to make a snow angel. I haven't done this in so long. My mom showed me how to do it when I was little. Then I made one, too, and was upset because it turned out much smaller than hers.”

She laughed, moving her arms and legs at a frantic pace.

"See, youdohave a memory of your mom."

She stopped and looked at me. "You're right. Wow, I didn't even know I had it. I guess... I don't know, being in the snow must have unlocked it."

"That's cool."

"How does my angel look?"

"Great, but you look like a snowman."

She rushed to her feet, brushing the snow off her coat. Her eyes were glassy.

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