Page 102 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

“Damn. You fell on your butt so soon?”

“I haven’t skated since I lived here and I’m out of practice. Very out of practice.” He held up his hand to request help, and she tugged him to his feet. This time when he skated, she stayed by his side.

“Better?”

“Mostly.” He wavered a little, palms out to his sides for balance. “God, how do you make it look so easy and why don’t I remember it being this hard?”

“Twenty-eight years of annual holiday skating.” She blew on her nails and sent him a sly look. “I know you’re jealous.”

“You should try out for the Olympics with cred like that,” he cracked.

“Already did.” She snorted, shoving her shoulder into him. “Just kidding.” The small gesture threw him off balance and a moment later he toppled to the ice. His body shook with laughter, which caused her to crumple beside him.

“Okay, youreallysuck,” she admitted.

“I’m going to embarrass myself further, but would you believe my parents paid for lessons?”

She pulled back to look him in the eye. “Bonnie Baker’s classes?”

“The very ones. I could never keep my feet under me, and I’m pretty sure she ended up refunding my parents the money they paid for my lessons.”

Mara laughed. “She was in the same year as my parents, so when she opened her school, they signed both me and my sister up.”

“Let me guess—you’re the best?”

She thought about lying but then told him, “Nope. My sister, and she’s never let me forget it.”

He shook his head, chuckling. “How is Kaitlyn?”

“As bubbly and cheerful as ever.” For some reason, she didn’t want to talk to him about her very adult and very single sister.

She climbed to her feet and helped him up again. Once they were both moving forward somewhat steadily, she said, “So you’re not good at everything.”

“Did you expect me to be?”

“Well, you certainly act like you are.”

“It’s called confidence.” He smirked, some of his black tresses falling over his forehead. “Fake it till you make it or something like that.”

Mara took a deep breath of the crisp night air, smiling out at the wooded area and the crystalline night sky. This was lovely, even if it went against tradition. Even if it was with her ex and professional rival right at her side.

“Thanks again for helping me tonight,” she said, looking over at him. He wobbled and she grabbed his hand. “You didn’t have to, considering we’re competing against each other.”

“Yeah, well, we all need a little help sometimes.” He squeezed her hand, and heat flooded her body.

“You don’t ever seem to need help,” she pointed out. “Except on an ice rink.”

“Trust me, I’ve needed and received help,” he said. “Back when I was first auditioning for my cooking show, I got really sick the night before the last interview. I roped my cousins into helping me do some of the vital prep, but I never told anyone.” He squeezed her hand. “Maybe I got the show because of them, ya know?”

Josh was closer in age to Chris than Mitch, who had already finished college and was working for Denton Hotels when she had started dating Chris. “Let me guess, they’ve never let you forget it?”

“It comes up every once in a while,” he admitted, his smile fond.

She got lost in his gaze for a moment, not watching where they were going until they ran headfirst into the glass wall.

“Oh!” She gripped the edges, a laugh rocketing out of her. “Didn’t see that coming.”

“Come on, Olympian.” He squeezed the sides of her waist, prompting a shriek.

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