Page 54 of Dreaming About Forever

“It still looked cute. I’d love to go.”

Jordan nodded once. “Consider it done.”

They pulled up at Evelyn’s, and Jordan stayed close to her side as they walked right up to the hostess and requested a table for two. After being led to a small table with a beautiful view of the mountains, Alicia whispered, “This is so much fun.”

Jordan picked up the menu in front of him. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m eating at a restaurant, and no one knows. Or cares.” She looked around, but everyone was just enjoying their meals. “We didn’t have a reservation.”

Jordan grinned. “It could change in an instant if someone recognizes you, but for right now, I think you can relax.”

“That’s rich coming from you.”

Jordan lowered his menu. “Are you saying I don’t relax?”

“Yes. That’s what I’m saying.”

Jordan tilted his head to one side, then the other. “Maybe you’re right.”

She enjoyed the meal in a blissful happiness. The view was breathtaking, the food was delicious, and Jordan was with her.

It wouldn’t take much to pretend this was a date–a real date between a normal woman and a normal man.

She’d never wanted normal so much in her life.

Jordan paid the bill and thanked the waitress before offering her his hand as they stood. Alicia looked at the waiting hand for half a second before she grabbed it, unwilling to miss a chance to be linked to Jordan. He held her hand all the way back to the truck. Even then, she was reluctant to let go.

He settled back into the driver’s seat and turned the truck away from the mountain at their back.

“Ready to tell me where we’re going now?”

Jordan’s mouth lifted on one side. “Ever been ice skating?”

“Um, no! Are you serious?”

Jordan’s eyes widened. “Is that a reason to shout?”

Oh, she had been a little loud. “Oops. I mean, no. I haven’t been ice skating, but are we going ice skating? Because that sounds like so much fun.”

“As long as the guy back there wasn’t giving me bogus directions, we should be there in about three minutes. He also said it shouldn’t be crowded, but I can ask them to clear the rink for us.”

“No way! I’m skating with everybody else, and I don’t care who gets a video of me falling on my butt.”

There was no way Jordan could’ve known she’d always wanted to ice skate. She’d taken plenty of dance classes in her life, and she was pretty sure ice skating wasn’t going to get the best of her.

He stopped the truck in front of the most picturesque ice skating rink she’d ever seen. Snow covered evergreens encircled the lively area, giving it a cozy atmosphere.

“I don’t have skates,” she said as she stepped out onto the fresh snow.

“We can rent some,” Jordan said, reaching for her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She grabbed onto him, wishing their gloves weren’t boundaries against their skin. Holding hands was a complete novelty to her. The innocent touch was one she’d missed out on in her life.

Her relationship with Ashton had truly been surface level. He’d never initiated any physical contact when they were alone. He’d never wanted to talk to her just to get to know her. He’d never reached out to her. He hadn’t expressed any concern about her.

In fact, his first step after the breakup was offering her security team a better deal to leave her. That told her all she needed to know about how much he respected her.

Jordan walked her through renting skates, and they took their seats at one of the benches. He knelt in front of her and picked up one of the skates and helped her slide it on.

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