Page 27 of Craving Her Christmas Boss

She failed to see how sharp blades and flying pucks and big men going unstoppably fast could be fun. But she couldn’t comment, could hardly keep her legs from splitting in opposite directions—and then they did and her humour came bouncing back.

‘It’s like anything, Imogen. The more you work at it, the better you get.’ He was containing his laughter. Just.

She didn’t mind, was too busy giggling herself—giggling so hard, in fact, she lost control and sat with a bump.

‘And when you fall down you get back up again.’ He gave her a hand.

Like with the presents he’d brought her to wrap, she knew he wasn’t just talking about skating.

‘Sure, but you try not to make the same mistakes.’ For example she knew she had to keep her legstogetherwhen near Ryan.

He gave her a sideways look. ‘Are you in the habit of repeating your mistakes?’

‘I’m trying not to.’ Trying really hard. Only he was making it exceptionally difficult, and she was smiling too much to keep control of her emotions the way she should be.

He moved in front, skating backwards so he could face her.

‘Okay.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘That’s just showing off.’

‘Skate with me, then. I won’t let you fall.’

He went behind her, hands on her hips, locomotive style, pushing her gently but not too fast. ‘See—you’re getting it.’

‘I haven’t skated since I was a little kid.’

‘Do you ice skate in New Zealand?’

‘We have a few commercial rinks. We don’t have many lakes that freeze, or anything. I went a few times—count ‘em on one hand. But I did rollerblade.’ And her balance was coming back now. Not enough to go super-fast, but enough to feel confident.

‘Wearing hot pants?’

She laughed. ‘Never.’

Once she had the rhythm he skated beside her, linking his arm through hers. He wasn’t even watching where they were going. He was just watching her and smiling. ‘Feel better?’

‘You know I do.’

His smile deepened and he then looked ahead. ‘There’s nothing like fresh air to clear your head.’

She rubbed her nose. ‘Very fresh air.’

‘You got numb lips again?’

‘No.’ She wobbled. He chuckled.

They slowly went around the rink—again and then again.

‘Are you enjoying your studying?’

‘Yes, I am. I never thought I would like studying that much, but actually it’s great.’ She’d found a job she was good at—and was determined to do even better. It was one thing she felt she could be sure of. Then she thought ofhisbackground and felt embarrassed. ‘It’s not like what you did, though—hardly Harvard.’

‘I didn’t go to Harvard.’

‘You didn’t?’ She frowned. In that brief search she done she was sure she had read that they all went to Harvard.

‘My dad did, and my brother and sisters did. But I didn’t want to.’

‘What did you want to do?’

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