She let go of Luke’s hand, and started to head to the taxi rank. She could hear him chuntering to himself as she put her arms through her coat.
‘My shirt’s shot to shit now,’ he muttered, pulling each side apart and exposing his chest as she turned to look at him. He looked so hot, she couldn’t help but stop and turn to face him. She didn’t feel the cold anymore, but she was still shaking. ‘I’m so sorry, I never do that, or act like that.’ He bit his lip, striding over to her. She didn’t move till he was standing right in front of her. He was close enough to touch now, and she could see that his chest was heaving. He was pumped up from the fight. She felt it too.
‘Thank you—’
‘I wish I’d knocked him out as soon as he—’
They laughed, their icy breath mingling together in the night air. There was no one around, the businesses here all closed for the night, the houses all lit up. The windows cast glowing shadows over everything.
‘I’m sorry I went for him.’
‘I know you aren’t though.’
‘No, I’m not. Sorry for that too. Again. I ruined our date. If you don’t want me to come on Saturday, I can stay away.’
She was shaking her head at him.
‘Oh God, you don’t want me to come, do you? I was bluffing then.’
Rebecca laughed, and took a deep shuddering breath inwards.
‘Robbie was my fiancé, for a day or two at least. My boyfriend and ski partner before that. We did go to Canada, but then something happened to me, and I didn’t handle it very well.’ She thought back to lying in that hospital bed, Robbie bouncing around her room, talking about exclusive interviews, and marriage sponsorship deals. ‘Neither did he. I changed. He changed too, I guess.’ Or I just saw more of his flaws, when my own were exposed. ‘He didn’t like my choices. He’s angry with me.’
‘He’s a jerk.’ Luke frowned when he noticed her shaking. He pulled her coat tighter around her and rubbed her arms with his own. His coat was a black puffed parka, lined with a faux fur hood that made his bristle look darker against his skin. It made his eyes sparkle. I’m in shock. This isn’t a fairytale. He’s not a prince, come to bloody save me. ‘Let’s go get warm.’
‘I’m fine. I need to get this out.’ She wanted him to know. She needed him to. ‘I was Ice Rebel, for a long time.’
Luke’s head dropped. ‘I know.’
Her shields came clanging up, the screech of welded metal ringing in her ears.
‘You know?’
‘Well, I didn’t, till him.’ Venom dripped from the last word. ‘My dad’s a bit of a sports nut. It’s how the student exchange thing came about. My mother was an ice skater, semi-professional. He loved ice sports. Loves. I thought I recognised you.’
She gave him a sad smile. ‘I know you did. It freaked me out. Not many people know I’m here. I wanted to keep it that way.’ Want to. Period.
‘Why is he angry, because you broke off the engagement?’
‘Yes and no. The wedding was a bit of a money spinner, back then. We had our own sponsors. Till the accident.’
Luke didn’t break eye contact, he moved closer. She could feel his bare chest through her coat, pressed against the fabric. ‘Money and fame, eh? I thought as much.’ He looked angry again, his eyes turning dark. She reached out and put her arms around his waist. His face softened, the response immediate. She could feel her heart pick up once more. ‘I’ve got to be honest, I can’t really see you two. He’s all show, you never did the showbiz thing, did you?’
He’d paid more attention to her career than she’d thought.
‘No, it was about the sport for me. The snow was what mattered.’
‘Well, you are better off without him then. Obviously. If he comes to the café, I am going to spark him straight out.’ She laughed at his words, which reminded her of home.
‘He doesn’t know I live here. He thinks I just flew in. I could tell. He doesn’t know I work at the café. My friends are loyal. Hans never liked him.’ That was the understatement of the year. When she’d come out of hospital, sponsors already onto the next hot thing, Robbie off on his tour as usual, Hans had scooped her up and given her a new life. If Hans ever saw Robbie again, it wouldn’t go well. She didn’t want that. ‘We can’t tell Hans about this.’ Mina would no doubt tell him or Holly as soon as she got a chance, but it wouldn’t come from her. She didn’t want to cause them any stress. They were in their own bubble, a baby bubble and given that Robbie was a massive prick, it didn’t take a genius to work out it wouldn’t be a good day for anyone. Once upon a time, he would have been an uncle to their baby. Amazing how ludicrous things looked in the rear view of your life choices.
‘It won’t come from me. I would never do that to you, Rebecca. I couldn’t. I just want you to be okay.’
His face was lit up by the backdrop of the snow, and Rebecca took a moment to process just what had happened.
‘You really went for him. Are you okay?’
She looked down at his shirt, their close quarters causing her forehead to brush down his face. He kissed it, the low rumble in his chest making her breath catch. ‘I’m fine, as long as you are.’ He moved his lips down to her cheek, kissing her once there, before slowly pulling back, and going in for the other cheek. His stubble brushed against her skin, and she tugged him closer, turning her mouth to meet his. He picked her up off the floor, walking them
