“I’m not expecting anything other than you having fun,” he said. “Just enjoy.” He flashed her a smile. “I forgot to do something,” he said enigmatically. “I’ll just be a moment.”
He went back inside, and for a few seconds Ronnie stared at the huge expanse of ice before her. A swirl of anticipation ran through her. Who wouldn’t want to have this entire pond to themselves? She started off slowly, reacquainting herself with the feel of the ice and the rush of cool air on her cheeks as she picked up some momentum. She felt like she was in another world, the sun dazzling her and turning the ice surface into a sparkly glass lake. She breathed in the crystal cool air as she began her second lap, her strides more confident. For a moment she tilted her face to the sun, daring to close her eyes. She felt bold, free and an exhilaration she hadn’t felt in years. Her heart racing, she opened her eyes, and, with a jolt, realized that Red was at the porch door, watching her.
As he stepped out and approached the pond, a popular rock song came on out of nowhere. When he was near enough to Ronnie, Red pointed to the speakers on posts around the pond. “They obviously enjoyed their skating parties here,” he said. “I thought you might enjoy a little musical interlude while we skate.”
Ronnie had slowed down, but the beat of the song was catchy and made her want to keep skating. She nodded and zipped past Red as he flashed her a Cheshire cat grin. Her heart flipped. Was she dreaming, or had he just said, “That’s my girl?” She shook her head, her heart pounding in synch with the bass, and berated herself for even thinking such a thing. The movement compromised her balance and she felt the edge of her right skate wobbling and lifting off the ice. And then she was falling. Backward…
She closed her eyes, bracing for the fall. But instead of landing hard on the ice, she felt herself being swooped upward. Her eyes flew open and all they could register at first was the sight of the boards whizzing by.
And then it hit her. She was in Red’s arms as he skated around the pond.
“I told you I’d scoop you up if you fell…” he murmured in her ear without stopping.
Ronnie was speechless. The sensation of being carried—no, swept away—in Red Brannigan’s arms was heady. He held her in strong arms, his long strides never faltering as he skated around the pond. Like the day before when he had carried her effortlessly to his truck, she found herself leaning against his broad chest.
Was he going faster? He was. Her arms flew up and involuntarily encircled his neck, her hands clasped together. He suddenly veered toward the center of the pond and as he circled in a figure eight, Ronnie couldn’t help letting out a high-pitched yelp. She closed her eyes, convinced he would take a misstep that would send them both tumbling down. Her heart was drumming so hard, she could barely hear the music. She felt terrified and excited at the same time. At the next swirl, she felt her cheek pressed against Red’s neck and she couldn’t pull away from the centrifugal force.
His neck was warm, and the sensation took her breath away. Her lips were close enough to—
She gasped as he spun her around in a dizzying on-the-spot rotation, forcing her to shut her eyes again, and when he finally stopped, a few seconds passed before she tentatively opened them. He was looking down at her, his sun-flecked eyes glittering above a crooked smile that she could only describe as impish. No, devilish. And then he set her down slowly, her hands unclasping and falling limply at her sides. He kept a steadying hand under her left elbow, and she couldn’t help but feel relieved, not knowing if her feet would hold her up after that…
“I can’t believe you did that,” she said breathlessly. “I should be mad at you for scaring me half to death…” She paused at the unapologetic twinkle in his eyes. How could she be mad, though, when the last few minutes had been nothing short of exciting? Unbelievably exciting, activating sensations throughout her that she had never felt before… “I suppose I should just be grateful,” she said, feigning a scowl, “that you didn’t toss me up in the air and then attempt to catch me…”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Maybe next time,” he said huskily. “But seriously, Ronnie, I hope you can forgive me for my impetuous skating maneuvers.” He gazed down at her, his hand still under her elbow, despite the fact that she felt steady on her feet. “I just wanted you to have a little fun…especially after the stress of yesterday…”
There was a warmth in the depth of his eyes that Ronnie knew she wasn’t imagining. They were the color of a tropical lagoon…inviting and startlingly beautiful.
And sexy, an inner voice whispered.
His eyebrows lifted, and with a jolt she realized that he was waiting for her reply, not reading her thoughts.
“I do,” she blurted. “Forgive you.”
His mouth curved into a smile. “Great, now let’s seal it with a…”
Her heart stopped.
“…hot chocolate. And, since you’ve been such a good sport,” he added, a twinkle in his eyes, “I’ll add some marshmallows on top.”
* * *
Red placed the steaming mugs of hot chocolate on a tray and brought it to the living room. Ronnie had replied to Casson’s text on Red’s phone, and was standing by the window, a wistful look on her face.
She walked over to the recliner she had slept on the day before. He set the tray on the side table between the recliners and sat down. “I checked the weather report, Ronnie. The roads are much better in most places. I’ll be able to drive you back
