Page 46 of Be Mine Forever

Cam steadied her, hands at her hips, his eyes ditching the laughter and tracing her face, feature by feature.

“You can. Trust me, I mean.”

The teasing, the laughter had evaporated, and even with dozens of people skating, strobe lights flashing, and Madonna’s “Holiday” blaring through the sound system, intimacy curled around just the two of them, insulating them from everyone but the other.

Cam stood, one hand at the small of her back and one under her elbow. He cleared his throat, dispersing the intimate mist gathering between them.

“Come on,” he said. “The floor will only get more crowded, and I need some space to teach you all my moves.”

Jo nodded and followed his lead, taking a careful, shaky step onto the slick floor and out of the private space they’d made for themselves in the middle of the crowd.

“Let’s just start with walking.”

“I know how to walk, Cam. I need to learn how to skate.”

“Will you just listen? Let somebody else be in charge for once?”

“Are you saying I have control issues?”

“Are you saying you don’t?”

Of course she did. Jo drew a huffy breath and took the small steps forward like Cam instructed. After the first walking steps, learning the “T” position and the basics of forward and backward, Jo felt confident she was ready. Maybe not for the trophy, but at least for once around the rink.

“I’m ready.”

“Jo, let’s walk a little more.”

“Idohave actual trophies for skiing, so I think I can manage once around a roller-skating rink.”

“Okay, just hold my hand.”

“I can do this on my own.”

Cam’s brows crept up and a small smile pulled at the corners of his lips. He threw his hands up, literally and figuratively, scooting back and gesturing for Jo to skate ahead. Jo moved forward, pushing one foot in front of the other. One minute she stood, semi-confident and fully vertical. Before she could draw her next breath, she landed horizontal in an undignified spill, all the breath knocked out of her lungs. For a second, she considered ignoring the hand Cam extended to help her up, but she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stand on her own.

As soon as she was on her feet, Cam pulled her tight against his body and tucked his face into her neck. She might end up with a few bruises from the fall, but she was fine. Jo was about to reassure him when she realized Cam’s body was vibrating against hers.

“Are you…are you laughing at me, Cameron Mitchell?”

Cam pulled back completely and bent over, hands on knees, broad shoulders shaking. He covered his mouth but couldn’t catch the laugh fast enough.

“You should have seen—”

Gasping. Pointing.

“And you just—” Cam threw his arms out and reenacted her flailing from moments ago.

“And then you…bahahaha.”

Jo took advantage of the guard he’d left down and quickly kicked her skate behind his, sending him sprawling to the floor. She straddled him before he could recover, settling her butt onto the wheels and her knees alongside his hips, ignoring the strange looks from skaters whizzing around them.

“Now who’s laughing?” Jo poked his shoulder, shaking with the laughter he couldn’t seem to stop.

“Still me, baby.” He reached up and pushed a chunk of unruly hair over her shoulder, the laughter dying down to a grin. “I told you to let me teach you.”

“I will forgive you for laughing at me.” Jo balled her fist up at him in warning. “If you teach me how to do that.”

She pointed to a guy across the ring skating backward at top speed.

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