Page 61 of At the Edge with You

She grins. “They’re on the counter. I already took two.”

I flash her a grateful smile before I hold the flowers out to her. “First, these are for you.” Her eyes dance with excitement as she takes the bouquet, and then I offer the box of treats. “And dessert since I didn’t want to get ahead of myself and think you were on the menu.”

Her eyes flare with heat as she scolds, “Such a flirt.”

“Only with you,” I remind her, squeezing her hip. She leans into my touch before moving away to get a vase, and I grab the Tums bottle. I take two before asking, “Want me to plate us up?”

She nods. “Please. I got us beer in the fridge.”

“A girl after my own heart, I see.” I don’t miss the hopeful look in her eyes while she fills the vase with water. As I gaze at her profile, the desire to be the man she needs rattles me. I never felt like I could measure up, but when she said her parents’ opinion didn’t matter, something inside me flipped.

If she believes that, then why can’t I?

We move through the kitchen together just like we do on the ice, in sync. We’ve been training every day, and we’re making progress. We’ll never be what we were, but then, we don’t have the bodies we did when we were younger either. Her work ethic is still there, and the girl doesn’t relent. I have never been this sore in all my life. No matter how in shape I am, all this training is hell on my body. It’ll be worth it in the end, though. Kitty is going to love it.

I know I love it.

We settle at the bar. I crack open both beers and ask, “How is it going, living here? I’m sure the raccoon telenovela is keeping you entertained.”

She smiles sweetly at me, pressing her shoulder into mine. She usually bounces off, but this time, she leans in while pressing her chin to her shoulder. “It is, thank you very much. Sir Trashington knocked Lady off the dumpster, and of course, Sneaky Pete was waiting for her.”

“I’m rooting for him.”

Her eyes dance with mine. “So am I.”

My heartbeat picks up in speed at the look in her eyes, almost as if she’s rooting for me. For us. I take a bite of the meal she prepared, feeling her gaze on mine, and when the flavors hitmy tongue, I nod appreciatively. “Perfection. This is really good. Worth the heartburn I’m sure I’ll have.”

She beams, doing a little dance. “It’s my favorite thing to cook.”

“It’s delicious. Thanks for cooking.” Fable draws her bottom lip between her teeth, and I love how pleased she is. My favorite thing about her is her confidence, and while it radiates on the ice, it’s not all that present off it. I wish she could see herself through my eyes, see how perfect I think she is.

After taking a few swigs of my beer, I ask, “Have you talked to your parents?”

Her face scrunches up as she shakes her head. “No. It’s been so nice. They call all the damn time, but I’m ignoring them. Kitty says they are highly upset, but I don’t care.”

“Good.”

“I do have to go to a benefit for Mom’s charity thing at the end of the month, though. Kitty thinks it’ll be good for networking.”

I nod. I was invited but didn’t plan on going. “In Gatlinburg, right?”

“Yeah,” she says, her fork hanging by her mouth. She bites on the tines and then meets my gaze. “Would you want to go together?” I can’t hide the surprise on my face. “It’s okay if you don’t?—”

“No, I do,” I insist, meeting her gaze. “I’d love to go with you.”

Her eyes are as bright as her smile before she digs back in. Around a bite, she says, “It’ll be overnight.”

She looks up at me through her lashes, and I waggle my brows. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, princess. Having you on my arm at a ritzy event and then going back to a hotel room with you? Yeah, that sounds like heaven.”

Her eyes are teasing as she says, “Who says we’re sharing a room?”

I slide my hand to her thigh, her warm skin scalding my palm as I hold her gaze. “The puck is in your zone, Fable, but my intentions are clear. I’ll stand beside the goal and watch you score, princess.”

She bites her lip, her lashes fluttering as her cheeks turn that adorable rosy color. She looks away as I continue to stroke her thigh. I watch her lips curve, and she nods. “We’ll see, okay?”

I nod, hoping like hell it works out for us. “Okay.”

Her eyes burn with gratitude as we go back to eating. We discuss some of the things that are going on around the rink. After we have updated the west rink, I’d like to do the same in the south, but that may be after peak travel team season. We discuss some of the skating coaches she’s been talking with and seeing if she can get them to come work here. Not everyone wants to live in such a small town, but thankfully, the commute from Knoxville isn’t too bad. She suggests doing a mileage program, and I agree because it’ll help get the right people to the Thistle. The conversation is easy, carefree, and even when we’re not speaking, the silence doesn’t seem to bother us. Beside me, Fable’s leg isn’t bouncing. She does wiggle a bit in her seat and clink her fork to her teeth while I talk, but she seems settled.

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