Page 58 of Until You Found Me

“That’s an easy pick.”

Sure enough, the poor child lands on his padded butt a moment later.

“That one,” she says, picking out a man in a suit trying to keep up with his date who skates circles around him.

“Think so?”

She nods. “Oh yeah. No doubt. His ankles wobble and he watches her ass more than the ice.”

The man in question crashes into a random skater with a curse loud enough to reach their bench.

“We should make real bets on this.” She smiles.

“I’m not rich enough for that,” he teases.

“I never said we would bet for money.”

Her voice goes low and her lashes bat slowly, the implication clear that she’d be on board for betting sexual favors in lieu of cash. He curses under his breath and shifts in his seat, watching her bite her lip and wanting to be the one to bite it instead.

“Or I could drag you out there?” she continues. “Maybe I’ll get another concussion to fix the first?”

It’s a dry joke that she’s clearly proud of and he rolls his eyes. “Stop. And hell no, I’m not going out there. I got limits.”

“Oh, you got limits. And those limits begin with ice skating.Noted.”

“Big hard line right in front of that rink I’m never crossing.”

“Got it. Line in the sand…ice. I will respect your limits.”

It’s a good-natured teasing session that has him feeling the tightness in his pants and the sugar from the chocolate in his blood, just the right amount to have him a little high.

Then it all comes crashing down at a familiar voice.

“I could never get him out there either. In fact, I could never get him here at all. Always a spoilsport.”

The moment she speaks, he startles and stands swiftly to turn and face Lydia. Logan steps backward into the railing that separates them from the ice in an overreaction he can’t contain. Tessa’s words about what she did to him when they were together echo in his head and bile riles in his throat.

“Skittish as ever. He used to do that every night too, flinching in bed like I was about to beat him up or something. Isn’t that silly?” she laughs, speaking to Tessa as if they’re old friends, and then extending her hand. “Sorry, where are my manners? I’m Lydia, me and Logan used to be—”

“I know who you are.” Tessa loops her arm through his rather than shake Lydia’s hand, her tone icy.

“I was just passing by and heard that rumbling voice. Wanted to come say hello. See how you’re doing.”

“Thought you left town.” He manages to croak out.

“I did. My fiance grew up here and wanted to come back for the festival.”

She points to a man in line for food, though Logan can’t tell which one she managed to get her hooks into.

“You’re not gonna introduce me to your—”

“Tessa. My Tessa. My girlfriend.” He wants to facepalm as his words run together, jagged and nervous.

Tessa only smiles wide with a confident nod, allowing his sudden label to slide as if they’d spoken about it when they haven’t.

“Girlfriend. I guess I expected you’d be alone forever after I left.” She turns to Tessa. “I just mean he isn’t very social, that’s all. I basically had to stalk him myself to get any attention.”

She laughs like it’s a joke but gets no reaction.

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