Page 49 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“No,” Dawn said, gripping onto the table and wondering if she could take it with her. “I would never hear the end of the storyI told you sofrom my brothers.”
Liam chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with encouragement. “Come on then. You can hold onto me instead of that poor table that you’re strangling at the moment.”
“Okay, let’s do this.” Dawn breathed out, her voice laced with nerves as she pushed herself away from the table and instantly regretted letting go.
Liam offered his hand, and she grabbed onto it. He stepped around her and placed his other hand on her back so he was behind her, supporting her as she stepped gingerly onto the slick ice. Her first steps were cautious, her body tense, but Liam’s steady grip and reassuring presence helped her wobble herself into the center of the rink.
“You’re doing great,” Liam encouraged, his warm breath tickling her ear.
“I really think we should stick to the side of the rink,” Dawn suggested.
“Here, there’s hardly anyone,” Liam pointed out. “The flow of traffic tends to be around the side of the rink.”
“Good point,” Dawn said, looking around. “It’s been a while since my last attempt at a mass murderer on ice.”
“Come on, I’m sure you’re not that bad.” Liam chuckled.
“No?” Dawn said, “The last time I skated, I was with my brother Scott, his wife, and Harper. It was Harper’s birthday, and she was having it at an ice rink in New York.”
“That must’ve been awesome,” Liam told her, gently turning her so she could face him, and he took both her hands.
“It was,” Dawn told him. “That was until I decided to get on the ice.” She shook her head. “I was doing fine until two of the kids swished past me. One knocked me. I spun, then almost did the splits, corrected my uncoordinated legs, did a road runner type thing with my feet before I hit the ice, and went spinning into a group of the parents who were skating.”
“Oh dear.” Liam’s eyes shone with mirth as he pursed his lips, trying not to laugh.
“My brother’s nicknamed me the ice skating bowling ball,” Dawn admitted. “Parents hit the deck like a bunch of skittles. If I was bowling, it would’ve been a perfect strike. I took out every adult in my way.” She saw him choke as he held back his laughter. “Go ahead,” she encouraged, her lips twitching as she remembered the scene. “Harriet didn’t hold back. She also took pictures and then asked me if I could do it again so she could get it on video.”
Liam laughed, the sound rich and warm. “That’s awesome,” he said. “Now I’m going to have to ask to see those pictures.”
“Yeah!” Dawn sighed. “Alex had one as a screensaver on his phone for a year.”
“Well, I think you’re actually doing really well right now,” Liam said, glancing at her feet. “Look around you.”
Dawn’s head turned. She hadn’t even realized she was skating almost perfectly. Gliding across the ice and backward. Or, more accurately, she was being pushed by Liam, who was an excellent skater.
“Oh!” Dawn said in surprise. “Look at that. I’m moving without wobbling or trying to kill someone on the ice.”
“There you go,” Liam said encouragingly.
Harper and Lila circled back, smiling encouragingly at Dawn.
“You’re doing great, Aunt Dawn!” Harper called out, executing a small pirouette that made Dawn’s heart leap just watching it.
“Don’t worry, Dawn,” Lila reassured her. “You’ll be doing this in no time.”
Lila toe-picked, toe-picked, and then did a jump spin and landing without even the slightest hesitation as she executed a perfect toe jump.
“No.” Dawn shook her head, laughing, her grip tightening on Liam’s hand as she felt her feet start to try their own thing again. “I somehow doubt that.”
“Don’t worry about them,” Liam said, steadying her. “Look at me.” He lifted her chin, and she grabbed his other arm with both hands as she felt herself stumble. “It’s okay.”
Liam’s arm encircled her waist, and he pulled her to him as he gently glided them back to the center of the rink. His eyes captured hers, and he put her hands on his shoulders as if they were about to slow dance.
“I have to warn you,” Dawn told him, trying to keep him from seeing how much being so close to him was playing havoc with her emotions, “I dance about as well as I skate.”
“I’ve seen you dance,” Liam reminded her, his eyes darkening, and a slow smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “And we’ve had many dances. As far as I remember, all my toes are still intact, and no one on the dance floor was harmed.”
“It was a good night.” Dawn’s voice dropped as her eyes locked with his, and she felt herself being pulled into their depths.
