Page 31 of Hearts on Ice
She glanced involuntarily at the thin carpet. “No, of course—”
“You could have left at any point today after this morning, and you haven’t, so either you have too much pride or no cash. Just get in the truck and I’ll take you home.”
“I appreciate it, Declan.” She hadn’t expected him to be kind to her. She hadn’t thought he’d be mean—Declan wasn’t like that—but she hadn’t expected the kindness, especially after the reporters had shown up this morning. “Do you think we could pick up something to eat on the way? If you’re not in too much of a hurry?”
His shoulders lowered a bit in defeat, but he nodded as he opened the driver’s side door. “How much trouble are you in?” he asked as he drove out of the parking lot.
“I’m not in trouble, really. I just need to catch up.”
He grunted. “You didn’t make any money on all those shows you were on?”
“Not everyone is as good with money as you are.”
“And it doesn’t help that you were living in the most expensive place in the country, and hung out with all those people who don’t know the value of a dollar.”
She knew he meant her as well. Her mother had not been great with money, but again, it had never been her money. Colby had gotten her lessons paid for by her first step-father, her costumes and skates by her real dad, her first car by her second step-father, Archie, whose house she now lived in, rent-free.
Declan was the one whose family had to sacrifice more, including relocating when Declan’s skill was unmistakable. So Declan had known how to count pennies, how to save when he started making money.
If she’d stayed with him, she would have more stability, maybe. But she hadn’t wanted that, had she? She’d wanted to experience everything. And she couldn’t really be sorry about it. She’d had to do it.
“Do you have the money to get your car fixed?”
She nodded. Even if she didn’t, she wasn’t going to let him know. They last thing she wanted from him was charity. All she wanted was a chance to rebuild her life.
He didn’t say much more, but she was surprised when, instead of going through a drive-thru, he parked in front of a local restaurant.
“I hope this is okay,” he said. “They have a lot of choices.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
He turned his head to look at her. “I tried being mean but it didn’t make a difference to you.”
“You being nice makes me feel worse.”
He made that sound in his throat again. “Then it’s working.”
She couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out of her as she climbed out of the truck and walked with him into the restaurant.
CHAPTER12
He really was so handsome. More handsome now, really, than when he’d been a boy, and so popular with the girls. His dark hair was wavy and thick, his face had slimmed down and hardened a bit, his dark eyes, always pretty, were ringed by the thickest lashes, and he had the most delicious scruff on his jaw, around his lips. Those lips…
Colby had to calm her libido. Working with Declan was one thing, lusting after him was another. They were going to have to demonstrate some of the lifts for Josh and Lexi and she could not let her imagination run away with her. Because if she did, and felt his hands on her body…
Nope, there it went, her imagination taking off at a gallop.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.
She shook her head, focusing on the menu in front of her. “I think the routine is coming together. They really are a talented pair, and I think Josh is even stronger than you were, so I think we can challenge them a little more with the lifts.”
“I saw which videos you were watching, and those are seasoned pros.”
“Not all of them, and like I said, it’s their competition.” She took a breath, knowing she shouldn’t say it, but… “I saw what videos you were watching, too.”
She was gratified to see his cheeks darken, and suddenly his menu was very interesting as well. But he didn’t say anything.
“We were very good.”
