Page 2 of Christmas on Ice
“That’s probably a good idea.” I leaned close to her. “I heard fairies need a lot of sleep to make their magic work.”
“Oh, they do.” She nodded. Ryleigh motioned with her hand for me to bend down close to her. She cupped her hands around my ear. “Daddy says Mommy is a worry worm.”
“Do you mean worry wart?” I whispered. She stepped back with disdain on her face. “No, warts are GROSS. Worms are cute. Like Mommy. Don’t you think so?” Ryleigh caught my gaze and held on. This girl was fierce.
“I absolutely think so.”
She giggled, and I became aware of the three sets of eyes staring at us. I cleared my throat and straightened.
Kami must have noticed, too. “Ryleigh, sweetie, go on back to your movie so I can get Mr. Jason and Mr. Trask’s orders, okay?”
Ryleigh sighed dramatically. “Oooookaaaay.” I watched her go, a smile playing at my lips. She reminded me of my niece back home.
I looked up at Kami, searching her eyes and hating the pain I saw there. “Are you okay?” I asked softly.
She nodded. “What can I get y’all?”
“Oooh, I love your accent,” Alicia said. I’d forgotten she was there. “Where are you from?”
“South Carolina,” Kami said.
“So’s Trask,” Jason offered.
“That’s right!” Kami’s expression lightened. “How are you liking the weather? Took me a good three years to get used to it.”
I grinned. “I’m definitely not used to it yet. But I’m looking forward to trying my hand at snow tubing this year. Skiing is definitely not my thing.”
She laughed. “Same.” Kami glanced back to the television screen behind her. “Big storm coming in tonight. Quinn’s closing the kitchen at eleven. Do y’all know what you want?”
We gave her our orders and fell into easy conversation. I watched Brenna come in and take Ryleigh, and we closed out our checks around eleven so Kami could get home to Ryleigh. By the time we got going, though, it was almost midnight, and a glance out the window confirmed the snow had begun to fall.
“Snow day tomorrow?” I asked Lauren as we put on our coats.
“No doubt. More time to grade these essays.” She grimaced. “Be careful out there, Trask. I know you were here last winter and your new truck is designed to handle whatever Colorado can throw at it, but still, be cautious, okay?”
“Don’t worry about me.” I grinned. “I plan to enjoy the alone time while he’s at your place.”
I said goodbye and headed to my car. The snow was already coming down steadily.
The engine roared to life. “Yeah, baby,” I said. Nothing like the groaning old pickup I’d driven here from South Carolina when I’d signed with the team. I let it warm up for a few minutes and slowly pulled out of the lot, my tires crunching over the blanket of snow that had already accumulated.
The thick flakes made it difficult to see. I tensed up as I held the wheel tightly. I’d driven in worse, but it was dark, and black ice could be hiding anywhere.
Not far down the road, I saw the blinking hazard lights of a small car on the shoulder. I pulled to a stop behind it and left the truck running as I battled the icy sting of the falling snow. The car was covered in about an inch of powder. I hoped whoever was inside had help on the way.
I used my glove to brush away the snow on the driver’s side window and jumped when I saw the face of the woman in the car. Equally startled, Kami Spencer stared back at me with an open mouth and wide eyes.
2
Kami
How embarrassing. This was the last place I ever imagined being alone with Trask Emerson.
After my initial shock, I realized he was trying to ask if I was okay. The side of his gloved hands, cupped in a circle around his perfect mouth, were forming words I couldn’t hear over the pulse beating in my head.
“What?!” I shouted. I leaned toward the window to hear him better.
“Are you okay?!”
