Page 48 of One Pucking Secret
“Your lesson next?” I tease Chloe, a playful smirk dancing on my lips. Her eyes roll dramatically, but the corners of her mouth betray her amusement.
“If you want today to go without a hitch, you’ll skip my lesson.” Her tone is lighthearted, but there’s an undercurrent of truth—we both know her grace on and off the ice is far from natural.
I smile, remembering that night eight years ago—her nearly crashing into me on her bike.
“My students don’t get hurt,” I counter, inching closer until I can pick up the subtle scent of vanilla from her hair. It’s a comforting, homey aroma that doesn’t quite match her fiery spirit.
“Is that so?” she challenges, tilting her head up to meet my gaze, a spark of defiance in those green eyes I’ve come to know so well. Her words hang between us like a dare.
Before I can respond, Zach’s voice cuts in, clearing his throat as if to remind us there are other people present. “Jasper, do you want a Knights jersey?” he asks, bending down to Jasper’s level with an encouraging smile.
Jasper’s nod is vigorous, his blue eyes lighting up like stars. “Yeah!”
“Come with me,” Zach offers, extending a hand.
Jasper looks at Chloe. “Can I mommy?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Jasper takes Zach’s hand, looking back at us with a grin that could melt glaciers.
And then it’s just Chloe and me, the sounds of the rink fading into a distant hum. We’re alone together, surrounded by the echo of blades on ice and the soft whisper of our breaths in the chilled air.
The rink’s clamor fades away as Zach and Jasper disappear toward the merch booth, leaving Chloe and me in a pocket of stillness. The chill bites at my cheeks, but it’s nothing compared to the heat rising between us.
“Chloe,” I start, my voice barely louder than the sound of our mingled breaths. A twinge of vulnerability seizes me, cracking the ice around my stubborn heart. “I’ve been doing some thinking.”
She looks up, the question in her eyes sharp enough to score the ice. “About what?”
“Us,” I say. It feels like skating on thin ice, this confession, but I plow ahead. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I feel ready to let go of my anger and resentment toward you.”
Her brow softens, and the arena might as well be empty for all the attention I pay it now. She’s the center of my universe here in this moment, under the glow of fluorescent lights.
“Forgiveness isn’t easy,” she replies, her arms crossed as she looks at everything that isn’t me. “So, I completely understand why you’ve been distant.”
“That’s fair,” I concede, taking another step until I’m close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her skin. “But I want to try again, Chloe. With you. If you’ll have me.”
The silence stretches out, precarious and expectant. Then her lips curve into a hopeful smile that seems to chase away the cold. “Wyatt, I really am sorry about keeping Jasper from you. I never intended to hurt you, but I’m so relieved to see how loving and kind you’ve been toward him.”
“He’s a great kid, Chloe. While I do wish you had told me about him sooner, I have to admit you’ve done an incredible job of raising him.And I do understand why you never told me. Don’t think I haven’t looked at things from your perspective.”
Her smile widens, but she remains distant. “But we should tell Jasper the truth as soon as we can.”
I nod. “Completely agree. How about we hold off today, though? He’s having such a great time. It may be better to tell him at home.”
“I like that idea. You know, you’re full of surprises, Wyatt Banks.”
“Only the best for you and Jasper,” I reply, a half-tease laced with truth.
And then, without another word, I close the distance. Our kiss is an electric shock, sparking through the frosty air, melting away uncertainties. Her lips are soft, familiar yet thrilling, as if we’re discovering each other all over again.
It’s a promise, a truce, the start of something new. And as we pull back, breathless and grinning like fools, I know this is just the beginning.
God, do I hope I’m right.
Chapter 17
Chloe
