Page 42 of Winter Wishlist
“You really are a troublemaker, aren’t you?” She scolds me. There’s no hiding that her voice is very breathy. I suspect she’s enjoying this more than she wants to let on.
Clicking my tongue, I tilt my head to one side. Not moving my touch away just yet. “Told you I’m not very good at following the rules.” Tapping the side of her ankle with one hand, this time I do pull my other hand away from the warmth and softness of the space where I’d love to stay settled for a while longer. “Ah,but you haven’t done these skates anywhere near firm enough across the top of your ankle here. Wouldn’t want you hurting yourself.”
Before Mia can protest, I’m on my knees in front of her, deftly relacing the boots.
“Always love to show off when given half a chance, don’t you?” Reid comes over to join us.
Giving him a sideways glance, I chuckle. “Only for the special ones.”
“You would have been very dangerous to be around back in your prime.” Nibbling her bottom lip, she keeps her voice low. Making sure that no one else can hear us indulging in a little flirtation.
“Who says I’m past my prime?” With fake shock, eyes narrowed on Mia, I press a palm to the center of my chest. “You just let me show you a thing or two. Then you can reserve judgment.”
“Got a few tricks still up your sleeve?”
“Cowboy here got to show off his ax-throwing skills… Now you can enjoy watching him lumber around like a bear who needs one of those little framesles enfantsuse.”
“It’s not my fault my knees hate the cold out on the ice,” Reid grumbles.
“Ahh, baby, you can blame your old man knees all you like… doesn’t mean you aren’t terrible at ice skating. You woulda made a fantastic goalie, though. Add on all that extra padding, you’d take up the entire net without even needing to try.” I wave a hand in the direction of his enormous chest.
He gives me a long-suffering look before turning to the pretty girl between us. “Here’s your coffee. Almond milk, half a sugar.” Reid carefully hands over the to-go cup for Mia, who stares up at him with lips parted and brows tugged together.
“That’s… exactly what my usual order is.” She blinks slowly.
“Of course.” He swallows, then hands me my cup. “Did you want something else? I can go back over there and order a new one for you.”
“No—no.” Mia’s green eyes are wider than ever. “I just can’t believe you remembered, is all.”
I have to hide my grin in my own cup. Oh, this sweet girl has no clue.
“How could I not?” Reid gives her a look that I know translates into hisI’m besotted with you, but I have no idea how to tell you so, I’ll just provide perfect coffee insteadstare.
He then promptly serves daggers in the direction of her idiot ex, while tipping his head back to drink his own. Surely plotting ways to maim the guy, involving a pair of ice skates and a shoulder straight to his ribs.
“Get your skates on, cowboy. Let’s go. Time to watch the big guy turn into a ballerina on ice.” I pat his thigh as he drops onto the bench beside our girl and reluctantly starts exchanging his usual work boots for a pair of ice skates. “How much do you want to bet he’ll be a helpless little calf wobbling around out there, Mia?”
She busies herself hiding twinkling eyes and a grin in her coffee.
He shakes his head, doing up the last of the laces. “I’d love to watch your attempt at roping. We’ll see who’shelpless.” This time, Reid mutters under his breath while readjusting Mia’s beanie for her. It’s adorable watching how attentive he is; those strong hands are so often covered in dirt and blistered after mending fences. He spends his days using those hands for all sorts of rough work with the cattle and horses, yet with her… there’s only delicate brushes and touches, as if he’s truly finding it hard to believe he might finally have a chance at enjoying some softness.
We’re solid in our relationship. We love each other wholly. The way Mia fits so perfectly, providing us each with something else we both need, doesn’t take away from any of that. If anything, it just reinforces how good he and I are together.
How much more perfect it feels when she’s around.
I can’t explain the sense of everything fitting into place that Mia brings. Does it seem impossible that we’re feeling this way after only a day? Maybe.
Or perhaps this is one of those Christmas miracles you hear about.
“We can take it slow, just for you, baby.” I tease.
“I’m going to need someone strong to hold onto. But maybe I should stick with Henri if you need a few practice laps on the lake to get in your groove?” Mia tries to smother her giggles.
“Listen, I’ve already had to put up with taking enough shit from Tanner. He just about died laughing when I told him I needed a pair of skates. My pride has had enough of a knock, and I haven’t even set foot on the ice yet.”
“Well, in that case…” Mia tugs on the front of his coat, pulling him down into a gentle kiss. Reid wraps his arms around the small of her back and groans against her mouth.
Christ, they’re so gorgeous together. As much as I want to enjoy today, I’m also two seconds from saying fuck it and dragging them back to bed.
