Page 318 of Screwged for Christmas

“Lead the way,” she husked though he could see her considering her options.

When he arrived earlier that morning the sun caught on the lake’s frozen surface and brought back the same memories they’d talked about earlier.

Downstairs he grabbed a couple of coats from the hall closet and they slipped them on as he ushered her out the back-kitchen door.

“Are you going to tell me your big plan or do I have to guess?” Mirth lit her face with like a thousand Christmas lights.

“A little mystery is a good thing,” he passing the pad of his thumb over her plump bottom lip. “You’ll see. Be careful, watch your step.” He took her hand in his and guided her off the porch and past the gazebo. He led them down a small path that snaked along the beach and came to an abrupt end at a bench hidden beneath low pine branches. Earlier he’d come down here waiting on Ivy to wake when the idea struck. He only had to wait for the perfect time to execute.

“Do you still remember the moves from your winter skate-off in high school?

“Pshhh.” She lost her balance a little and he tightened his hold on her, earning him a warm smile. “How could I forget? I won first place and Dad had it framed for the mantel. It’s still there and he still talks about it to all his friends. Poor people,” she added.

She raised her hands above her head and twirled on her toes, emulating one of the moves he’d watched her practice all winter when they were teenagers going steady.

“Hmm. Maybe a repeat performance, then?” He pulled two pairs of ice skates he’d found in the attic that morning and tucked them beside the bench in the hope he could pull her away from work.

His eyes widened. “It’s been forever, Aspen. I don’t know if I can.”

He dusted snow off the bench and pulled her down next to him. He reached for one of her feet. He slipped her boot off and slid on the skate.

“It’s like riding a bike. You never forget.” He gave the other foot the same treatment and while she laced up, he did the same for his own.

“Ready?”

“To die a horrible death of embarrassment and fall flat on my face with witnesses.”

“I’m the only one here.”

“Yep! And Max. You’re forgetting our furry friend.”

Hearing his name Max barked from the gazebo where he was nice and dry out of the snow. “I’m sure he won’t talk and my lips are sealed. Trust me?”

He extended a hand.

As soon as their blades hit ice he marveled at the total throwback. Her long brown hair furled in the air and the more speed she picked up, the more relaxed she looked. Within seconds her body moved with the flow, all the stiffness he’d witnessed in her moments ago melted away to the woman beneath all the strain.

“I forgot how good this feels.” Laughter filled her voice as she spun, twirled and danced on the ice.

She swung his way and grabbed his hands. They glided in unison and for a brief moment, nothing else existed. Just him and her.

“In Seattle, you forget how peaceful it is here. How much I used to love the pure sound of nature. No motors or horns. Angry drivers.” With her arms out and head thrown back, he looked on as she spiraled.

While he was busy mulling over how to ask her out on that dinner date again, she slowed and raised her head to peer at him from beneath long lashes.

“You get so swept up in the bustling of the city and don’t notice what you’re really missing.” She looked around, taking in the peaceful lake locked in winter’s grasp.

His cheeks stung from the cold and he could see the same for Ivy but it didn’t seem to bother her. She reveled in it as he did in having her close.

“So tell me more about this Christmas tree farm?”

“What’s there to tell? Jace and I wanted to have a farm for a long time. We talked about it if we ever settled down somewhere. California or here. We weren’t sure, to be honest. We loved the woods, trees. I think it’s what pushed us into being firefighters in the first place after college.”

“What’s stopping you now? Or are you still wondering about if Dixen is your last stop.”

“No debate there. Just not sure I want to do it alone.”

Ivy skated over to him and took his hand. “I know the feeling.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and the soft scent of summer hit him again. “Sort of. Feeling alone. It’s not such a good thing. But maybe it’s something Jace would want you to do. If the Christmas tree farm is meant to be, it will be. When I talked to Jon the other day, he told me to believe in miracles. Christmas miracles to be exact.” Her nose scrunched up as though the thought completely perplexed her.

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