Page 170 of Cold As Ice

“Nothing.” I gave her a weak smile and she waited for me to explain. “You know when something good happens to you and you’re almost too scared to believe it?”

“I know it better than you think.”

“Well, it’s how I feel.” The confession felt like a betrayal of how amazing Austin was, but I couldn’t help the way I felt. “Like I’m waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me.”

“No, don’t say that. It’s obvious Austin is crazy about you and Imogen. He’s like a completely different person around you both.”

I didn’t have time to answer. Mason and Scottie skated over to us, laughing and nudging each other.

“What do you feed that kid?” Mason said, glancing over to where Austin was still swinging Imogen around. “She’s like the Energizer Bunny on steroids.”

“She’s alright,” Scottie added. “But she’s very loud.”

One of the reasons Harper had thought to give him his headphones earlier.

“Mommy, Mommy, wooks, I’m flying.” Imogen shrieked with delight as Austin spun her in circles, her little legs swinging out in front of her.

“Wow, baby. That looks fun.”

“Maybe Austins can make you flys too, Mommy.”

“Oh, I’m sure he will,” Mason muttered, earning himself a clip around the ear from Harper.

“Behave,” she hissed.

“Why? What did he say?” Scottie asked.

“Nothing you need to worry about, buddy,” she said.

“Oh wait, is it a sex joke?”

“Okay, I’m going to get back out there.” I didn’t wait around to hear what Mason said to his little brother.

I wasn’t ready to be the brunt of anyone’s sex jokes.

“What was that all about?” Austin asked me as I reached them.

“Nothing.” I steadied myself then leaned up to kiss him. “I don’t know about you two but I’m getting hungry.”

“I could eat,” Austin said, his eyes sparking with a different kind of hunger. “What about you, princess? Ready for some food?”

“Can Scottie come?” Imogen asked.

“Yeah, he can come.”

“Then, yay, let’s goes eat.”

* * *

“Thank you for today,” I said, joining Austin on the couch after putting Imogen to bed. “We both had a great time.”

“Is she asleep?”

“Out like a light. I have no doubt she’ll sleep like the dead after all that skating.”

“Mason’s right, she is like the Energizer Bunny on steroids.”

“He told you about that?” I asked.

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