Page 44 of Asher's Assignment
“Chasing you?” That sounded like a challenge. “Oh, honey, I won’t be the one doing the chasing once I figure things out.”
She tipped her head, a sly smile toying with her lips. “Want to make a friendly wager?”
He barked a laugh. There was more of Edie coming out. The two women were so different, but so much alike. “Sure.”
“If I’m still skating circles around you by the end of the night, you have to dress up in an inflatable costume and be one of those surprise birthday-gram people for Leah’s birthday. Balloons, birthday song and all.”
“Deal.” He’d do that even if he lost. “And if I win, you have to let me put up a full security system at your house.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t have the money for that, Asher.”
“Did I ask you to pay for it?”
Her blue eyes flashed fire as she balled her fists.
“Well?”
“Fine,” she ground out through clenched teeth.
A smile spread over Asher’s face. He held out a hand. “May the best skater win.”
“Oh, she will.” She shook his hand, her glare shifting to a cocky grin. “She will.”
Eighteen
She was going to lose.
Asher had started off wobbly, but he was picking things up fast. His first few trips around the arena, he’d held the railing and hugged the wall, his knuckles white as he tried to coordinate his feet. But his hesitance had been short-lived. A few minutes ago, he’d broken away from the edges and was rapidly figuring out the motion to stay upright and move at a quick clip.
“This isn’t so bad. I don’t know what I was afraid of.”
Esther tossed him a quick smile. “Looking inept in front of a group of strangers?”
He chuckled. “Probably.”
They rounded the short side, and he increased his pace, pulling away from her.
“You might want to slow down,” she yelled. As quickly as he’d picked it up, he wasn’t ready to make a quick turn, and they hadn’t worked much on braking yet.
But he ignored her.
Esther quickened her pace, hoping to catch him before he reached the corner, but his long, powerful legs propelled him forward faster than she could close the gap. She could only watch and pray he didn’t trip over his feet as he leaned into the curve.
For a moment, she thought he’d make it. He slid one foot in front of the other, rounding the bend. But then she realized he hadn’t leaned far enough or moved his feet fast enough to make it. She straightened, letting herself glide as she watched the inevitable.
He let out a short cry of surprise as he drifted off course toward the wall. Luckily, they were padded. At the last second, he twisted, turning his body so he hit on his side and not his face. He bounced off the pads and landed on his butt on the floor.
She glided to a stop beside him. “You okay?”
He looked up, exasperation written all over his face, then broke out into laughter. Leaning forward, he draped his arms over his knees, red-faced as belly laughs rolled free.
An answering chuckle bubbled up from her throat until she was laughing right alongside him.
After a moment, he looked up. Still chuckling, he said, “Maybe I wasn’t quite as ready to beat you as I thought.”
Grinning, she shook her head. “No. Not quite.”
“Give me a hand, would you?” He extended an arm.
