“This is pretty great. Now I like two things about New York City.”
“Two? What else?”
Nick cocked his head, smiling eyes meeting hers. “You.”
Kat managed to stay upright though her legs felt like mush, and her face flushed with heat. She appreciated the chill air against her cheeks—if they turned red, she could blame it on the cold.
Holding hands, they made several trips around the rink, swaying together at the right time. They skated about twenty minutes, completely in sync with each other, before Nick suggested a break.
“How about a hot chocolate?”
Kat nodded. “You read my mind.”
They sipped the warm drinks while they watched the action on the ice below. This was one of Kat’s favorite spots in the city. To her, the gathering place of people from all over, all ages, created a sense of community and made the city seem smaller and friendlier. Maybe if Nick had a positive experience, he’d come back.
She reached into the pocket inside her coat and retrieved her cell phone. “We should get a pic.” Picture-taking wasn’t allowed on the ice, but they might be able to get the rink behind them.
Nick scooted close. “Good idea.”
As Kat snapped a couple of selfies, a woman stopped beside them. “I’d be happy to take a picture for you.”
Kat handed her the phone. “That’d be great, thanks.”
When the woman returned the phone and moved on, Nick leaned in, and Kat played back the images. “Aw, that’s cute,” she said. She’d have to examine the others more closely later.
“What do you think about dinner?” Kat asked. “There’s a good pizza place around the corner. Low key. They’ve got some good craft beers and local hard cider.”
Nick shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”
“All right then, New York style pizza it is. You ready for round two?”
They moved into the rink holding hands again. “You can go on ahead if you want to go faster,” Kat told him. She knew enough about hockey to know the players skated in hard, fast bursts, not leisurely loops.
He squeezed her hand. “This is good.”
They broke apart a few minutes later to swerve around a young boy going the opposite direction. The abrupt movement caused Kat to lose her balance. She let out a sharp yelp, arms flailing as she struggled to keep from falling. Just before she connected with the ice, strong hands scooped her up and righted her again.
“Oh, my gosh.” Gasping, Kat skated toward the railing to catch her breath. She gripped the metal pole and leaned against the short wall.
“You all right?” Nick searched her face. “That was close.”
“Yes. Thanks for catching me. You saved my–” She broke into laughter. “You saved my ass. Literally.”
“Happy to save all parts from damage.” He pushed a strand of hair from her face. “You have the greatest laugh.”
She met his gaze, and the people around them disappeared. It felt as if the sparkling lights and crisp night were meant only for the two of them. Her eyes fluttered, and warm lips captured hers in a long, slow kiss—which made her doubt the stability of her legs all over again.
“That was fun.” Nick pulled back and slid an arm around her shoulders as he, too, leaned against the wall.
Kat wasn’t sure whether he meant the kiss or the skating, but she agreed either way. She’d imagined a scene like this in her daydreams, and the reality more than delivered. “That wassofun,” she said. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“Stop thanking me. I’m having a great time. You want to get back out there or ready to get some food?”
Food and a cozy corner near the fireplace at Giorgio’s sounded like a perfect way to end the evening. “I’m done,” she said. But at the same time, her heart bounced with a pang of regret.
What woulddonemean tonight?
* * *
