I shrugged. "Why not?"
"Well, for one thing, because I have all the free coffee I want."
If she truly believed this, she couldn’t be more wrong.In business, there was no such thing as free."Oh, yeah? So, your supplier gives it to you for nothing?"
"No. Of course not."
"So it'snotfree. Andyou'restalling." I leaned across the counter. "So how about our deal?"
"The one where you get the skates?" With a trembling laugh, she protested, "But that's like you're paying me to spend time with you."
Not the wayIsaw it. "I'm spending time with youalready,"I said. "Are you gonna charge me for it?"
"Only if you chargeme."
"Then it's settled. Wait here. I'll be back in fifteen." I turned to go but then stopped to look back. "And your shoe size is…?"
"It's um, eight actually."
I smiled. "Good to know."
Chapter 14
Bryce
Gliding across the ice, she was smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. With a laugh, she called out, "I can't believe I'm doing this."
Skating next to her, I replied, "Ican. And you wanna know why?"
"Why?"
I grinned. "Because you wanted to."
"Oh, come on," she laughed. "You don't know that."
"The hell I don't. Admit it. Youwantedto come."
"Maybe a little," she confessed as we reached the end of the long oval rink and began circling around to face the other direction.
I wasn't holding her hand, but Iwasholding her attention. That much was obvious.
And man, was she holding mine.Her fiery red hair flowed around her face as she glided effortlessly across the smooth surface. Her eyes were bright, and her smile was dazzling, lighting up the whole rink with her unbridled enthusiasm.
By now, we'd been skating for maybe twenty minutes, which was plenty long enough for me to know that she was no stranger to the ice. I asked, "So, do you skate often?"
"Me?" she laughed. "Nah. But I used to skate a lot when I was a kid. My dad used to take us ice-fishing on this lake up north. My sisterlovedto fish, butIloved to skate." Her tone grew wistful. "And now that I think about it, it's been forever since I've actually done it."
"You'd never guess," I said.
"Yeah, wellyou'reone to talk." She gave me a long sideways glance. "Lemme guess. You played hockey?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"It was either that or figure-skating," she said. "I mean, I can tell you're really good at it."
The compliment surprised me. Yeah, I knew I was a good skater, but I hadn't expectedherto say so. Surprised or not, I hadn't forgotten my manners. "Thanks."
With a snicker, she said, "You know whatIalways liked?"
