He grabs my hand and we walk down the row to take our seats. Drew’s thigh thumps up and down, his thrill of being here palpable. I wish I could bottle it up and sell it. I’d be a millionaire. He’s so damn adorable like this—not that he’s not adorable all the time, but this little boy thing has me in a constant grin.
The game begins and Drew immediately is into it. Every now and then he leans into me to explain something or to tell me about his favorite players. But honestly, I don’t listen to a word he says. I’m so charmed by his elation, I glance at the ice just to make him happy, but my eyes are pretty much glued to him the entire time.
It’s these special times that make my heart race, like when he flies out of his seat, yelling for his team with his arms raised. That’s when I feast my eyes on that slice of skin that peeks out beneath his sweater, and I lick my lips in anticipation of later tonight, when I can nibble on his delicious abs. And it’s when, even during the thrill of the moment, he bends down and plants a wet, warm kiss on my lips. I notice all the women around eyeing him and that’s when it happens.
My heart swells so much it almost hurts. Pride nearly gushes out of me because that’s what I’m feeling. I am so proud Drew loves me. Out of all the women he could’ve chosen, he picked me—the one who never thought she’d fall in love. And I’m so proud of the fact he’s such a good-hearted man. He can’t say a bad word about anyone because of the kind and compassionate nature of his soul. I’m so proud he’s so giving of himself and even in the midst of my crazy family, he says kind things about them. But most important of all, I’m proud and honored to call Drew McKnight mine.
He turns at that very second, catches my look, tilts his head, and asks, “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh, it’s something. The look on your face tells me so.”
Pulling him toward me, I confess, “I’m proud and honored to call you mine.”
WHAT FEELS LIKE A LIFETIME of memories flashes before me as Andy stands there with his hand held out to me. The remembrance of budding love, the sorrow of cancer—a faceless foe, even the crook of a smile for HockeyHo’s antics, and back to that painful day of my leaving. As the moments pass, I blink back tears and say nothing about the hefty guilt that hovers in the background.
As Andy waits for me, I feel a tear slip through my barrier. It spills down my cheek as I raise my hand to take his. I want this man more than I’ve been prepared to admit. I let the pain of the past wash away with the tear as it drops from my face and crystalizes on the ice that is beneath my feet.
He takes his thumb and gently wipes away the residue of long ago hurt. Then, I’m pulled forward feeling unsteady and worried about the future. His hand feels solid in mine and I know I have to trust him with my heart. If only I can trust myself. My momentum pushes him backward to smoothly glide over the ice. I’m carried along, wobbly at first, until he’s there to steady me.
His earnest eyes haven’t left me once and I’m in awe of the emotions I see churning in them. The blue is as clear as the daytime sky and shines through the night that surrounds us. I’m romanced by how he is bringing me out of my own darkness through his guiding light.
“I remember the first time I saw you.”
His voice breaks into my tumbling thoughts.
“You had no idea I saw you. I remember thinking that’s a woman I can see spending the rest of my life with.”
I smile up at him. “How could you know that?”
He hooks his hands in my coat pockets and draws me closer. “Mom told me when I met the one, I would know. And Dad backed her up. Corny, but they’ve been married for over fifty years. It’s hard not to trust their advice.”
He doesn’t back down from my challenging stare and I become undone by his sincerity. I bury my face in his chest as he takes the lead in our lover’s embrace. We skate facing each other across the expanse of the ice, and he makes me feel safe in his capable hands.
His words are soft when he speaks again. “I know we can make this work, Cate, if you let me.”
How on Earth can something so right be so difficult? I pull back as he slows us to a stop. “Honestly, I’m surprised you did this.” I glance around and wonder what woman has had a man rent out a rink for a private skate. It has to be one of the most romantic things ever. “I was so sure you’d given up on me.”
His tentative smile sobers to a pensive line. “There were times I wanted to,” he confesses before a lingering pause. When he speaks again, his voice lightens some from his somber tone. “I had to remember there are some things in life are worth fighting for. And you, Cate, are one of those. I want you; you have to know that by now. But I can’t promise I’ll chase you forever. I do have some pride left.”
His admission is almost honest to a fault, which is why I know I can trust it.
“I don’t know what to say.”