Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
“What are you doing?” He can’t hide the amusement in his tone, though it kind of sounds like he’s trying to.
“I don’t know. Trying to figure out where you brought me.”
“You’re going to know very soon. Come a little farther.” I walk forward with confidence. He’s not going to let anything happen to me despite the hard time I’m giving him. “Stay right here.”
I hear him shuffling and what sounds like a box he’s digging through. Daniel slips a wide knit headband over my head, covering my ears. “You know it’s almost the end of June, right?” I was starting to sweat in the layers he forced me to wear out tonight. I’m comfortable in this room, though, and even feel a little chill on my nose and exposed hands.
“I do know that.”
A scarf is wrapped around my neck. “If you’re going to strangle me, can I at least remove the blindfold?”
“No. Keep it on. Only a minute longer, and then all will be revealed. Hold out your hand.”
I hold out a hand. “Oh my God. Are you about to propose?” I’m kidding. Now if I could only see his reaction. I bet it’s epic.
Slipping a glove on me, he laughs. “You don’t need that kind of jump scare.”
“I’m impressed that even hearing the word proposal didn’t send you running.”
My face is cupped and tilted up. His lips press firm to mine in a heated kiss. Just as my lips mold to his, he disappears. “Other hand.”
I huff, holding out my other hand for him to slip a glove on it. The movement I was hearing stops, his breathing even. I stand there and wait, wanting him to have his moment. Whatever is about to happen, I know he’s put time and effort and a whole lot of consideration into surprising me.
The swift cool air drifts across my face when he shifts in front of me, and asks, “Are you ready?”
I can’t wait to see the smile that I hear in his voice. “I’m ready.”
The blindfold is lifted to rest on my forehead. Daniel is always a nice surprise, but he’s blocking my view. When he steps aside, my hands fly to cover my mouth when it drops open. I pivot my gaze back to him, who knows by the smirk on his face that he’s done good. Darn good.
I glance at the box stuffed in an arena seat and see white ice skates still inside. Tears flood my eyes, and even when I tip my head back, I can’t keep them from falling. “You brought me ice-skating?”
“Figured we could skate together since we’re a long way off from preseason.”
He flips a seat down for me to sit. I take in the rink and the arena, the scoreboard, and the large speakers, their penguin mascot painted under layers of ice, and the team’s logos on the sides. “This is where you play?”
He sits next to me to start putting on his skates. “This is where I play.”
The tears should have subsided. I don’t know why, but I feel closer to him than ever, being here. Leaning over, I hug him. “Thank you. Thank you for bringing me here.”
“It’s fun you’re here, Sunshine. So I guess I should have asked. Do you know how to ice-skate?”
Oh boy. “It’s been a while, but I sure do. I was Frosty the Snowman in our school’s production in third grade. It was a live show on ice.”
“I can’t wait to see those moves.”
“Yeah, watch out. Literally.” I laugh just as the crackle of speakers is sharp to the ears. A pop song soon comes through. Removing the blade covers from his skates, he backs onto the ice. I take one off and then the other just as the song changes from upbeat to . . . My heart catches in my throat. “Are you romancing me, Mr. Sutton?”
“May I have this dance?”
I take his hand and step onto the ice. I want to say it’s like riding a bike, but I’m grateful the sides of the skates are reinforced to keep my ankles from breaking.
He asks, “Can you skate backward?”
“No.” I flash a humorless grin. “Absolutely not.”
Moving his hands to my waist, he says, “Hold my shoulders. I got you.”
He’s got me alright. It’s been so long since I skated. With him, I feel like I skate all the time. We spin around the rink, taking it wide. He rarely looks back as if the size is burned into his memory. Our hair is blowing from the speed, our eyes locked together. My mind is concentrating on staying upright, but I have a feeling he skates by instinct. “What do you think?” he asks, not slowing as we take another lap around the rink.
“I think you know how to win a girl’s heart.”
Pulling me closer again, he lifts me into the air, spinning faster with me in his arms. When he lets me slide down so our eyes are equal, he whispers, “I don’t want to be apart from you.”