There was silence for a moment, then he spoke. “I am very disappointed, Charlotte.”
The words were out before I could stop them. “Well, that’s nothing new when it comes to me, is it, Charles? Feel free to dock my check. Or even better, take the day off my holiday time. I haven’t had many of those since I started with the company either.”
I hung up.
I sucked in some much-needed oxygen then met the concerned gaze of Logan.
“That’s gonna cost me.”
“Will he fire you?”
I snorted. “Worse. I’ll get a lecture. Then my mother will make sure to let me know how much I upset my father and, therefore, her. She’ll remind me how good I’ve had it and that I should be more appreciative of all they’ve given me.”
He observed me in silence. “Your father never asked if you were unwell.”
“No.”
“Will your mother?”
I barked out a humorless laugh. “I hope not since I don’t want to lie to her as well. But probably not.”
“Given they lost your brother, I would have thought their first concern would be your well-being, not the fact that you’ve taken a day off.”
My throat became tight, and I could only nod.
He wrapped an arm around me. “No wonder,” he muttered.
“No wonder what?” I asked, staring at his chest.
“No wonder you need me.”
I lifted my head in shock. “What?”
He ignored my question. “Do you skate?”
I blinked and repeated myself. “What?”
He pointed ahead. “There’s an ice rink. I thought we’d skate a bit, then I’m taking you for noodles and dumplings.”
“Um—”
He looked upset. “He isn’t spoiling our day, Lottie. If we stop now, he wins. Don’t let him.”
He was right. It had been such a great day, and I didn’t want it to end. My dad was making too much of this. The meeting was a general wrap-up of the week, and I had nothing major to contribute. He was simply angry that I wasn’t toeing the Prescott line of perfection.
“I love to skate, but I haven’t for a long time.”
He tugged me forward. “I’ll hold you up. Promise.”
Somehow, I had a feeling he meant that on many different levels.I sat down, breathless and exhilarated. I had forgotten how much I loved to skate. Since it was early, the rink wasn’t crowded, and Logan and I had skated for a long time. He chased me at times, twirling me often, then he let me speed skate around, enjoying the feel of the ice under my blades and the cold air on my face. They had the rink decorated with lights, and music was playing, making it inviting and fun.
Logan stopped in front of me with a flourish, sending shards of ice into the air, then sitting beside me. “You done?”
I had to laugh. “Out of shape. Sitting behind a desk isn’t good for my stamina.”
He moved close, waggling his eyebrows. “I get lots of exercise. Plenty of stamina. Maybe I’ll show you if you ask nicely.”
I tried not to giggle, but he was irresistible. His unique eyes sparkled under the lights, his smile was wide and bright, and he was sexy as hell with his taut frame and teasing.
He grinned, wrapping an arm around my waist and tugging me close. He bent low and brushed his mouth to mine, and I didn’t try to resist. I didn’t want to. I felt more alive than I had in a long time. His presence, his laughter, the light that seemed to spill from him intoxicated me. Nothing mattered in that moment. My father, my job, nothing. All that mattered was kissing this man. Being close to him.
I flung my arms around his neck, and he pulled me closer, burying his hands in my hair and slanting his mouth over mine, kissing me harder. Deeper. Our tongues tangled together, our breath mixing, heat replacing the cold air around us. He stroked my scalp gently, his caresses a direct contrast to the possessive edge of his kiss. He groaned low in his chest, pulled his mouth away, dragging his lips over my cheek, and burying his face in my neck.
“Jesus, you’re addictive.”
My heart was pounding, my head swimming from his mouth. The barely controlled passion. The desire I felt.
“Ditto,” I whispered.
He eased back, slipping his fingers under my chin. He kissed my lips, then my nose, and finally rested his lips on my forehead, lingering and sweet.
“Thank you for today,” he breathed. “For trusting me.”
He stood and pulled me to my feet. “A few more turns on the ice. Then dinner.”
“We’ve done nothing but eat today,” I protested.
There’d been breakfast in the diner, midmorning coffee, lunch at one of the many trucks parked at the entrance to the park, hot chocolate, and he’d insisted on a snack before we went skating.
“Stamina.” He winked. “The day isn’t over, Lottie. You gotta keep up.”
I let him pull me to my feet, and I followed him to the ice. With my hand tucked securely inside his, the flash of lights reflecting on the ice, and the warmth of his gaze, I didn’t want the day to end.