The Wrong Gentleman

“What is it with these women who burst into our worlds and knock us off our feet?”

“Not sure, but I’m happy to have been knocked,” I replied.

Hayden chuckled. “It’s a good job considering we’re about to mount that ice on blades. What are we doing?”

“We’re keeping our women happy?” I shrugged, trying not to grin. I wasn’t going to tell Hayden, but I was quite looking forward to ice skating with my girl.

“Yeah, there’s pretty much nothing I wouldn’t do for that woman.” Hayden nodded toward the three girls coming toward us, their arms around each other as they chatted, smiled, and laughed.

“Me neither,” I said.

Skylar scanned the crowds for me, and I watched her face light up when she caught my eye. I was a lucky fucker, being able to make a woman smile like that. She released her friends and bounded toward us.

“Hey,” she said, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me close.

“Hey,” I replied, pressing my lips to hers.

“We’re really going to ice skate?” she asked.

“Anything to make you happy.”

She wriggled her cold hands under my coat and pressed her head against my chest.

“Hi, August. Avery,” I said, kissing one and then the other on the cheek while Skylar clung to me. “You all ready?”

“What time is our booking for?” Skylar asked, finally releasing me.

“Urm, now?” I said, glancing over her head so I didn’t catch her eye. It was as if Skylar’s presence removed some kind of chip in me that allowed me to keep a secret from her.

“‘Urm, now?’” she asked.

I guided her under the white-stone arch and toward the neoclassical courtyard of Somerset House where the temporary ice rink had been set up for Christmas. I wasn’t going to be able to avoid her questions for long.

Two security guards opened a gap in the metal gates, and we stepped into the courtyard.

“Where is everyone?” Skylar asked as she craned her neck to look around. Usually, the courtyard would be packed with people queuing for their skating slot, or food or one of the exhibitions.

“It’s just us.”

She frowned as she turned to check if Hayden, August, and Avery were following. “It is?”

I shrugged. “I thought it would be good to have the place to ourselves,” I said, still trying to avoid meeting her eye. It had taken some arranging. But it had been worth it to see the look of wonder on Skylar’s face. She spun, taking in the Georgian buildings that surrounded us on all four sides.

“Wow, really? This is so totally cool. No lines. No waiting around. You’re beyond wonderful.” She pulled at my collar, and I dipped my head long enough to receive a kiss on my jaw. Skylar calling me wonderful was more than I could have ever wished for. I just wanted to live up to the compliment.

The five of us collected our skates and made our way onto the rink, hand in hand. Hayden’s ability to ice skate had clearly left him some time ago, though he did his best to keep the two women to either side of him upright.

I couldn’t help but grin at Skylar’s pink cheeks and warm smile as we began to make our way around the ice to the familiar Christmas tunes from Sinatra, the Pogues, and Paul McCartney.

And then the Christmas music faded and the track I’d picked started.

Celine Dion started to play out from the speakers. I’d tried to pick the right song and this one, that was about how I was a better person because she loved me, seemed right. As I turned to Skylar, she shook her head and grinned.

“You finally admit that she’s the best in the business?” she asked as we came to a stop in the middle of the rink.

“You’ve set me straight on that,” I said, chuckling as I snaked my arms around her waist.

“Finally!” she replied. “Your surrender is the best Christmas present you could have ever given me.”