Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Ready?”
I nod, bringing his hand to my lips for a soft kiss. “For anything, as long as you’re with me.”
He winks. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I,” I promise, and we share a loving smile until I know I can’t stare at him any longer. I grab the mic from Dean as I step out onto the ice. Jett takes my hand, and we skate to the middle of the rink. I inhale a deep breath and let it out when his other hand comes to rest on my hip, kneading my flesh in the way I love.
While I’m stricken with nerves, his touch calms me, and I smile for the crowd, noticing that it’s not too hard to truly smile for the people of this town. I bring the mic up and gush, “Aren’t these kids amazing?”
Everyone cheers, and I love the look Kitty has on her face as she stands, clapping loudly. Phillip was right; this was just what she needed. Apparently my parents tried to come, but she was the one to tell them no. She did end up kicking them out, and to my surprise, the girls moved in with her.
Now, my family home is called “Belle Central.”
There is now so much cross-stitching stuff and Michelob Ultra in that house, I don’t know how they keep up with it. One thing is for sure, though—the four of them are so unbelievably happy, which is all I want for them.
“I want to thank everyone for coming out, not only to support the Ice Thistle skating program, but also my grandmother Kitty’s birthday.” I turn a bit to look over at Kitty, and she folds her hands before tucking them up under her chin as she watches me with admiration in her gaze. “After twenty years, I came back for her at the request of my grandfather, but then…” I pause, tipping my head to look at Jett. His lips curve, and I return the grin. “I’m staying for the love of my life.” He cuddles me closer, and my eyes don’t stray from his. “For those who don’t know, Jett and I pairs skated together for four years. We were the reincarnation of the movie The Cutting Edge. He was a hockey player turned figure skater, and I was the seasoned skater who couldn’t find a partner who meshed with me. He started to call me the ice princess, and I let him because I secretly loved being his ice princess.” Jett’s eyes widen, and then he shakes his head. “Fast-forward twenty years, and I came back home. And now, not only do I get to be his ice princess on the ice, but I get to be his everywhere.”
He squeezes my hip. “You always have been, princess.”
I swoon as I gaze up at him, completely captivated by him. There are so many memories, so many feelings, and knowing I get to make more with him has me grinning like a fool just for him. I hear some awws and then cheering as he leans down to kiss my nose. I sigh deeply before I say into the mic, “I always dreamed of skating with him again, and for the last three months, that dream came true.” I look over at the table of the Belles as confusion fills their beautiful faces. Kitty’s mouth parts as she clutches her chest, and I wink playfully. “This is for you, Kitty. From Phillip.”
Jett takes the mic and skates it over to Dean before looking over his shoulder at me. Laughter bubbles out of me as I beckon him with my finger. He starts for me as the rink explodes with cheers when they realize what is happening. All my kids from my classes are no longer sitting on the benches but standing and cheering loudly for us. Jett skates to me with the grace that I have always found so beautiful in his big body before stopping before me. Our eyes meet as he cups my cheeks, and I grab his wrists, nerves and excitement vibrating through my body.
Jett’s lips quirk at the side as his eyes fill with love, and I know I’m the only one he sees. It’s as if we’re in our own little bubble, and I don’t want to be anywhere else but with him. His voice is throaty as he tells me, “Just close your eyes. It’s only you and me.”
So many emotions move through me, but I don’t dare close my eyes. I hold his gaze. “I don’t have to close them for it to be just us. All I have to do is stare into your stunning eyes.”
He flexes his fingers around my cheeks before he leans in to kiss my nose just as the first note of the song starts. The whole rink is still full of excitement as we begin moving with the music before he dips me down and I point my toe to the sky. He lifts me with ease before he draws me across the ice like it’s nothing, and then we’re moving as one. We go into a series of small leaps, not like the extensive ones we did when we were younger, but solid second-year stuff that my ten-year-olds would be proud of. Every time he catches my gaze, I grin, and I love how widely he’s smiling. He spins me in, kissing my temple before spinning me out, and then we skate together to get ready for our jumps. Before, our triples were a thing of beauty. Now we look pretty damn good doing one-and-a-halfs. I love how much everyone is into it, screaming and clapping, not that I can see anyone’s face but his.