A Surprising Fact About Love: Small Town Romance (Silver Ridge Series Book 4)

by Karice Bolton

  But with Ashley, he wanted to know more. He wanted to know what happened between Ashley and her parents. He wanted to know how she’d learned to garden. He wanted to see the Finns’ garden. And he loved how she let him see a different side of his business.

  His family wasn’t elitist in any sense of the word, but he could see how this resort certainly could appear unattainable to a lot of individuals. It took Ashley to point out that a ski trip wasn’t exactly in a lot of people’s budget. He loved that she was interested enough in his business to give him all sides of the story.

  But he wanted to know so much more.

  “So, how tight do I lace these up?” Ashley asked, weaving her fingers through the laces.

  She looked up at him with her big, beautiful blue eyes and warmth radiated from her expression. Austin quickly knelt in front of her and laced up her skate, tugging and tying it up.

  “About like this.” He smiled, their eyes connecting. “You don’t want your ankle to turn or anything like that.” He gave another yank.

  “No, I really don’t feel like being hauled off on a stretcher today.”

  He pulled her other foot in front of him and laced it up quickly. “You know what? I think that’s a great goal for the session.”

  She laughed. “I am a goal-oriented person.”

  “Here’s another tool to add to your tool chest.” He grabbed a helmet, and Ashley chuckled.

  “Oh, now this is super sexy.” She smiled and took the helmet from him.

  He buckled his own and chuckled. “Sometimes, practicality and logic are the way to go. I like my brain, and I really like yours.”

  “Well, thank you. I’m rather partial to my mind as well.” She fastened the buckle and Austin couldn’t believe how absolutely adorable she looked. Her blonde strands of hair stuck out around her ears, and her blue eyes looked even wider.

  Austin held out his hand, and she slowly reached for it. Apprehension was swelling throughout her. He could see it nearly bubbling over with every move she made.

  “You’ll be okay. I won’t let go until you’re steady.”

  She was still firmly planted on the bench.

  “What if I take you down with me?” she asked.

  “I’ll be the buffer. You can fall on me.”

  He felt her hand squeeze his, and he pulled her up. Her knees nearly knocked as she straightened up, blades digging into the rubber mat, but she was up.

  “Look at you. You’re still upright.” He grinned, holding onto her hands.

  “That’s because I haven’t moved, and last I heard, rubber wasn’t slippery.”

  “And neither is the ice.”

  She stared at him and arched a brow without saying a word.

  “Well, the ice is pretty slippery, especially once the Zamboni runs over it, but you’ve got sharp blades digging into it. Plus, you’ve got me.”

  “And I’m still trying to gauge how helpful that may or may not be.” She laughed, and his world stood still. There was something special about Ashley Malone. He knew it. He didn’t want to fight it. But he didn’t know if it mattered.

  She was leaving.

  He was staying.

  “All right, Mr. Figure Skater. I think I’m ready.”

  He felt her strong grip as she straightened and glanced toward the ice rink. Two of the resort’s instructors were skating around with students, and several families were congregated against the far wall, trying to navigate the slippery rink. His only hope was that Ashley didn’t notice them.

  “It doesn’t look like it’s going too well for those people over there,” she half-joked. “They’re clinging onto the wall for dear life. Is there someone who can go out there and scoop them up if all hope is lost?”

  “No, but that’s another good idea for the resort. A scooper . . . but I’ll have you skating laps around them.” He beamed.

  “Even around the toddler dressed like the Easter Bunny?” She pointed and giggled.

  “Absolutely. Okay, so take your first step and put your weight on me if you need.”

  She drew a breath and took her first step, followed by a second and third until they made their way to the entrance of the rink.

  “It doesn’t do great things for the ego when you’re managing to walk backward while I’m barely making it forward.”

  “First of all, I grew up in the snow and participated in every winter event you can imagine.”

  “It’s in your blood.” She smiled and looked over the rink.

  “It’s in my blood.” He grinned. “And because of that, I can make you an expert before you know it.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  “Ready?”

  “No, but it’s now or never.”

  Austin skated backward onto the ice, still holding Ashley, and coaxed her to take the first step.

  The moment her right skate touched the ice, she slipped straight for him and nearly collapsed in his arms. The weight of her body on his nearly undid him as he thought about taking her in his arms and kissing her. Everything about her made him want to undress her and explore every single inch of her body.

  “Told you,” she mumbled into his chest, clinging onto his jacket. “I’m a mess.”

  He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist and slid her into an upright position. She wouldn’t leave him and had her body pressed against his. Feeling the curves of her breasts, waist, and hips drove him crazy. He wanted her so bad it was nearly impossible to focus on giving her the skating lesson.

  “You’re doing great,” he said, clearing his throat.

  “Did anyone tell you that you’re a terrible liar?” She tilted her head away from his chest as he attempted to help her stand upright.

  “Okay, hold onto this railing.”

  She didn’t let go of him as he inched them both to the wall where he placed her hands onto the rail for her, never leaving her side.

  “You made it.” He grinned.

  “Yay, me.” She laughed and clung to the railing.

  “Believe it or not, we’re going to practice how to fall.”

  Her head snapped toward him. “Wait? What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “I thought the goal was to not fall down.” She wrinkled her brows.

  “It’s an admirable goal, but it happens to the best of us, so it’s wise to do it correctly.”

  He watched more apprehension fill her gaze. “Will it hurt?”

  “It shouldn’t.”

  She twisted her lips into a sexy scowl, and he dropped his gaze to the ice. He didn’t want her to see him salivating over her. He already worried that he’d come on too strong.

  “Well, let’s get this over with.”

  “That’s the spirit.” He laughed and took a step back. “So, if you ever anticipate a fall, the best thing to do is a dip. Put your butt back and bend your knees as if you’re doing a squat at the gym.”

  “Except at the gym, I’m not sliding along on an ice rink as I’m attempting to squat.”

  “You got me there.” He laughed. “I’ll demonstrate.”

  He took a couple of strides away from the wall, and he knew she watched his every move as he demonstrated how to fall properly. He squatted, leaned, brought his hands in, and all Austin could think about was how good she looked today.

  “Did you get hurt?” she hollered from the sidelines.

  “Nope. Did you want me to?” He pushed himself off the ice and skated back over to her.

  “Of course not. You’re the only one who can get me off the ice in case of an emergency.” She drew a breath, and he noticed how perfectly pouty her lips were. They were so kissable. “But I can’t even practice falling because I swear, I can’t skate even three steps.”

  “Sure you can.” He faced her and pulled her hands into his, winding his fingers through hers. He loved how strong her grip was in every situation. Here she was, about to do something that could send her to the hospital with a concussion, and there wasn’t an ounce of
apprehension in her grip.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, her brow arched into a quirky expression.

  “I’m going to pull you with me.”

  “No. No, you’re not. Not if we want to live to see another day. I’ll fall on you, and I’m no lightweight, and then all—”

  He laughed, interrupting her train wreck of a fantasy. “I’m pretty sure I can handle the weight of a woman on top of me.” His grin grew wider. “Yeah. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy it.”

  “You are such a man.” She attempted to swat at him, but her fingers were all tied up in his, and before she knew it, he began skating backward, pulling her with him.

  “I’m gliding. I’m upright,” she nearly squealed.

  “You’re doing great. Not even a wobble.” And he meant it. She was smooth on the ice.

  “Thanks to you.” She smiled, and his blue eyes locked on hers.

  He imagined himself tangled in a bed of sheets with this woman, and his eyes fastened on hers as she fully gave herself to him.

  And the next thing Austin knew, Ashley’s skates started to wobble and her knees began to buckle as she tumbled onto him.

  He quickly let go of her hands and managed to wrap his body around hers as he fell backward, and she landed on top of him.

  They were laughing so hard, Ashley could barely catch a breath, but he didn’t want her to move. Feeling her body on top of his made every single cell in his body light up in a way he had never felt before. Her curves perfectly molded into his body, and he never wanted to let her go.

  Ashley’s laughter echoed through the ice rink, but neither of them moved and his arms stayed firmly wrapped around her waist.

  “Aren’t you freezing?” she asked in between fits of giggles.

  “I’d gladly freeze if it meant getting to keep you on top of me.”

  “You’re so bad.” She gently punched his chest, and he pretended to be wounded as she crawled off him, only to be attacked by the ice rink once she tried to stand.

  Ashley glanced in Austin’s direction. He’d already managed to get on his feet, and she threw her head back in another fit of laughter, and he hadn’t felt this energized in years. For so long, he’d focused on his family and his business and he’d never let himself remember what joy felt like.

  And this was definitely J.O.Y. Ashley Malone was pure joy.

  He linked his fingers through hers and pulled her up. “Has anyone told you how beautiful you are when you laugh?”

  She glanced around the rink before bringing her blue eyes to his.

  “No.” She shook her head. “I haven’t really given anyone the opportunity to either.”

  “Well, you should hear it every day. Your smile makes other people smile.”

  “How can you tell?” she asked.

  “I’m observant.” He shrugged. “What can I say?”

  “I see.” She straightened on her skates, but her legs still shook.

  “I’m so observant that I think we can do one lap around this rink before your legs give up on you.”

  “How in the world can you tell that my legs are on fire?” Her eyes went wide as she looked down at her jeans.

  “Your legs are shaky.”

  “How do you know it’s not because I’m on a date I’m truly enjoying, and I’m nervous?”

  “Because you’re not nervous.” He smiled. “A woman like you doesn’t get nervous.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Not from a simple date.” He shook his head. “I can tell you’re adventurous.”

  “I used to be,” she acknowledged.

  “What changed?” he asked, gliding to the outside of her as he led her to the wall.

  She reached out for the railing with her free hand and clung to him for guidance.

  “I got tired of telling myself how fun it was to go on a hiking trip by myself or jump out of a plane and have no one to high-five with once I got to the end.”

  Surprise darted through Austin, and he squeezed her hand.

  “Don’t get me wrong. I love going on hikes by myself now and again or having alone time, but there are those moments when it would just be nice to have someone waiting on the other end.”

  “Or participating along the way,” Austin added.

  “Precisely.” She smiled. “That probably sounds all messed up. I swear I’m not lonely.”

  “Of course not.” He grinned and started skating with her again, taking it very slowly. “You’re not lonely. You’re busy. You’re busy just like me.”

  Ashley smiled and looked into his eyes, and Austin saw something he hadn’t stopped to notice before, a familiar loneliness . . . and he wondered how deep it ran.

  Chapter Eleven

  Austin’s muscular thighs nearly bulged out of his jeans, and Ashley was sure she turned the shade of a fire hydrant, which would be even more obvious on the pure white ice rink.

  Ashley watched him bend over and untie his skates, and she got her head back in the game. She couldn’t keep letting herself fantasize about a guy she barely knew and certainly didn’t have much of a future with. Flings were supposed to be spontaneous with not much feeling involved, and all of a sudden, her feelings were all over the place for Austin North.

  She liked him, a lot. He was fun, and there was a connection she couldn’t deny.

  Even though her calf muscles were burning, she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Sure, she’d fallen, but he was there to pick her up, and it wasn’t all that bad.

  Actually, toppling on top of Austin was the exact opposite of bad. Falling on him was one of the best things that have happened to her in a long time, which really spoke more to her dating life than anything.

  “Ready for a drink back at the lodge, and maybe dinner?” he asked with his skates hanging over his shoulders.

  Ashley had only untied one skate by the time he’d managed to take both off and walk over to her. He quickly knelt and began helping her with her skates.

  Truthfully, she hadn’t expected the day to last as long as it had. She’d always dreaded dates, but this was one of the few she didn’t want to end.

  “I’d love that.”

  “Really?”

  “You sound surprised.”

  “I kind of am.” He grinned as she put her boots back on.

  “Well, good. I like to keep my men on their toes.”

  “Men, huh?” He laughed. “As in plural?”

  She giggled and took a deep breath, feeling absolutely amazing about how the day had gone so far. The only issue that had recently sprung up was that she was starving. Even though she’d barely made it around the rink, her hunger was out of this world.

  “I hoped you’d say yes so I already took the liberty of making reservations at our steakhouse for tonight.”

  “You read my mind. I’m starving.” She let out a laugh. “When am I not, though?”

  He chuckled. “Ice skating is hard work. You burned a lot of calories.”

  Her stomach growled, and his smile widened as he picked up her skates.

  “You heard that?” She slid her hand over her belly.

  “I think the entire state of Washington heard that.”

  “Now, you're just obnoxious.” She smiled and loved how he tangled his fingers through hers and began leading her out of the rink. He dropped off the skates at the counter, and she noticed one of the workers waving frantically at Austin.

  “Uncle Austin,” Abigail said. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

  “Oh, no,” Austin whispered under his breath.

  “What?” Ashley asked, intrigued.

  “My brother’s daughter, Abigail.” He chuckled. “Word is going to get around about you, and you’ll never be able to leave town. First Abigail will tell my mom, who will tell her mom, and . . .”

  “I’m sure it’s not that bad.” Ashley felt a rush of butterflies as she caught an intense look he gave her, but she did her best to push it away. She couldn’t let herself get her hopes up
. She had a new life planned in a new state with a new family—her new family.

  Abigail rushed over and hugged Austin before turning around to hug Ashley. “I’m Abigail.” She smiled, and a young man about her age followed behind.

  “Hey, Austin,” the young man said before looking at Ashley. “I’m Carter, Abigail’s boyfriend.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Ashley smiled.

  “How’s it going?” Austin asked.

  They did a quick handshake, and Abigail continued to study Ashley, which should have made her nervous, but it only made her more curious.

  “Austin’s my uncle, and he’s never brought a woman to the skating rink.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You must be special. He used to play hockey, and the rink is sacred.”

  “How do you know I’ve never brought someone here?” Austin teased. “You’ve only been working here for two months.”

  “I have my sources.”

  “Why in the world is my dating life up for discussion at the ice rink?” He laughed and shook his head. “It’s a hopeless cause.”

  “Which part?” his niece asked.

  “All of it.”

  “Does Grandma know?” she teased.

  “Know what, precisely?” Ashley asked. It was fun to watch Austin squirm a little, and it was refreshing to know his niece could make it happen.

  Ashley also loved getting to see Austin with some of his family. It warmed her heart that Austin was close to his niece and they could tease one another. It was something Ashley had always hoped for with her own family, but she got plenty of it with the families she worked with.

  “Well, Austin is the lone wolf of the family,” Abigail revealed. “He works too much and pretty much stays away from relationships.”

  “Okay, Abigail. That’s enough,” Austin teased. “Or Ashley will never come back to skate again.”

  “Oh, is that what the kids call it these days?” his niece joked, and Austin shook his head. “When does college start up for you?”

  She laughed, and her boyfriend slid his arm around her waist. “She just wants to see her favorite uncle happy.”

  “Favorite, huh?” Austin smiled. “Are you looking for a raise?”