He couldn’t dodge rehearsals, but their coach had been there, fine-tuning. Belle would wave cheerfully and head off afterwards, usually with a pack of hulking hockey players. She had way too many friends. A good percentage of them male.
None of my business.
He could not be a hypocrite who expected her to keep out of her friends’ love lives yet wanted to break up a happy couple when it involved Belle. There was safety in numbers. At least she wasn’t devoting herself to one man in particular.
He gritted his teeth. None of my business.
The opening ceremony would start in a few hours. He knew a few people who weren’t going because their events were first thing tomorrow, but it was a couple of days before the team free-style event so there was no reason to miss out. He hadn’t gone at Sochi because of conflicting events, so he was looking forward to sharing it with Belle. He could see her talking to her parents now at the edge of the rink. Simon’s parents were here as well, and Bohdan walked across to them while he watched the interactions.
Bohdan wasn’t quite sure who she took after. Her father was tall and thin, but her mother was small and dumpy, which had surprised him the first time they’d met. From the way Belle spoke, she had a special fondness for her father. Her relationship with her mother was respectful, but there were none of the affectionate touches and hugs she shared with her father. He was probably more tolerant. Mrs. Li struck him as a woman who took life seriously, and Belle often came across as frivolous. Though he was starting to wonder if the butterfly camouflaged the real Belle.
It would only be polite to join them. It had nothing to do with the fact he tended to gravitate toward Belle whenever they were in the same space.
“Bohdan. Well done. Excellent scores.” Belle’s father was the first to acknowledge him.
Bohdan took Mr. Li’s extended hand, the man’s grip firm and cool. He didn’t rate a handshake from Mrs. Li, only a brisk nod.
Belle looked worried; he wanted to smooth the furrows from her brow.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“We’re all having dinner tomorrow night at the resort. You’re invited.” Her tone said she expected him to refuse. Simon watched with narrowed eyes, signaling to Bohdan that he would be in trouble if he turned down the invitation. Still, it was hard to know if he was justifying going because it was the polite thing to do, or because it was a legitimate excuse to spend a few hours with Belle. It was his own decision to see less of her. He shouldn’t be looking at ways to get around it. She was still too much of a risk.
“I would love to come. It will be great to catch up, and I’m curious to see the resort.”
Mrs. Li sounded like she was admonishing Belle in her own language. Belle nodded and smiled politely. “Of course, Mother. We will take a taxi.”
“How far is it?” he asked.
“About twenty minutes by car. There’s a train station nearby, but Mother prefers us to go direct.” She gave a little shrug as if she had argued the point and lost and was taking no more responsibility.
She hugged both of Simon’s parents, and it was clear this was goodbye for the moment.
It was a natural thing to follow Belle and Simon out of the arena and walk with them back to the village. He had the bag with their skates and costumes, and Simon dragged a smaller one with his own equipment. The hum of the wheels on the pavement was a subtle accompaniment to the noise of the crowd dissipating from the event. The place would be quiet this afternoon, with most of the athletes and a lot of the visitors heading to PyeongChang Stadium for the ceremony.
Belle checked her iPhone as they walked, so Bohdan turned to Simon. “Were you happy with your scores? Somehow I missed the announcement.”
“Not surprised. It was busy, and everything happened so fast.” He laughed, hitching his bag over the gutter. “Are we ever totally satisfied? If I do as well on the individual event, I think I’ll be content.”
Belle skipped a little to keep up with their strides, and Bohdan consciously slowed. She wasn’t exactly ignoring him, but she wasn’t trying to attract his attention either.
“Was John at the arena today?”
Simon nodded. “He’s gone back with his parents to the resort for the evening. They’ll watch the ceremony on TV and have their own party.”
“He didn’t get a ticket?”
“He preferred to spend his money on the competition events.”
Bohdan wasn’t sure what Simon’s friend did for a living, but attending the Olympics was a major expense even before you started buying tickets to the actual events.
“It’s nice to have people in the audience barracking for you.”
“Anyone of yours here this time?”
“No.”
Simon flushed. “That’s right. I forgot about what happened to your family.”
Belle shot a curious glance his way, her lips parted. He almost welcomed the question, painful as the answer would be. It would be something to open the lines of communication again. Without him being the one to make the move. It didn’t come. She must have recollected her determination to comply with his stupid edict, because she clamped her mouth shut, focusing on the windows of the shops as they went past. He should’ve been happy about it, but while the whole impersonal “just teammates” thing went on, the ache in his chest kept growing.
Back at the apartment block, they shared a lift, stopping at the third floor for Simon and the fourth for his own room. He was about to step out when Belle put her finger on the button to hold the door.
“Are you going on the train with the rest of the team?”
The tension in his shoulders eased. He’d hardly been aware of it until it was gone. He smiled at her, something warm curling in his chest.
Her eyes widened, color flooding her face. “Would . . . Would I—I mean, you—wait downstairs? So we can go together?”
It was a fucking miracle. “Perfect. I will see you then.”
• • •
Bohdan was waiting for her in the park just outside the apartment block, along with most of the ice-skating team wearing the official uniform. Simon was there and so was Dani, bracketed between Neil and Davo, both doing a good impression of a Doberman in heat. The train was crowded, which was kind of a good thing. Bohdan had to sit close, so she was able to enjoy it without him knowing how much she craved his touch. Dani was perching on Davo’s lap, and she hoped that was a good sign.
By the time they all reached the holding area for the athletes, they could hear the music from the pre-ceremony performance. Australia would enter early, so the officials lined them up as soon as they arrived. The buzz was contagious. Already, her mouth ached from smiling. It had been eight years coming. No, more. She was going to enjoy every moment. When Bohdan took her hand to guide her into position, her heart did a little skip.
She clasped his palm tightly, hoping he would think it was so she wouldn’t get lost. “This must be pretty ordinary for you.”
His glance warmed her. “Not at all. I didn’t come to the opening ceremony at Sochi because one of my events conflicted. I didn’t go to the close either.” He suddenly looked bleak. If it had been her, she might have skipped out too after such a dramatic loss.
“But you were at Vancouver.”
“Yes. My first Olympic Games. I was so nervous I don’t think I remembered very much.”
“You had a different partner that time?”
“Maddi. Yes. She was married to a teammate and had a baby soon after.”
“And you partnered with Svetlana after that.”
“I was with another skater for a few months, but it didn’t work out.”
“If you’re Ukrainian, how come you were partnered with a Russian?”
“Same as here. I could not find a Ukrainian partner. I had been living in Moscow for years anyway, with my trainer.”
“Max. Were you disappointed to leave him?”
Bohdan moved to follow the column of athletes. The announcement of the Gre
ek team’s entrance was repeating in different languages over the sound system.
His response to her question was lost as they entered the stadium and the crowd roared its approval.
Belle’s heart fluttered at the sound, and she tightened her grip on Bohdan’s hand to steady herself. The stadium was packed with thousands of spectators under the night sky. She blinked back tears, swallowing the lump in her throat. It was really happening. She, Maybelle Li, sister of Sue Lin, was one of the athletes participating in the Games. She had never considered herself overly patriotic, but amid her teammates, she was proud to be representing her country. Lights flashed, blurred by the moisture in her eyes. It was a dream she’d been working toward for as long as she could remember. Ever since it was obvious Sue Lin would never make it to any Olympics.
She glanced at Bohdan’s stoic expression. He must be feeling strange, representing a country not his own. He still had her hand, and she squeezed it. He glanced down, and his eyes glowed oddly in the lights of the arena. His lips moved, but with all the noise, she couldn’t hear. It looked like thank you.
Chapter 7
Bohdan adjusted his jacket as they entered the resort to meet Belle’s parents. Her dress was a swirly thing in pink and royal-blue chiffon, similar to the outfit she would be wearing on the ice tomorrow—longer, but not much, showing her elegant legs in flesh-colored stockings. His tie was a plain blue and his shirt a very pale pink, so they looked like a couple again. He hadn’t noticed until Belle took off her long, cream wool coat when they entered the heated foyer. It was kind of cool. In a scary way.
“Welcome.”
A small man in a navy suit, white frilled shirt, and scarlet cummerbund surged forward, his hand outstretched. Simon’s dad looked like he would be quite at home wearing the colorful outfits he helped create for skaters and ballroom dancers. His grip was firm and his smile broad and friendly. A nice man. Simon was lucky.
Simon had gone ahead, eager to catch up with John, so Bohdan took Belle’s elbow and followed their host to the restaurant. No messing around with drinks for them. Simon didn’t have any events tomorrow, so he could relax, but Bohdan and Belle would need an early mark considering they had to be ready to hit the ice by 10 a.m. for the free-skate program.
Belle’s dad met them at the table, giving her a hug and shaking Bohdan’s hand. “We are very pleased for you to join us.”
Bohdan relaxed. It had been such a long time since he’d interacted in such a close dynamic. It was kind of nice, if a little nerve-wracking. Belle’s mother pointed out where they were to sit. She and Simon’s mother were such a contrast; he could see where Simon got that classic elegance that flowed so well on the ice.
“Are you looking forward to tomorrow, or are you nervous?” Belle’s father was seated opposite, and Bohdan was happy to engage with him.
“A little nervous, of course. We have practiced and are happy with how things are going. It remains to be seen how we go on the day.”
Mrs. Li nodded as the drinks were poured, her face sober. “It is remarkable to be here after so long. After coming close to making it to Vancouver, it seemed our ambition was never to be fulfilled.” She sipped at her wine and made a little face. “Not that we expected it to be Maybelle.”
Bohdan stared at Belle. She was looking at her father, her lips tight and her eyes wide and dark. Mr. Li returned her look with a slow smile.
“My wife is referring to our older daughter. It was Sue Lin who first voiced a wish to go to the Olympics. As she is no longer with us, Maybelle has brought the dream to fruition. My wife was an Olympian in her teens, so it is natural for her daughters to follow in her footsteps.”
Bohdan tried to visualize Mrs. Li as an athlete. Ni. Not happening.
“Gymnastics. It was a long time ago; age and bearing children takes its toll.” Mr. Li’s soft murmur would hardly have been heard by his wife, who was busy distributing the food menus and usurping the waiter, who hovered with the impassive expression of one who knows not to argue with the clients.
“I’m sorry about your daughter.”
The older man inclined his head. “It is many years ago now.”
The conversation switched to Simon’s achievements, and Bohdan was grateful for the chance to digest both his meal and the information he’d acquired. Perhaps he should have accepted more invitations from this family, so he wouldn’t still be learning new things. That Belle had lost someone close changed his perception of her as having a charmed life. He had thought she would never understand his own situation, never see why he’d made the decision to protect himself.
Had he been all wrong about her? And what did that mean for the future?
Nothing. It hadn’t changed anything fundamental.
• • •
Her mother had brought up that subject in public. It had been more than fifteen years, and still, Sue Lin overshadowed everything Maybelle accomplished.
Hadn’t she done enough penance? Sometimes she wanted to walk away from the skating rink and never look back. Like Brady. No wonder she’d resented him. She envied him the ability to cut all ties.
Now Bohdan knew, and if his behavior of the past few days was any indication, he would be asking about it. Maybe it would be an opening to ask what Simon had meant about Bohdan’s family. He’d said they were dead, but from the way Simon spoke, there was more to it. Her coach had told her most of what she needed to know about his career, and the Internet had information about his relationship with Svetlana and the spectacular breakup at the Olympics but nothing about parents or siblings. She hadn’t bothered to look any further than his competition stats and endorsements, most of them with European companies she’d never heard of.
He was being very polite as he explained about having to leave early. They had barely finished dessert. Belle had chosen a light meal and fresh fruit salad—she had to be at her best tomorrow—but there was still a hollow feeling in her stomach as they made their escape from the restaurant.
Bohdan had refused her father’s offer to pay for the taxi.
He helped her into the back seat and joined her, sitting way too close. “I am not poor, you must know.”
“I didn’t know.” She’d never really thought about it. Most athletes struggled unless they were well known enough to get major sponsorships and endorsement offers. Especially in Australia.
As if he’d read her mind, he laughed. “You really do not know?”
Annoyed by his disbelief, she shrugged. “I know you’ve won a lot of medals in Europe and have fans.” At least half the girls in Europe.
“That translates into money. I am well known. There are several brands that use me for endorsements. Not only sport-related sponsorships.” He leaned over her, scrutinizing her face. “How could you not know this?”
“I suppose I assumed you had some income. I didn’t recognize any of the brand names, so I figured it wasn’t a big deal. Is it so much?”
“I do not have to work. Max advised me not to ‘live it up,’ as you say, but to invest. I am very comfortable. I also have ongoing income from a men’s clothing label in Italy. A health food company in Germany and other lifestyle brands.”
She glanced at his well-cut suit. “They give you clothes to wear?”
“It is a requirement.”
“No wonder you always have the latest fashions.”
“I am on the Internet and television in Europe in their ad campaign. But not so much in Australia. Not at present. There have been approaches since I arrived, but they are waiting to see how I perform.”
“I feel stupid. I didn’t realize.” She’d been skating with him for almost a year and hadn’t acknowledged he was a bona fide celebrity. “You never said anything.”
She’d seen some videos of him online when she’d done a search, but an unknown breakfast cereal ad in a foreign language and swanning around in well-cut casual clothes with a couple of gorgeous models hadn’t seemed like the big league, money wise. She and Brady had bee
n in a couple of similar ads after the win in Juniors, but they hadn’t made a fortune.
Maybe if they’d had a different kind of relationship, she might have been game enough to ask Bohdan about his life in Europe, before he came to Australia. It would have been natural for him to talk about his sponsors as part of that conversation.
His popularity was hard to miss with the kind of fangirling that went on wherever they competed. Like at the airport in Seoul. She’d thought it was just his good looks and athlete status. That was fame enough for some.
He barely posted on social media. Only when something sporting related happened. And he still had zillions of fans. She hadn’t thought about how that would translate into a substantial income. Her own sponsorships were small, local affairs that helped out with costumes and travel.
“Why would you risk all that for the sake of pairs? They won’t want you if you fail.”
“It is of no matter. I have contracts. So long as I bring no shame to the brand, I am secure.”
“Did you lose . . . ?” She stumbled to a halt. For once, he didn’t close off.
“Not really. Not anything important. The scandal was short-lived, and I was considered the injured party. Next season, I won in singles, so their faith was rewarded.”
“All the same . . . ”
“Pairs is what I want to do. I am successful, yes. But I like also to have a partner. You can do beautiful things on the ice with two.”
Her chest tightened. Something beautiful. The words twisted deep inside. It spoke to the little rebellious streak that had wanted to move to ice dancing against her mother’s wishes. But that had ended when Brady left, before they ever had the chance to try out the routine they’d been practicing. It had been too late for the Olympic selectors, but she had hoped by the World Championships they would have achieved enough to change her mother’s mind.
“I hope we do well then.”
“We will.” He spoke with the utmost confidence, but after her mother’s reminder tonight, Belle didn’t feel so sure.
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