I turn at the sound of more skates to find Winter sliding over with Hope and Jessica trailing behind her, the six year old twins pictures of their mother with their long blonde hair and bright green eyes.
Winter still takes the cold breath from my lungs, guiding herself on the ice steadily, her body honed and yet still curvy after years of childbirth and ice-skating and life.
She has her hair tied up in a ponytail and it lashes behind her, her pale blue winter coat doing nothing to hide the beauty of her body beneath, a body that, even after four children, is the sweetest fucking thing imaginable.
“He’s finally asleep,” she says. “Jarvis is with him. And the nanny.”
“Mommy, you don’t have to feel bad for skating for a little bit,” Andrew says, ever the perceptive one.
More and more lately, Andrew has been asking questions about the business, asking me if he can skip school to come to the office. I tell him no, of course, and impress upon him the importance of education. But the way his eyes light up at the idea of making a positive difference in the world touches my soul.
“I don’t feel guilty for that,” Winter says, exchanging a look with me, and my chest threatens to explode all over again at the sassy look in my wife’s eyes.
“What then, Mommy?” Jessica smiles up at her. “Cause I’m never guilty. Nah uh. Like the time Hope-Pope ate the last cookie and said it was me.”
“Nah uh,” Hope says. “It was you and you know it was.”
“Girls,” I laugh, skate-walking over. “We caught you eating one half of the cookie each, remember?”
They giggle in their secret identical-twin way, exchanging looks that are so secretive they make confidence and security bloom inside of me.
Whatever happens, Hope and Jessica will always have each other’s backs.
“Where’s Mommy?” Andrew mutters, and then we all turn to find her skating toward the other end of the lake.
“This is why I felt guilty,” she yells over, breathless and vivacious and just goddamn perfect. “Because the last one to the other side doesn’t get any pie later.”
Oh, shit.
I can only walk awkwardly up the lake as Jessica and Hope surge forward like sprites, moving slightly like nervous deer, and yet light enough that they can skim across the ice. Snow swirls and dances in the air around Andrew as he confidently cuts across the lake.
And then something clicks, and I smile.
This happens every so often on the ice.
I’ll find my stride and suddenly feel weightless.
I glide toward my family, letting my daughters’ proud giggles guide me, following the sound of my wife’s encouraging yells.
When I reach her – last, but not by much – I drag her into my arms and kiss her on her winter-cold lips, ignoring the ews and grosses of the children.
“I guess this means I don’t get any pie, eh?” I say.
She loops her arms around my shoulders and leans close, whispering so the children can’t hear, a quiet, angelic voice just for me.
“You’ll get more than pie later,” she says. “You know I can never say no to you.”
I feel a stirring inside of me and have to step away so that I don’t lose control.
“What’d you say, kids?” I smile. “Round two?”
I duck my head and skate down the lake.
And my family skates behind me.
NEWSLETTER
Get a free, new, original story NOW by joining my mailing list and staying subscribed.
CLICK HERE >> Get a FREE book now
Warming Up to Love
The Warming Up to Love authors have teamed up to bring you nine new romances guaranteed to chase away the winter chill. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, love, and hot book boyfriends & get ready to be warmed up to love!
Hugs and KISSES,
The Warming Up to Love Authors
Check out all the Warming Up to Love books!
Snowy Kisses by Elisa Leigh
Winter Kisses by Flora Ferrari
Unwrapped Kisses by Jenna Rose
Warm Kisses by Loni Ree
Naughty Kisses by Mayra Statham
Sugar Kisses by Megan Wade
Christmas Kisses by Mila Crawford & Aria Cole
Holly Kisses by Penelope Wylde
Mistletoe Kisses by Shaw Hart
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Book 40: Crocodile Dan D
Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby
Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Book 43: Cop’s Babysitter
Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door
Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace
Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée
Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny
Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter
Book 49: Steamy
Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend
Book 51: Possessive Professor
Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter
Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby
Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day
Book 55: Doctor Next Door
Book 56: Possessive Policeman
Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter
Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter
Book 59: Virgin in New York
Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby
Book 61: Possessive Protector
Book 62: Possessive Australian
Book 63: Best Friend’s Brother
Book 64: Possessive Cowboy
Book 65: Summer Romanced
Book 66: Possessive Prince
Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy
Book 68: Cop’s Best Friend
Book 69: Possessive Firefighter
Book 70: Football Next Door
Book 71: Doctor December
Book 72: Possessive Canadian
Book 73: Blue Collar Billionaire
Book 74: Possessive K-9 Cop
Book 75: Possessive Brazilian
Book 76: Hockey Obsession
Book 77: Possessive Boston Irish American MMA Fighter