by Melody Grace
“Don’t worry,” he tells me, helping me to my feet. “You can hold onto me.”
It’s not an invitation I’m going to turn down, not with Austin looking so good in his coat and scarf, smiling at me with wicked invitation in his eyes.
We whirl around the rink together, hand-in-hand. It takes me a little while to adjust to the skates, but even once I find my feet, I don’t let go. “How are you so good?” I ask, as Austin switches effortlessly to skating backwards, holding my hands in his.
He shrugs. “My mom worked weekends when I was a kid, so she’d leave me and my sister at the local rink to keep out of trouble.”
“I’m guessing you still found plenty.” I smile.
He laughs. “Guilty as charged. That was before I picked up a guitar,” he adds. “After that, you couldn’t have dragged me out of my bedroom for a million bucks. Music became my obsession.”
“And here you are,” I say happily. “It looks like it worked out for you.”
“I guess it did.” Austin’s eyes meet mine. For a moment, it looks like he’s about to say something. Then I catch sight of some girls over by the railings. They’re looking at him and whispering to each other. I smile.
“You’ve got some admirers,” I tease him. I don’t blame the girls for staring: he’s the most gorgeous man on the ice.
But instead of laughing it off, Austin looks uncomfortable. “Come on,” he says, tugging my hands. He skates faster, pulling me along so quickly the rink becomes a blur of color and motion. I gasp for air, exhilarated. He doesn’t look behind him to check, just speeds backwards, trusting everyone will just get out of our way.
“Austin!” I protest, hanging on tight.
“Just hold on,” he laughs. My heart is racing, and I can’t tell how much is from the speed, and how much is just the rush of him. It feels like I’m flying, the chilled air sharp against my skin, the lights glittering all around us. And in the center of it all, Austin is holding me tightly, his gaze fixed on mine. Faster, faster we go—
My skate snags the ice. I yelp as I lose my balance and knock straight into Austin. There’s no time to steady ourselves, or even think straight. We tumble to the ground, hitting the hard ice with a THUMP.
“Owww,” I groan, catching my breath. Luckily, Austin cushioned most of my fall. “Are you OK?” I start to scramble off him.
“Just fine.”
Suddenly, Austin grabs my waist and rolls me under him, so I’m pinned against the ice. The length of his body is a delicious weight, and his eyes are smiling with a private joke as he slowly leans down to kiss me.
He tastes like sugar cookies and frosting, his lips as burning hot as the ice pressed against my back.
I fall into the kiss, and hope this magic weekend lasts forever.
12.
Austin
After ice skating, I take her to the cafe, Serendipity 3, from that movie she loves. Even with the streets deserted, there’s a line ten-deep waiting for a table.
Sophie’s face falls. “We can go to some other place,” she says, in a voice that tells me she’s got her heart set on this particular mug of frozen hot chocolate at this particular cafe.
“Wait here, let me see if they can squeeze us in.” I leave her standing in line and I make my way up to the hostess. “Hi,” I start, flashing her my best rock-star grin. For the first time all day, I’m glad someone recognizes me: the woman’s eyes widen, and she flushes with excitement.
“Hi… Um, hi.” She stutters. “Austin. Wow. I’m a big fan.”
Good.
I lean over the desk and drop my voice. “So, here’s the thing,” I tell her, “my friend and I are running kind of late, but we’d love to grab a table. Is there any way at all you could squeeze us in?”
She bites her lip. “I don’t know…” she checks the line behind us, full of eager tourists all jostling for a spot.
“For me?” I wink. She blushes again.
“OK, those guys are just leaving.” She nods to a table in the corner. “I can fit you in if you’re quick.”
“You’re an angel,” I smile. “Here, write down your details, and I’ll hook you up with some tickets when we’re next in town.”
“Really?” She brightens. “That would be so cool. I would just die if I got to meet Dex—” She catches herself. “I mean, I like you too, but—”
“That’s OK,” I laugh. “I’ll have him give you a call, how about that?”
She practically swoons right there behind the desk. Mission accomplished, I beckon Sophie over. “They found our reservation, sweetie,” I say loudly, when the middle-aged guy behind us starts to grumble. I feel guilty for a moment about skipping the line, but the glow on Sophie’s face as we head to our table makes it all worthwhile.
“Put his bill on my tab,” I tell the hostess quietly. “In fact, everyone we just skipped. I’ll take care of it all.”
“Of course,” she nods eagerly. “Anything else?”
“We’re set, thank you.”
I turn back to Sophie to find her smirking at me with a knowing expression.
“What?” I ask, sliding into the booth. For a moment, I wonder if my cover is blown and she’s figured out my real identity, but instead, she just grins.
“You charm the pants off everyone, don’t you?”
“There’s only one set of pants I want to get into.” I waggle my eyebrows.
She bursts out laughing. “Real smooth.”
I watch her across the table as she scans the menu, her pretty eyes darting over the page. I should come clean to her, I know, and tell her who I really am, but I’m enjoying this too much. It’s been years since I could relax, and be myself with a woman like this, and not wonder in the back of my brain if they’re really just here for the status and fame. I never minded it really— hell, what red-blooded guy doesn’t love the fact girls fall at his feet?—but being with Sophie is so refreshing that I realize I’ve been missing out.
She likes me. Not my record deal, or the VIP passes, being able to brag to her friends, or get her name in the gossip columns.
Just me.
Sophie glances up, and catches me staring. She raises her eyebrows. “What?”
“Nothing,” I lie.
I’ll tell her later, I promise myself. For now, I don’t want anything to ruin this day.
It’s afternoon by the time we head back to the hotel. Already, it’s getting dark out, the streetlights flickering to life over the quiet, snow-dusted streets.
“I’ve never seen the city so empty,” I say, looking around. “Everybody’s probably taking a nap in front of the TV right now, stuffed with Christmas dinner.”
“A nap sounds pretty good.,” Sophie snuggles closer against me. I wrap my arm around her and think of lying on the couch with her and watching old movies. Twenty-four hours ago it would have seemed like a drag, but now, I can’t wait to get back to the hotel and just relax.
“I can’t believe you ordered all that food to go.” Sophie nudges me, looking at the huge bag I’m carrying in my other hand. “We just ate a ton!”
“You’ll be thanking me later.” I draw her closer. “I plan on us working up an appetite.”
Sophie smirks. “You mean hitting the gym? Going for a run? You go right ahead,” she says sweetly. “I’ll be waiting in my pajamas when you get back.”
“Not so fast.” I spin her around suddenly, bringing her in against my chest. Her body is warm and soft through her padded coat, and her eyes sparkle with excitement as I graze my thumb slowly over her lips. “I’ve got plans for you,” I murmur, loving the heat that flares in her eyes, and the way her mouth falls open against my touch. “Hot, sweaty, scream-the-roof-down plans.”
Sophie shivers. “I think I could—”
But her reply is lost under my kiss. I claim her mouth, searching, teasing, licking gently at her lips to taste before I slide my tongue deep, gorging on her sweetness. She melts against me, clutching at my jacket and kissing me back wit
h a fevered enthusiasm that makes my blood boil. God, her passion is incredible, the eagerness of her lips, her hands…
That sinful body.
I’m drowning in the feel of her, when suddenly, she pulls back. “It’s snowing!” she exclaims, her face lighting up. She tips her head back, looking upwards at the cloudy sky. “Look!”
Sure enough, tiny wet snowflakes are tumbling all around us. Sophie spins around happily. “I can’t believe it snowed on Christmas!” She laughs. “I got my perfect holiday after all!”
She closes her eyes and sticks her tongue out to catch the snowflakes. And suddenly, I realize that the holidays won’t be enough with this woman. I want to see her face light up like this on New Year’s Eve, on Valentine’s Day. Summer vacations and Thanksgiving feasts. We haven’t talked much about the real lives waiting for us after this trip is over, but I want to.
I want to make a plan, make this real somehow. More than just a random perfect weekend. More than two strangers finding each other at exactly the right time and place.
I want this to be the beginning with her.
Back at the hotel, I tell Sophie to go up to the room ahead of me. “I have one last surprise,” I tell her, handing her my keycard.
She gives me a devilish grin. “Me too.” She leans closer, to whisper in my ear. “And it maybe involves some new lingerie I never got to wear…”
My blood surges. “Damn, woman.” I pull her in for another searing kiss. “How am I supposed to function with that image in my head?”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way.” Sophie ducks away. “Don’t take too long. I might have to start without you…”
My jaw drops.
“The movies,” she says, teasing. “Whatever did you think I meant?”
With a wink, she spins on her heel and heads for the elevator. I take a moment to get back the power of thought, then detour via the hotel restaurant. It’s almost empty, so the bored busboy clearing plates just gives me a nod as I go to display of Christmas trees in the corner. Even the smallest one is about the same size as me, but I manage to hoist it over my shoulder. I look a pretty strange sight carrying it across the lobby, but I don’t care. It’s not a real holiday without a holiday tree.
And we may not have any gifts tonight, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be unwrapping Sophie, one layer of clothing at a time.
It takes me forever to haul it into the elevator and down the hallway to my room. I struggle to tap on the door.
“Sophie?” I call. There’s no reply. “You better be taking off all your clothes right now,” I grunt, reaching to knock again. But the door swings open, it was left on the latch.
“Taking off all your clothes, and running a bubble bath,” I add, dragging the tree into the room. Ornaments tumble to the ground as I set it down in the corner and look around.
“Sounds like a good idea to me.”
The voice comes from behind me, but it’s all wrong.
I spin around. No.
It’s Anika, strutting towards me in a silk robe—and not much else.
I panic. “How long have you been here?” I demand, looking around. “How did you get in?”
“The bellboy got me a key,” she coos, reaching me. She runs her hands over my chest. “Surprise!”
I wrench away. “I thought you were in Miami for the holidays.”
“I got a red-eye, like you said.” Anika bats her eyelashes at me. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
There’s an edge to her voice that makes my blood run cold. “Where’s Sophie?” I ask flatly.
Anika pretends to think. “Sophie, Sophie…” She taps a blood-red nail to her jaw. “Hmmm.”
“Don’t mess around with this,” I growl, pacing away. I check the bathroom, and the bedroom too, but the suite is empty.
And Sophie’s things are gone. No high heels scattered on the floor, no dress from last night, no coat hanging over the chair.
Shit.
I return to the living room, where Anika is sprawled over the couch. Her limbs are draped seductively, covered in silk and satin, but I couldn’t care less. “Where did she go?” I demand, my heartbeat racing with fear. “Tell me right now!”
“That mousy girl you had up here?” Anika sneers. “I thought she was your assistant.”
“Dammit, Anika—” I stop, fighting to keep my temper. “What did you tell her?”
“The truth.” She gives me a smug little smile. “That I was your girlfriend. She seemed rather upset. I guess someone’s been telling lies.”
“We were never like that,” I exclaim. “You were the one who wanted to keep things casual!”
“Well, I changed my mind. That’s why I’m here,” she smiles. “I don’t mind about that girl. I forgive you, I know she doesn’t mean anything to you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
I turn on my heel and hurry back out of the suite. The elevator takes too long, so I take the stairs instead, racing two at a time down to the lobby as the sick feeling in my chest grows tighter.
Where did she go? How can I get her back?
I burst into the lobby and head for the desk. There are people there checking out, but I impatiently edge them aside. “I need to know a room number,” I demand, “one of your guests. Sophie…” I stop. I don’t know her last name. “Sophie something, it was the second floor.”
The clerk stares back, stony-faced. “I’m afraid we can’t give out that information.”
“Dammit!” I slam my hand against the desk, then catch myself. “I’m sorry, but I really need to find her.”
“Austin?”
I turn. It’s the friendly receptionist, Patrice. “Thank God.” I go to her, desperate. “The woman I was with, Sophie, do you know her room number?”
“I…yes…” Patrice gives the clerk on duty a quick look, then turns us away from him. “But you’re too late, she just checked out.”
My heart falls. “That’s impossible!”
“I’m sorry.” Patrice looks anxious. “But she was just here. She came tearing through, she seemed upset. She went out front to catch a cab.”
I look to the exit. “How long ago?” I demand.
“A couple minutes, maybe? But—”
Patrice’s answer is lost as I sprint for the front doors. I burst outside, looking wildly around. The sidewalk is busier now, cabs and traffic clogging the street.
“Sophie!” I yell, scanning the crowd. “Sophie, wait!”
But there’s no sign of her. I search in vain, but it’s too late. I’m too late.
She’s gone.
New Year’s Eve
13.
Sophie
“You’re no longer necessary…”
The words echo in my mind, as fresh and painful as if they were yesterday even though it’s been almost a week since I fled New York City in tears for the comfort and safety of Beachwood Bay.
What were you expecting? A voice taunts me. You knew what he was doing when you met him. Did you really think you were different from all those other girls he tried to call?
I gaze out at the ocean, feeling the tight burn of rejection slice in my chest as I remember walking in on Austin’s perfect girlfriend.
She was lounging in a silk robe and lingerie like she owned the place when I let myself into the suite. I stopped dead, wondering if I’d let myself into the wrong room by accident, but she didn’t even seem surprised to see me, she just quirked one eyebrow at me and gave a little sigh.
“Oh, of course,” she said. “Boys will be boys. I can’t leave that man alone for a second without him finding some distraction.”
Her green eyes drifted over me, and I became painfully aware of my red nose and bulky winter coat. She was gorgeous: the kind of face you only see in glossy magazines, dewy skin and honey-colored limbs stretching down from the scraps of silk that barely covered anything. She didn’t seem self-conscious, she didn’t even close her robe as she got to her feet and slowly sashayed across t
he room to greet me. “I’m Anika,” she said, extending one perfectly-manicured hand. “Austin’s girlfriend.”
My heart froze.
“I…” I stuttered, feeling humiliation burn hot in my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know… He didn’t say anything—”
“They never do, darling.” She smiled, and I realized to my horror that it was sympathy in her expression. “C’est la vie. I was out of town for a few days, but I see he’s been keeping busy.”
Humiliation crashed through me. I couldn’t believe I didn’t see this coming. I wanted so badly to believe that what we shared was real, that I was special somehow…
But it turns out, I was dumber than the rest. I fell for his charm and gorgeous face, and forgot everything my instincts told me the night we first met.
“It’s alright, darling,” Anika added, patting my shoulder. “It happens all the time.”
That was even worse. I felt tears stinging my in my eyes, so I quickly turned away. “I’m sorry,” I said again, and then fled the room before I could make even more of a fool out of myself.
It didn’t take me long to grab my bags from my room and check out, but as I sat in the backseat of a cab on my way to the airport, I realized I didn’t have anywhere to go. My room back in LA was sublet through the holidays. I’d been planning to go with Matt to his parent’s place through New Years.
Dumped by two men in two days, that had to be a record.
But then I remembered my friend Tegan, who volunteered with me at the crisis helpline. She invited me and Matt to her family’s big New Year’s party, said a whole bunch of people would be staying with them through the holidays. The more, the merrier.
So here I am in the small beach town: sleeping in one of the guest rooms of her brother’s gorgeous beach-front mansion, surrounded by amazing, interesting people all preparing for an incredible party tonight.
And I feel like my heart is breaking in two.
“There you are!” Tegan’s voice makes me turn. She steps out onto the back deck carrying two cups of coffee. She’s bundled in a sweater, with her dark hair pulled back in a braid. “How are you doing this morning?”
