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“Please,” she added, earning a nod of approval from Andrew.

Cole looked undecided for a brief moment, then sighed. “You should know I’ve never sledded before.”

“Never?”

He shook his head. “So, if you’re looking for a smooth ride, you’d be better off convincing Andrew to go with you.”

She shook her head. “I want to sled with you. I’ve got enough experience for both of us—I’ll steer.”

Cole visually examined the sled. “I don’t see a steering wheel.”

“Even better, there’s a steering strap,” she teased, bending to show him. “You can also use your feet to guide the sled in the direction you want it to go. Left heel down to go left. Right heel down to go right.”

“Have fun, Santa. I’ll see you at the bottom of the hill,” Andrew said, taking off on the four-wheeler.

“You’re sure about this?” Cole asked the minute Andrew was gone.

“Positive,” Sophie nodded. And she was positive that Cole needed this. Needed fun and interaction and for her to help him. “I’ll climb on, then you climb on behind me.”

Sophie got onto the sled, then looked up at Cole expectantly.

Was he going to back out?

Eyeing the sled hesitantly, he said, “Give me a quick low down on the do’s and dont’s.”

Do spend time with me and be my friend. Don’t push me away.

The thoughts were so strong in her mind that for a moment Sophie worried she’d said the words out loud.

“Um, so most important thing is that if you put your feet down to try to stop us, use your heels, not your toes. Otherwise, you’ll flip us.”

“Heels, not toes. Got it.”

“If you want to slow down, lean back and it’ll decelerate us a little. There aren’t any trees, but if for any reason, we’re about to get too close to anyone and you think we’ll hit them, bail off the sled,” she continued. “We’re much less likely to be hurt bailing than crashing into someone.”

His brow rose and he frowned down at her. “You’re making this out to sound dangerous. I thought we were supposed to have fun.”

“Scared?” she teased.

His gaze narrowed and Sophie laughed.

“Just wait and see. You’ll love it.” Sophie glanced to see who was close, then called, “Ben, will you give Cole and me a push?”

Grinning, Ben looked back and forth between them. “Sure thing.”

Though obviously reluctant, Cole got onto the sled behind Sophie, his body instantly blocking some of the cold as he settled around her.

Oh my, she thought. She hadn’t been close to him, hadn’t touched him, since he’d rescued her from the tree. Settling back against him, his legs around hers on the sled, Sophie fought sighing.

Ben and another guy got behind their sled.

“The things I let you talk me into,” Cole mumbled.

“I’d say for you to blame Andrew, not me, but I don’t mind taking credit for this because you’re going to love sledding. Hang on,” Sophie warned as they were given a hardy push over the edge of the hill. “Wheeeee!”

Sophie held onto the strap. Cole had one arm around her waist and gripped the side of the sled with his other.

Sophie would give Andrew credit for being right, though. She really had wanted to sled with Cole. Now that she was soaring down the hillside with him, she acknowledged just how good it felt to be near to him, to be held by him.