Page 73 of Love Me Like You Do

“Yes, sweetie. That’s why we’re here. It’s time to tell Santa what you’d like for Christmas.” A wrought iron streetlamp cast a golden glow across Hailey’s features. “This place is magic.”

“I guess you never came here?” Since waking up, they’d been so consumed with kids, they hadn’t had a chance to talk about the next before. Had it been okay for her? Were they together now? Did she think it was a one-time thing?

It wasn’t for him, and he needed her to know that.

“I came here once, but it wasn’t the kind of place Lindsay’s family went.”

“Well, you’ll get the full treatment tonight.” The car behind him tapped his horn, and Cole accelerated. He found a parking spot behind the lodge, and then the four of them held hands as they waited for the trolley.

With its arrival, it clanged and clacked on its tracks, and Evvie stomped her little boots in anticipation. “I gon ride dis?” Her smile was infectious, and he and Hailey shared a grin.

“Yep. We’re riding the trolley.”

They found four seats together, but Evvie still climbed onto his lap. She sang along to the Christmas carol playing through the speakers, and he held back his laughter because she didn’t know a single word.

“So, girls, what’re we doing first?” Hailey asked. “Ice skating, Santa, or hot cocoa?”

“Skating,” Paisley said.

“You got it.” When the rink came into sight, she reached for the bell cord, but Paisley wanted to pull it.

Ding ding. The little girl clapped her hands in delight at the sound, making Cole wonder if he’d ever felt so much happiness from life’s simple pleasures. He was sure he hadn’t. Once the trolley stopped, he lifted Evvie. “All right, here we are.” And then the four of them headed over to the skate rental booth.

As they sat on a bench to tie their laces, Hailey asked, “How’s your knee? Is it too soon to do this?”

“Timing couldn’t be better. I get on the ice tomorrow anyhow.” He’d called the training center to set up a time to get in the gym. It would take a few days because his team’s trainer had to work with them.

As soon as he’d tied Evvie in snugly, he held her chin in his hand. “Are you ready to skate?”

She nodded solemnly like she was being charged with state secrets.

“If only she understood the top scorer in the league was the one teaching her how.” Hailey grinned.

Automatically, he glanced around to make sure no one had heard her. He was here for the girls and didn’t want to draw attention to himself, but fortunately, everyone was caught up in the magic of Christmas and lost in their own little worlds. “Let’s do this.” Holding hands, they made their way to the ice, the girls wobbling on their blades. Both were anxious but giddy with excitement.

The rink was packed with kids and teenagers as cocky as he used to be, gliding in and out of the clusters of people, so the four of them stood watching for a minute until the girls were ready to give it a go.

With Evvie between his legs, his hands under her arms, they made it about a quarter of the way around the rink before she wanted to be picked up. She seemed off tonight, so he settled her on his hip and leaned against the railing. “What do you want to do?”

“Skate, pease.” She rocked her hips like she was urging a horse to giddy up.

“You got it.” He skated slowly so Evvie could take in the costumed ice dancers threading through the crowds. They were dressed as elves, and the little girl seemed to find it mesmerizing.

She had one arm around his neck, her fingers idly playing with his hair. “I hongry.”

“I’ll bet you are. You barely ate lunch or dinner. What would you like?”

“I want hot dog.”

Wild Wolff Village was privately-owned, and it operated like a country club that residents bought into. Home owners had personal concierges, and all the stores and restaurants were upscale. “I don’t think they sell hot dogs here, but I know we can get a crepe.” She gave him a blank look, and he smiled. “It’s like a pancake.”

Her eyes went wide. “I want pancakes.”

“Then, you’ll have them.” He waited for the other half of their team to reach them. “Hey, guys. Evvie and I are starving. We’re going to get pancakes.”

“Pancakes?” Paisley said.

Before he could answer, Evvie’s mittened hand cupped his chin and turned him to face her. “With shocklet chips?”