Page 91 of Night Shift

"We're going to watch the ice skating!" Her voice lifted with surprise and delight.

"If you'd like to." Tyr's smile held a hint of mischief.

Before Beth could point out they had no skates, a young woman with bright red hair approached them. She carried a canvas bag in one hand and a larger bag that was stamped with Saks Fifth Avenue.

"Here you go, Mr. Lindström." She handed the bags to Tyr with a gamine smile, then turned to Beth with a conspiratorial wink before walking away.

Beth watched the woman disappear into the crowd, then turned to Tyr with raised eyebrows. "You planned this too?"

Beth's jaw dropped as Tyr pulled a stunning metallic leather jacket from the Saks bag. The bronze finish caught the plaza's lights, creating subtle shifts of copper and gold across its surface. The leather looked impossibly soft, with just enough structure to hold its shape without being stiff.

"I didn't think to tell you to bring a coat," Tyr said.

Beth reached out hesitantly, her fingers trailing across the buttery-soft leather. The metallic finish felt smooth beneath her touch, luxurious without being flashy. The subtle distressing along the edges gave it an effortlessly cool vibe that made her heart skip.

"It's absolutely beautiful."

"May I?" He held the jacket open for her.

Beth slipped her arms into the sleeves, sighing at how perfectly it fit. The leather molded to her shoulders like it had been custom-made, while the quilted lining provided justenough warmth without bulk. She zipped it up, loving how the metallic sheen caught the light with each movement.

"The color suits you." Tyr's eyes sparkled as he took in her appearance. "Bronze brings out the gold in your hair."

Beth spun in a slow circle, feeling more elegant than she ever had before. The jacket moved with her like a second skin, its subtle shimmer making her feel simultaneously sophisticated and edgy.

"I can't believe you did this," she breathed, still running her hands over the impossibly soft leather. "Thank you!"

Reaching into the other bag, Tyr pulled out two pairs of ice skates. One was classic black, clearly sized for his feet. The other was a pristine white pair that looked exactly her size.

He led her to a nearby bench, setting both pairs of skates between them. "I got your shoe size from Naomi."

Beth ran her fingers over the smooth white leather of her skates. Even she could tell these weren't rental quality - these were professional grade figure skates.

"This is..." She swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of the gesture.

"Try them on?" Tyr was already unlacing his own skates, his movements precise and efficient.

Beth's fingers traced the pristine white skates, her stomach doing nervous flips. "I... I've never actually been ice skating before." She glanced up at Tyr through her lashes. "Growing up in Miami doesn't give you many opportunities for winter sports."

"No problem at all." Tyr's voice held nothing but warmth and encouragement. "I was born in Norway, plus, I've had centuries to perfect my technique. I won't let you fall."

His cool fingers brushed against her ankle as he helped her into the first skate. The leather molded to her foot perfectly, supporting her arch in all the right places. Beth watched infascination as Tyr's hands moved with practiced efficiency, lacing up each skate with precise tension.

"Too tight?" He gave the laces one final adjustment.

Beth flexed her ankles experimentally. "No, they feel... really good actually."

"Stand up slowly." Tyr rose first, his own skates already perfectly secured. His strong hands gripped her waist, steadying her as she wobbled to her feet. "That's it. Just hold onto me."

Beth clutched his forearms, her knees trembling slightly as she adjusted to the strange sensation of balancing on thin metal blades. The ice stretched before her like a gleaming mirror, simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.

"Small steps first." Tyr's voice remained steady and calm. "Just shuffle forward a bit. I've got you."

Beth inched forward, her death grip on Tyr's arms gradually loosening as she found her balance. His patient guidance helped her work out the basics - how to push off, how to glide, how to stop without crashing.

"You're doing great." His praise warmed her chest as she managed a few wobbly strokes on her own. "Ready to try letting go?"

"Maybe?" Beth's voice quavered, but determination pushed through her nervousness. She loosened her grip one finger at a time until she stood independently on the ice.