Page 43 of On Thin Ice (Calgary Mounties #1)
Chapter Forty-One
START TALKING
Lincoln
“Don’t worry. She’ll come around, dear.” Beryl pats my knee, a kind smile on her face as I try not to feel deflated after Adele’s less than warm reaction at seeing me.
It had taken quite a bit of work to coordinate this little scenario with her parents and Kylie’s help…
After they’d all given me a good solid dressing down for being an idiot.
Which I didn’t really need, because I already know what a fool I was.
I sigh, letting my head drop back against the back of the seat. “Thanks, Beryl.”
The little silver haired woman was very excited about my plan to sweep Adele off her feet and beg her to take my idiotic ass back. She was the one who suggested sliding down the seat to stay hidden until I could dramatically announce my presence, and I thought it was pretty smooth.
Adele clearly did not agree though. I hadn’t missed the tiny hitch of her breath, or the widening of her eyes when she saw me. But that was quickly shut down, and her features closed over within seconds.
I’ll never forgive myself for how my little freak out hurt her.
I’d regretted it the minute I’d walked away, but I’d honestly thought I was doing the right thing.
Or maybe I was just trying to convince myself of that instead of admitting that I love her so fucking much that I couldn’t handle being the reason she was forced to choose between me and her family.
“Any woman would be lucky to have a young man like yourself in love with her,” Gloria says, leaning across the aisle to whisper the words.
It’s a rather loud whisper, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Adele had heard it from where she is resolutely looking forward.
“I’m the one who will be lucky, Gloria. If I can get her to forgive me, that is.”
She pats my knee, the same way Beryl did, and I shake my head, grinning. I always joked with Adele about how the old ladies would love me on the tours, but I guess I was right.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I look towards Adele to see her phone in her hand.
Nervous about what I’m about to see, I pull it out of my pocket.
Adele
Why are you here?
Lincoln
Being spontaneous.
Adele glares at me over her shoulder before turning back and madly typing her response.
Adele
That’s not an answer, O’Malley.
She looks at me again, one eyebrow raised in challenge. I grin at her.
Lincoln
Do you really want to have this conversation via text?
She looks down at the screen quickly, before looking back at me with narrowed eyes.
Adele
Fine. But you’re going to have to wait until later tonight, because I’m working and can’t be distracted by asshole hockey players.
Lincoln
Consider me an asshole hockey player who’s more than willing to wait.
I’d hoped to continue the texting and charm her even further, but she drops her phone back in her handbag and returns to staring out the windshield.
Guess it won’t be my charming banter that wins her back.
The bus pulls up in front of the five-star hotel on the shore of Lake Louise, and the other passengers begin filing off. I get to work helping Simon pull the bags out from underneath, handing suitcases over and trying to make myself useful.
According to the itinerary that Beryl had shown me, we’ve got lunch now, followed by a few hours of free time to explore the area.
The lake is frozen over, and I eye the area that has been fenced off for skating.
It’s been a while since I had a chance for some good old fashioned pond skating, and I wish I’d brought my skates.
But if the group has free time, I’m hoping this will be my chance to beg Adele to forgive me and take my stupid ass back .
I make my way to the reception desk, lining up behind the other guests and wait patiently for my turn. When I get to the front of the line, I give the concierge my biggest smile and ask him for a favour.
Hours pass and I haven’t seen Adele once since she wolfed down lunch and vanished.
I’m not really sure what she is doing, other than avoiding me, but I assume she doesn’t just sit around when the tour group has free time.
Deciding to go for a walk, I start along the path leading up the mountain.
It hasn’t snowed for a few days, but there is still a thin layer of white along the side of the path, and it’s nice to just be outside and enjoy nature for a change.
I’d forgotten how much I love it out in the national park, and vow to start doing more outdoor stuff when the weather allows.
I wonder if I can convince Adele to come hiking with me.
If she takes me back, that is.
I eventually find a rock overlooking the lake and take a seat, staring out at the view.
I lose track of how long I sit there, but when the shadows start to grow longer, I know it’s time to head back.
I check my phone, hoping to see a message from Adele, but all I see is a message from Mikayla, confirming the details from yesterday’s meeting.
At least I have one less thing to worry about now.
I’m off the bench for tomorrow night’s game, so it just depends on how tonight goes as to whether I’m going to be on a high or trying to ignore the ache in my chest. I stand and stretch, before heading back down to the hotel and, hopefully, to find the woman I love.
When I still don’t find Adele before dinner, I know she’s definitely avoiding me.
I try not to let the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach get me down, determined to remain positive that I haven’t completely ruined any chance of fixing what I broke.
I take a shower in the modest hotel room, before heading down to the dining room wearing my suit.
“My goodness, you do look handsome in that suit young man.” Trudy, another member of the Australian group of old ladies, runs a hand down my arm when I join the group as they mingle in the lobby.
Yep, it’s official. Old ladies love me.
“Thanks Trudy. You look lovely.” I give her a smile, and she giggles, waving her hand at me.
“Oh you. Have you charmed that girl of yours into taking you back yet?”
I shake my head. “Sadly, not yet. I haven’t seen her since we got here. I think she’s avoiding me.”
She pats my arm again. “Give it time. She’ll come around. We women know we have to keep you men on your toes. Can’t have you taking us for granted, after all.”
I smile. “I hope you’re right. Because I don’t know how I’ll cope if she decides not to take me back.”
“Oh, you really are a goner, aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am. She’s the one.”
Her smile grows. “Well, then you’d better not let her get away.”
Adele finally appears, looking absolutely stunning in an evening gown I’ve never seen before. The long, black dress hugs her body in all the right places and shows just the right amount of cleavage to keep it work appropriate, but enough to remind me just how perfect they look when she’s naked.
It’s incredibly distracting .
“You two really do make a gorgeous couple,” Beryl says, her expression a little wistful, as she looks from Adele to me.
Adele raises an eyebrow at me, pursing her lips, but I just shrug and grin.
“Thank you, Beryl. I agree, Adele is by far the most beautiful woman in every room she enters.”
I hold my elbow out as I slide my other hand into my pocket. “Shall we?”
Adele looks down at my arm before meeting my gaze, clearly trying to work out the best course of action. Eventually, she steps forward and slides her hand into the crook of my elbow, and I move my arm closer to my body, trapping her hand before she can take it away.
“I assume you had something to do with the rather elaborate room I was assigned?” she mutters as we walk into the dining room together.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Addie.” I flash her a smile, and she shakes her head.
“I don’t know what you’re hoping to achieve with all of this, but you’ve got some explaining to do, O’Malley.”
God, what I wouldn’t do to hear her call me ‘Linc’ right now. All this O’Malley stuff is feeling far too impersonal, like the last few months never happened. But I don’t want to forget a moment of it, and I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that I’m all in when it comes to her.
“Does that mean you’re ready to stop avoiding me now?” I ask, pulling out her chair for her to sit down.
She tuts. “I’m working. I can’t just drop everything for you.”
“And I would never ask you to do that. But if I’m going to explain why I’m here, you kind of need to be around to listen.” I give her a pointed look, and she frowns .
“Fine. After dinner.”
She really isn’t going to make this easy for me. But then, I’d never expect anything else.
As someone who loves food and lots of it, dinner is usually one of my favourite times of day.
But tonight, it feels like it’s taking forever.
Being one of the luxury tours that her family runs, I shouldn’t have been surprised that it was an elaborate, five course spread.
But now I’m just willing everyone to eat faster so I can finally get Adele alone.
She has been avoiding looking at me since we sat down, keeping her arm close to avoid brushing against mine.
When the plates are finally cleared after dessert, I ball my hand into a fist to keep myself from taking Adele’s arm and dragging her upstairs. That probably won’t be the best way to win her back.
When the rest of the group leaves, she rises to her feet and looks down at me.
“Let’s go and talk upstairs. I don’t really feel like having this conversation with an audience.” She jerks her head towards the door of the restaurant, where Gloria, Trudy and Beryl linger, pretending not to watch us.
I nod, following her to the elevators. She doesn’t say a word until we’re in her suite, which I’m pretty impressed with.
While not as modern as the suite in New York, it’s just as perfect as I’d hoped, with expensive furnishings, a separate sitting room, and a huge four poster bed in the bedroom.
If things don’t go how I hope they will, at least I got to spoil her one last time.
“Alright, you have my full, undivided attention.” She sits down at the table in the sitting room and waves her hand at the empty seat across from her. “So, start talking, O’Malley. ”
Not the enthusiastic response I was hoping for, but I guess I’ll have to take what I can get.
Sliding into the seat, I take a deep breath, holding her gaze while I prepare to shoot my shot.
“I’m in love with you.”