Page 13 of Wish You Faith (Christmas Sweethearts #1)

CHAPTER SIX

“W hy did I let you talk me into this?” Rosie gripped the top of the low wall so tightly that her fingers hurt. Her other arm was locked in Evan’s. She was afraid to move. All around her were crowds of happy people, some singing along with the Christmas carols blasting from speakers above them.

The ice skating rink was packed on this Friday’s family night, especially since kids skated for free for the next two hours. Rosie had come only to support her third-grade Sunday school class, and she hadn’t planned on getting on the ice.

At all.

“Because you implicitly trust me.” Evan looked like his smile was about to split into a roaring laughter.

Here was the man who’d talked her into leaving the sideline benches and getting into a pair of rental ice skates that had scared her to death the moment he had tied the shoelaces for her.

Her heart went thump, thump, thump as she held on to the wall. Evan was trying to peel her away from it, saying soothing things like “I’ve got you” and “you won’t fall.”

Utter nonsense!

There was no friction on her blades, okay? She was fully aware that her skates were cutting small grooves into the ice and gliding on it. Like right now.

“Trust, you say? We’ve only known each other for a week.” She leaned against the wall and tried to hug it. Meanwhile, Evan was still holding her one arm, which was feeling sore now.

“When you know, you know.” He sounded serious.

“Right now, I trust the wall more.”

“Let go. I’ve got you.” His other hand tried to pry her hand from the wall.

Just then she noticed that he was wearing a watch made of wood. She hadn’t seen it before. Next thing she knew, he was holding her hand and they had inched away from her safety wall.

She tried to get back to the wall, but Evan spun her around slowly and gently.

“Look, you’re skating.” He smiled as they held each other’s hands on the ice.

Rosie tried not to look at the other skaters whizzing past them in the skating rink. Every now and then a kid from her Sunday school class called out her name.

“Miss Rosie! You can do it!”

They had more confidence than she had, for sure. Her feet, wrapped in skates, were sliding rapidly back and forth on the ice, and she was unable to get a grip?—

Whoop!

Rosie’s feet slipped forward, up and off the ice, and the rest of her body went backwards. She saw her arms reaching upward toward the ceiling some twenty feet away as she fell back.

The ice was cold under her jeans. She felt a chill all along her legs. Fortunately, her thick winter jacket protected her torso and vital organs. Her head felt cold though. She wished she had worn her hooded jacket instead so that at least there was coverage for her head.

A feeling of embarrassment swept over her entire body, and she closed her eyes. In her mind, she kept thinking she should have said no to Evan. Should have stuck to her decision to stay off the ice. Shouldn’t have listened to Evan.

Eyes still closed, she felt something warm around her neck. She reached up to touch it. It was padded. She turned her head to see where she’d landed, and it was Evan’s arm around her neck. Her head was resting on his shoulder now.

He must have put his arm out when she fell, preventing her head from hitting the ice. Wow. That was super thoughtful of him.

“You broke my fall,” Rosie whispered. “Is your arm okay?”

“Yeah. Your head is not that heavy.”

“Oh. I don’t feel lightheaded at all.”

He chuckled. “I promised to hold you.”

“When?” There they were, having this conversation while both of them were lying down on the ice by the wall. Rosie could see skates and legs whizzing past her.

“Last Sunday at church. Remember?”

No, Rosie did not remember. It might have been in Sunday school. Speaking of Sunday school…

“Miss Rosie! Miss Rosie! Are you okay?” It was McKenna’s high-pitched voice that caught Rosie’s attention.

Myra and Benjamin joined her, and they tried to get Rosie on her feet, even though she could feel Evan’s strong arms doing practically all the work of lifting her from the ice. Evan held both her arms and didn’t let go.

“Thank you, everyone.” Rosie decided to take things in stride. What else could she do?

“Anytime,” Benjamin replied like a big boy. Then he skated off with Myra and McKenna.

Rosie turned to Evan. “You can stay on the ice. I’m getting off.”

“I’ll go with you.” Evan slid his arm around Rosie’s waist. He had strong arms, and they were long enough to cover her back and the other side of her waist. “Not letting you fall again.”

They made it to the gate before the Christmas music ceased and an announcement came over the speakers. There were screens on walls surrounding the skating rink, so Rosie could see who was speaking.

“Good evening, everyone,” a woman spoke into a microphone. “Hope you’re having a fun evening tonight at Savannah on Ice!”

Cheers went up.

“Today’s free skate night for kids and teens is sponsored by Talon Gym,” the announcer said.

Everyone clapped.

Oh. If Rosie had known that Travis’s company was sponsoring tonight’s event, she wouldn’t have shown up.

“Now we have a word from the President and CEO of Talon Gym.”

Travis stepped in front of the camera. He was carrying a bouquet of flowers.

Evan glanced at Rosie as he led her to the bench where they’d left their shoes. They sat facing the wall-mounted screen. They took off their skates as Travis’s loud voice boomed through the speakers.

“On behalf of Talon Gym and all our staff and coaches and personal trainers, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!” Travis’s chiseled face filled the TV screen. He was buff, and his weight-lifting muscles bulged from his sweater emblazoned with his company logo.

The crowd wished him a merry Christmas back.

“I am happy to announce that Talon Gym has bought Savannah on Ice,” Travis said. “Until Christmas, all admissions will be twenty-five percent off.”

The crowd cheered.

Rosie didn’t. It made no difference to her whether Travis bought the ice skating rink or not. She didn’t expect to return here anytime soon. Much less now that she knew who the new owner was.

“Tonight, we’re giving away three door prizes,” the announcer spoke again. “When your name is called, please come up here to the podium.”

She read out the names of three kids. “As these three winners make their way to the stand, we have a special gift for a certain Sunday school teacher who is here tonight.” The woman looked excited. “Will Miss Rosie Hamilton who works for Christmastown please come up to the stand?”

“What?” Rosie’s eyebrows rose. “Did they just call me?”

“Is there another Rosie who works at Christmastown?” Evan pointed to the screen. In Travis’s right hand was a small red velvet box.

“Oh no. Here we go again.”

“How many times has he proposed to you?” Evan chuckled.

“None. I haven’t given him a chance.”

“If anyone were to propose to you, it’s me.”

What did he just say?

“Rosie! Rosie!” The crowd grew louder.

Rosie placed a hand over Evan’s arm. “Help me, Evan. Get me out of here.”

Evan grabbed both pairs of skates. “Let’s go!”