Page 39 of You Make It Feel like Christmas

M AISIE WATCHED N ICK’S REACTION as he stepped out of the elevator car onto the glass deck at the top of the Space Needle.

She couldn’t count the number of times she’d been here and still, it left her breathless.

Watching someone else see it for the first time was thrilling.

Also thrilling? Him holding her hand the entire ride up, keeping her next to him like he didn’t want to be too far away.

She knew she was playing a dangerous game, imagining ways this could play out in her favor.

There was so much they had to sort through and sort out if they had a chance.

She wanted that chance more than she could remember ever wanting anything.

Nick whispered under his breath. She didn’t catch the words, but she caught the tone, and it said everything she felt when she looked out at Seattle. The sun was shining, giving the city she loved an extra glow.

“This is unbelievable.” He kept her hand in his as they moved to the outer edge.

There was so much to take in: the water with the sun glittering off it, the mountains glistening with fresh snowcaps, the city itself, laid out like a concrete maze. Sometimes, when she was feeling lonely or uninspired, Maisie came up here and just listened to others, while taking in the view.

“This is extremely underrated,” Nick finally said. He pulled her in front of him, fit her back to his front like she was made to be in that spot. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close.

“It’s not the Louvre or Empire State Building but it’s pretty remarkable,” Maisie said, leaning into him. “What’s your favorite place you’ve ever visited?”

His chin rested on her head and it felt like such a couple moment, she wanted to do a little dance but she settled for doing it only in her head.

“I love Colorado. It’s beautiful. There’s a little island off of Spain I spent a couple weeks on. That was amazing. How about you?”

“I was pretty partial to New York. I lived there for a year, did the fashion circuit. The city is incredible and just never stops. But I’m happy here. Not that I wouldn’t jump at spending a few weeks on a beach somewhere warm, but Seattle has been good to me.”

Nick hummed low in his throat, the tip of his nose traced the outer shell of her ear. “On this beach, are you wearing a very barely there bikini?”

Maisie snort laughed before she could stop herself. “Highly unlikely.”

“Way to stomp on my fantasy,” he said, his chin dipping so he could kiss just under her ear.

Tilting her head to give him more room, she ran one hand along his jacketed forearm. “Okay, we’ll combine fantasies then. I’m in a bikini but I look like Margot Robbie.”

Nick’s arms tightened. “You’d look gorgeous in a bikini just as you are.”

“I’m a little—”

She didn’t get to finish because he spun her in his arms, his hands going behind her to lock her against his body.

“Gorgeous, Maisie. And it’s a lot. You’re a lot gorgeous. In a bikini, a garbage bag, and my personal favorite,” he said quietly, dipping his mouth to her ear, “nothing at all.”

She’d have to remember the trick to staying warm in the winter months was standing anywhere near Nick King. Because she was definitely overheated and wishing they were somewhere else alone.

He grinned down at her like he knew exactly what she was thinking.

She felt someone approach them before she turned her head to see two guys standing closer than considerate. Probably her age, shorter than Nick, both wearing Seattle Kraken jerseys and staring at Nick.

The one guy, who also wore a Kraken knit cap, hit his buddy with the back of his hand. “Told you.”

The other guy, bigger than the first, a thin mustache making his upper lip look too big, sneered. There was no other word for it.

“You playing this week?” the guy asked, like he had the right to interrupt Nick and question him.

Nick pulled Maisie against his side. “Just here with my girl, man.”

The guy folded his arms over his chest. “Not an answer, is it?”

Maisie’s forehead furrowed. Why was the guy being a jerk for no reason? Nick’s body remained relaxed and easy but his tone was harder than she’d heard it.

Still, the guy pushed. “Is it true they’re dumping your contract?”

Nick looked down at Maisie, gave her a tight smile. “Let’s grab a drink.”

He turned them away from the guys and put his arm around her shoulder, keeping her close.

“That’s right, King. Walk away. You’re better at that than skating anyway.”

Anger zipped through Maisie like a flash in a dark room. She started to turn but Nick chuckled, kept his arm steady around her and told her to ignore it.

“Jackasses,” she said, trying to look back, but he was holding her so close she couldn’t crane her neck.

“Babe, they’re Kraken fans. We have a game here in a few days. That stuff happens all the time. They’re just being loyal to their team.”

“Loyal jerks,” Maisie muttered.

They stopped on the other side of the observation deck, in between a family and a couple, all gazing at the view. Well, most of them were. The little boy with the family was sitting on the ground, pushing a little car.

Nick looked at her, a smile hovering on his lips, his gaze amused. “It’s just part of it. Some people love you, some hate you. They don’t have to know you to do either.”

His phone buzzed in his pocket, against her side. It went off constantly. It would drive her nuts but he seemed good with ignoring it most of the time.

This time, he pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. “I need to take this. Wanna grab us a couple of hot chocolates?” He reached for his wallet with his other hand.

Maisie went up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek but he still had to stoop a little so she could reach. “I got it. Take your phone call.”

She purposely didn’t walk back the way they’d left so she didn’t have to run into those guys again.

She’d never been to a hockey game. She wasn’t sure she’d ever watched a whole game on TV.

Shit. He’d called her his girl and his girlfriend, bought her enough pastries to start a bakery, and looked like a chiseled model without his shirt. She really needed a hockey tutorial.

Pulling her own phone out while she waited in line at the café, Maisie googled Hockey for Dummies and pressed videos .

She saved a couple for later. “What can I get for you?” someone called ahead of her.

Maisie tucked her phone in her pocket and looked up into the smiling face of a cashier.

She wore a Space Needle shirt and a wide smile on her youthful face.

With her tanned skin and ultra-long, dark lashes, she was stunning.

Her hair was pulled into a tight braid along the top of her hair and Maisie found herself randomly wondering if she’d done it on her own.

Maisie couldn’t handle more than a side braid independently.

The young woman eyed her with amusement, her perfectly sculpted brows, a gold ring shining at the edge of one, arching.

Right. She was too easily distracted. “I’ll have two large hot chocolates, please.”

Thanking the woman and complimenting her eyelashes, Maisie hadn’t shaken off all of her irritation about the way those men treated Nick.

He was clearly used to both positive and negative fan interactions.

It was interesting that meeting those fans didn’t trigger his anxiety.

When she found Nick, he was seated on one of the glass benches, thumbs moving on his phone screen.

She sat next to him and he smiled, but it was strained.

“Hey,” he greeted, taking a hot chocolate from her and taking a sip. “Mmm. That’s delicious.”

Maisie leaned in, pressed her lips against his, giving him a slow, sweet kiss. When she pulled back, she licked her lips. “Yup. Yummy.”

This time, his smile reached his eyes and they crinkled with laughter. “Yummy?”

She nodded. “Absolutely. Your call go okay?”

“It was my publicist. She set up a last-minute interview for tomorrow since I’m in town anyway. I have to be at a radio station at noon. The good news is a buddy of mine who used to play for the Seahawks is in town visiting his family for Christmas, so I’ll see him.”

“Okay.” He didn’t say anything else and she didn’t really know how to push because talking about his job, as much as he clearly loved it, seemed to put him on edge at times. “We can bail on Side Tap tonight.”

Nick took another drink of his hot chocolate and set it on the bench between them. “No way. I want to meet your friends. If you want to go, we’ll go.”

Holding his gaze, she wished she could see into his brain and know exactly what he was thinking so she could stop guessing. “Are you worried about playing?”

Nick sighed. “Yeah. I am. My panic attacks started before I got hurt but I feel like they’ve amped up in the time since. On top of worrying about my knee and the game, I’m worried that the invisible switch will flip no matter how hard I try and prepare for it.”

Maisie took his hand, careful of the hot drinks between them. “That’s hard.”

He nodded, looking straight ahead. “I need to get back on the ice. Being away from the team and not playing builds everything up in my head and makes the fear worse.”

Her heart actually ached in her chest, like someone was pressing on a bruise.

“Are you seeing someone?”

He turned his head so they were eye to eye.

Even with people around, the way he looked at her made her feel like there was no one else in the room.

“I am. I’m using strategies and working on shit, but it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t know what’ll happen when I show up to dress for the game.

Or even practice. I haven’t seen my team in a couple of weeks. ”

“Have they reached out?”