It’s these special times that make my heart race, like when he flies out of his seat, yelling for his team with his arms raised. That’s when I feast my eyes on that slice of skin that peeks out beneath his sweater, and I lick my lips in anticipation of later tonight, when I can nibble on his delicious abs. And it’s when, even during the thrill of the moment, he bends down and plants a wet, warm kiss on my lips. I notice all the women around eyeing him and that’s when it happens.

My heart swells so much it almost hurts. Pride nearly gushes out of me because that’s what I’m feeling. I am so proud Drew loves me. Out of all the women he could’ve chosen, he picked me—the one who never thought she’d fall in love. And I’m so proud of the fact he’s such a good-hearted man. He can’t say a bad word about anyone because of the kind and compassionate nature of his soul. I’m so proud he’s so giving of himself and even in the midst of my crazy family, he says kind things about them. But most important of all, I’m proud and honored to call Drew McKnight mine.

He turns at that very second, catches my look, tilts his head, and asks, “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh, it’s something. The look on your face tells me so.”

Pulling him toward me, I confess, “I’m proud and honored to call you mine.”

WHAT FEELS LIKE A LIFETIME of memories flashes before me as Andy stands there with his hand held out to me. The remembrance of budding love, the sorrow of cancer—a faceless foe, even the crook of a smile for HockeyHo’s antics, and back to that painful day of my leaving. As the moments pass, I blink back tears and say nothing about the hefty guilt that hovers in the background.

As Andy waits for me, I feel a tear slip through my barrier. It spills down my cheek as I raise my hand to take his. I want this man more than I’ve been prepared to admit. I let the pain of the past wash away with the tear as it drops from my face and crystalizes on the ice that is beneath my feet.

He takes his thumb and gently wipes away the residue of long ago hurt. Then, I’m pulled forward feeling unsteady and worried about the future. His hand feels solid in mine and I know I have to trust him with my heart. If only I can trust myself. My momentum pushes him backward to smoothly glide over the ice. I’m carried along, wobbly at first, until he’s there to steady me.

His earnest eyes haven’t left me once and I’m in awe of the emotions I see churning in them. The blue is as clear as the daytime sky and shines through the night that surrounds us. I’m romanced by how he is bringing me out of my own darkness through his guiding light.

“I remember the first time I saw you.”

His voice breaks into my tumbling thoughts.

“You had no idea I saw you. I remember thinking that’s a woman I can see spending the rest of my life with.”

I smile up at him. “How could you know that?”

He hooks his hands in my coat pockets and draws me closer. “Mom told me when I met the one, I would know. And Dad backed her up. Corny, but they’ve been married for over fifty years. It’s hard not to trust their advice.”

He doesn’t back down from my challenging stare and I become undone by his sincerity. I bury my face in his chest as he takes the lead in our lover’s embrace. We skate facing each other across the expanse of the ice, and he makes me feel safe in his capable hands.

His words are soft when he speaks again. “I know we can make this work, Cate, if you let me.”

How on Earth can something so right be so difficult? I pull back as he slows us to a stop. “Honestly, I’m surprised you did this.” I glance around and wonder what woman has had a man rent out a rink for a private skate. It has to be one of the most romantic things ever. “I was so sure you’d given up on me.”

His tentative smile sobers to a pensive line. “There were times I wanted to,” he confesses before a lingering pause. When he speaks again, his voice lightens some from his somber tone. “I had to remember there are some things in life are worth fighting for. And you, Cate, are one of those. I want you; you have to know that by now. But I can’t promise I’ll chase you forever. I do have some pride left.”

His admission is almost honest to a fault, which is why I know I can trust it.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you won’t run. Say you’re in this as much as I am. Say you want me the same way as I want you.”

The determined expression on his face causes a V to form between his brows. He’s in this for keeps. And it’s time for me to make that leap of faith. “When I took your hand and came out here, I’d decided I wouldn’t run anymore. I want this. I want you.”

He raises my hand and twirls me. I’m not an expert skater but in his arms I feel like I can do anything. I spin but lose my footing and we fall in spectacular fashion.

The sky above Washington, DC is too bright with manmade lighting to have a clear view of the stars. As we lie there, I imagine what they look like.

“Are you going to get up?”

I laugh. “I thought maybe we should stay down and make snow angels. It might be safer.”

His chuckle comes from somewhere deep in his chest. Before I can think more about it, he’s there cupping my face and pressing soft warm lips to mine. I’m reminded again how good it can be between us. Then he stands up before me, and offers a hand up. “Come on, snow princess. There will be time for snow angels later. We should go skiing… soon.”

Reluctantly, I’m up on my feet again. As we begin to skate side by side, I notice the dull heartache in my chest hasn’t completely left. Yet for once, I feel as though I can breathe through it.

The magic of the night imprints on my brain as much as my heart. Lights that circle the rink along with the holiday decorations twinkle and add a sort of enchanted quality to our nighttime skate under the hidden stars. Even without a full-skirted dress and glass slippers, this man makes me feel like I stepped into a fairytale.

The night only ends because the guy comes to tells us he has to close up for the night. I find myself smiling uncontrollably when we change back into our shoes.

“Someone’s in a good mood.”

“Only because I’m one lucky girl.”

I’m still floating on the drive home. He turns off the engine after he finds a park on the other side of the street.

“Let me walk you up.”

I have no intention of letting this man leave tonight, but I only nod. We get out and I do my best to dodge the dirty gray snow that has yet to melt from the last storm. He takes my hand in his and we enter my apartment building as a unit, an unbreakable couple. Or so I hope. When we get to my door, I turn to ask him in. Before I can speak, he twines our fingers together.

“I had a great night.”

My jaw drops because he sounds like he’s actually going to leave. Then a sinful smirk appears on his mouth right before he dips his head and covers my lips with his. At first the gentle pressure is sweet. After one taste of him, everything changes. I reach up and tangle my fingers in his hair, trying to bring him closer. His hands land on my waist under my coat as I explore every inch of his mouth.

When his grip tightens, I feel cool air on skin as my shirt lifts. He takes advantage, and I feel his fingertips glide across my bare skin, under my shirt and around to the small of my back.

I’m breathing so hard when I pull back and say, “Please stay tonight.”

He stares at me a second before he captures my mouth in a hot tangle of emotions. Then he strips the keys from my other hand that dangle at my side. Quickly, the door opens at my back. His hand steadies me as we step inside with tandem precision without a breath between us.

As the door closes behind us, I let my purse fall. He takes a step back to heatedly glance over me. I decide to give him more of a view, so I let my coat fall to pool at my feet. I kick it aside as he takes his own coat off with more care. He blindly places it on the high kitchen counter behind him that separates the kitchen from the tiny living room.