Christmas in the Rink Read Online Free PDF Page A

a gasket. Blamed me for all the hours Mom spent shuttling me back and forth to the ice rink and all the competitions. She stormed out without her baby. We haven’t heard from her since. “
    “After all these years she threw that in your face? That’s crazy.”
    She shrugged. “I guess it just built up. She never mentioned her feelings until the day she left. But I never really asked, either.” Guilt had plagued Chaney since that awful confrontation two years ago, and God’s consistent response through prayer and studying her Bible had been “commitment.” Commitment to Annabelle. Commitment to parenting, to the path that God had laid out for her. That if Hailey never came back to Evergreen Peak to claim her daughter and be a parent, Chaney would do her absolute best to step in and raise Annabelle for her sister. To make up for what Hailey felt she’d stolen from her.
    “It’s not your fault, Chaney. People have choices in life.”
     
    ****
     
    People have choices in life. Just like he’d chosen to skip town and join the Army after his mom died. But back on the ice with Chaney in his arms again, her silky hair tickling his cheek and her soft body nestled next to his, her feminine curves and sweet smile creating havoc with his pulse, would he have made the same choice?
    Hard to say since his dad had been the deciding factor. That, and his ultimatum the day of the funeral. Conner hadn’t had time to process his mom’s sudden death or to grieve, but suddenly, he’d been forced to choose between his home and his dream of skating in the Olympics. Skating, period.
    You can continue to live at home, Son, for as long as you like. But there will be no more skating. Your mom coddled you with that foolishness for way too long.
    Without realizing it, Conner had picked up their pace, and Chaney’s ponytail bobbed with the breeze. He gripped her waist and signaled for their signature lift. At her slight nod, he hoisted her petite frame up and over his shoulders, executing an intricate element that had always garnered immediate applause. He held that position as long as he dared, his legs gliding across the ice until they nearly buckled, his arm muscles straining in punishment at the memories that routine dredged up—bittersweet and downright painful, warring with a sense of rightness.
    He’d given it all up, surrendered this pleasure of creating poetic elegance on the ice with a partner who matched his rhythm, skate for skate, and whose aspirations of winning the gold had rivaled his own. Forced into submission by a narrow-minded, chauvinistic father who didn’t believe that men should skate.
    But had his hasty decision really accomplished anything? He worked at tempering his breathing and slowed his pace, carefully lowering Chaney back to the ice. When she steadied on her skates, his arm wrapped around her and he lowered her back halfway to the ice, and then halted their progress.
    She gazed up at him, those luscious, forest-green eyes trusting, glowing with pleasure. Her spicy fruit and floral scent drifted up to him, and suddenly, he wanted nothing more than to kiss those strawberry red lips.
    His arm tightened around her, and he tugged her up, bringing their torsos together so close that their breaths mingled and they became one form against the ice. Her eyes widened, and then her dark lashes rested against ivory cheeks.
    Was she really inviting him to kiss her? But she didn’t know…didn’t know what he did for a living now. And shouldn’t he apologize first for stealing her dreams with his impetuous choice?
    “I’m sorry, Chaney.” His voice came out husky, overflowing with broken dreams and pent-up longing. All he’d ever really wanted in life had been his faith, Chaney, and skating.
    He had reconciled with God over the lost years. Had even picked up his skates again, and this time, no one could stop him from skating. But Chaney? He was probably the last person she wanted in her life right now.
    Her lids