Breaking the Silence (Hard Drive Book 2) by Tricia Andersen

him to the elevator.
    Rico weaved from one interstate to the other until they were in Saint Paul. The entire time, he held her hand in his. He parked the car in front of a large, concrete building lined with windows.
    Ice skating? She signed.
    He laughed. “You wanted to be cool .”
    That is true. But I can’t do this.
    He frowned. “ Why not? ”
    “I can’t ice skate.”
    “You don’t know how?”
    I do. When I was young, I was very good at it. But I haven’t since I lost my hearing.
    “ What does ice skating and being deaf have anything to do with each other. Do you skate with your ears ?
    Of course not.
    “Then what’s the problem?”
    I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of you. I have pride.
    “ Come on, Avery. We’ll have fun. I promise I won’t let you fall.”
    She gazed at him as he grinned at her. Her eyes wandered over his chiseled physique. He certainly could keep his word. She sighed as she hopped out of the passenger seat and turned back to him. All right. Let’s go.
    “Absolutely!”Rico jumped out with her and raced around the vehicle to take her hand. He pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her waist as they strolled in.
    Rico paid their admission as Avery slipped into the restroom to change into her lightweight sweater and jeans. She watched his gaze wander over her head to toe as a smile spread across his face. He certainly seemed pleased. He took both pairs of skates the attendant offered before following her to a bench. They tugged on their skates and, carefully stepping on the thick, black mat on the floor, they made their way out to the ice.
    They skated around the rink laughing, sometimes hand in hand, sometimes trying awkwardly to race each other. Avery hadn’t been ice skating in years, not since she’d lost her hearing. She had let go of so many things after she lost her hearing. She believed she could live without them. Rico had proved to her she was so wrong.
    She gazed up at him as he smiled at her. He certainly was turning out to be her hero. Not that she needed one. She didn’t. But it was definitely nice to have one, just in case.
    They were so wrapped up in each other, neither of them noticed the little boys that flew between them until it was too late. The last one hooked his skate with Avery’s. She was off her feet in a split second. She clenched her eyes in anticipation of the cold impact on her butt. Instead, two strong arms kept her from falling. Her eyes fluttered open, and she glanced around.
    Rico caught her just as he’d promised. Her gaze locked with his sapphire blue one. She wanted to protest, to joke just how cliché this was. Here he was, cradling her in his arms after saving her from falling, his lips dangerously close to hers. They must have looked like they belonged on the front of a romance novel. But her breath caught in her throat as she clung to him, her gaze drifting to his mouth.
    She gasped as he gathered her closer and softly kissed her. Her fingers buried into his hair as he deepened it, his lips parting hers as his tongue slowly grazed across her teeth then tangled with hers. Their eyes met for a moment as the kiss broke. Avery fought against her breath coming out in ragged gasps, but it was no use. So, that’s what kissing Rico Choate is like. It was light years better than she had imagined.
    With a grin, Rico gently set her on her feet. As soon as her weight hit her left foot, she winced. His smile faded as his face filled with concern. “Are you all right?”
    Avery shook her head. I can’t put weight on my foot. I must have done something to it when I almost fell.
    Rico wrapped a protective arm around her waist as he helped her from the ice. He guided her to a bench and motioned for her to sit. Before Avery could reach for her own skate, he was kneeling before her, unlacing it.
    I can take off my own skate, Rico.
    “I am sure you can.”
    Then let me.
    “ No .” He tugged it off carefully, so as not to cause more pain,