Unexpected Gifts: (The Steamy Version) (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance Series Book 1) by Elena Aitken

down next to her. “Are you okay? Can you wiggle your legs?”
    She turned slowly and looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.
    “Where does it hurt?”
    Andi tipped her head, blinked once and a cross between a laugh and a snort burst from her throat.
    It took Colin a second to realize she was laughing not crying, but when he did, he shook his head. “Come on,” he said and reached out. “Get up.”
    She grabbed his hand and he hoisted her to her feet. Afraid she would fall again, he held her around the waist. “Are you okay?”
    She wiped at her face where tears had started to leak out her eyes. “I’ll be fine,” she said as her laughter died down. “There’s going to be a bruise, and of course I feel like an idiot. But hey, if you can’t laugh about it…”
    “It did look pretty funny,” Colin said. “Something out of a cartoon. But you’re lucky you didn’t break your tailbone.”
    “Nope, not broken.” She rubbed her bottom and then looked up at him with a smile. “So, are you going to teach me how to do this right?”
    “I promise,” he said and took her hands. “You’ll be skating like a pro in no time.” Colin spun her slowly in a circle with him. “Or at least you won’t fall down, anyway.”
    As soon as he was ready, Colin led her back to the pond. She was nervous at first, understandably so after her crash, but Colin took her slowly along the ice. He dodged all the children who were flying across the surface as if they’d been born on skates. Occasionally, one would fall, and Colin had to do a quick duck around them, leading Andi safely away.
    After a few laps around the pond, Andi said, “Okay, I think I can do it on my own.”
    “Are you sure?” Colin didn’t think she would fall again, but he didn’t want to let go of her hand. He liked the way it felt in his. It fit.
    She nodded, her mouth fixed in a determined line. He was learning quickly that she was pretty stubborn. If she wanted to skate, she would.
    “Okay,” he said and released her hand. “I’ll stay close. Just in case.”
    Her face still fixed in concentration, Andi pushed ahead with her right foot. Then, she slowly slid her left foot up. She did it a few more times. Shuffling awkwardly across the ice, Andi managed to move a few feet. “I’m doing it,” she cried and spun herself around so quickly, she would have lost her balance if Colin hadn’t reached out and grabbed her around the waist again.
    “Got you.”
    “Yes you do,” she whispered. Her voice was husky and incredibly sexy.
    He should have kissed her then. Her lips were only inches from him. He only had to bend down and they would meet. The flush on her cheeks—was it from desire or the exertion of skating? Would she respond? Or would he ruin their holiday together?
    “You should try again,” he said and pulled away from her, releasing her waist.
    He heard her sigh, or at least he thought he did, and she turned away from him, putting her arms out to her sides. Andi resumed her skate-shuffle and after a few steps, she started lengthening her stride and even gliding a little.
    “You’re doing great,” Colin said. He skated beside her. Close enough to help, but not too close. The urge to grab her, kiss her deep and put a real flush in her face was strong. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t risk making their arrangement awkward. He was finally having a traditional Christmas, and enjoying it. That would disappear, and so would she, if Andi didn’t reciprocate his feelings. Besides, the last thing he needed was a relationship, and Andi was definitely not a one-night stand type of girl.
    Together they skated around the pond and after a few more laps, Colin said, “How about a break?”
    “No way,” Andi said and quickened her pace. She had improved at a remarkable rate. “I’m doing awesome. This is so fun.” She smiled and turned to look at him but in the process lost her balance and wobbled on her blades. Her face returned to a