Christmas Secrets. Barbara Dunlop

Cole? The jig is up. I know you were using me to worm your way into Coast Eagle.”

      “Amber, I don’t need you to worm my way into Coast Eagle. I walked through the front door and got a meeting with the soon-to-be president without an appointment.”

      “Roth’s not going to be president.”

      “Good decision.”

      “You just switch your opinion on a dime, don’t you?”

      “I never thought he should be president.”

      She didn’t know what to say to that. She didn’t care what Cole thought. Still, for some reason she was glad to hear him agree with her.

      “You need to get out for a while,” Cole continued. “Take a break. Forget about everything.”

      She fought a smile at the absurdity. “What I want to forget is you.”

      His expression faltered, and she felt a stab of guilt.

      “I’m sorry to hear that, Amber.”

      She was sorry she’d said it.

      Wait, no, she wasn’t. No good could come of her attraction to him. A date? The idea was absurd. He lived in Alaska, and her life was a mess.

      The best they could hope for was a one-night stand. Which, when she thought about it…

      Hoo, boy. She reached out to grip the brick wall.

      “You okay?”

      “I’m perfectly fine.” She paused. “No, make that confused. Why do you want to go out with me? And why do you still want to help me with Zachary?”

      It took him a moment to shrug. “Why not? I like you, Amber. I like Zachary.”

      “That’s too simple an explanation.” Amber raked her hand through her hair to tame it in the freshening wind.

      “I’m not complicated.”

      “I am.”

      “It’s ice-skating, Amber. What could be simpler than ice-skating?”

      “You’re trying to get your hands on our Pacific routes.”

      “Only if you want to sell them.”

      “I don’t.”

      “Fair enough. Did you know you missed your train?”

      It was pulling smoothly away on the tracks. He really was the most infuriatingly distracting man.

      “My car is only a block away. What do you say?”

      She wanted to say yes. She suddenly, desperately wanted to leave her troubles behind for a few hours and go ice-skating with Cole.

      She gave in. “Okay.”

      He grinned, and she couldn’t shake the feeling she’d been outmaneuvered.

       Five

      As they passed by the lit trees that lined the outdoor skating rink, Cole turned backward so that he was facing Amber. She wore a short white puffy jacket, blue jeans and bright yellow knit hat.

      “Impressive,” she told him with a smile.

      He was grateful that she seemed relaxed. “Hockey.”

      Since it was barely below freezing, he’d gone with a windbreaker and a bare head. The fresh air felt good in his lungs.

      “You’re a hockey player?”

      “Snow and ice sports are big in Alaska. I also snowboard and ski cross-country.” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure the path was still clear as they rounded a corner.

      “I swim,” she said.

      “Competitively?”

      “At resorts, usually in the leisure pool, sometimes on the lazy river.”

      He brought up a mental image. “Impressive.”

      “Yeah, I float with the best of them.”

      “I was picturing you in a little yellow bikini. It was very impressive.”

      “That’s just mean.”

      “Why?”

      “Because I’ll never live up to your imagination.”

      “Sure you will.” His gaze took a reflexive tour of her trim figure. “Wait a minute. Do you intend to try?”

      She laughed, and he loved the sound.

      “Not this time of year,” she singsonged.

      “If I come back in June?”

      “Maybe.” She twirled neatly around.

      “You’re pretty good yourself.”

      “Flatterer.” But her smile was bright.

      “You’re beautiful, too.”

      “I’m not interested in a one-night stand.”

      The statement took him by surprise. “Excuse me?”

      “Just so you know. I wouldn’t want you to get to the end of the night and be disappointed.”

      “Is that what you think this is about?”

      He didn’t know whether to be insulted or just plain disappointed. He hadn’t invited her out to get her into bed. But he didn’t deny he’d give pretty much anything for an unbridled night of passion in her arms.

      “You’re not staying in Atlanta,” she said.

      “True,” he agreed, even though he kind of now wished he was.

      “And you’re putting in an awful lot of effort flirting with me.”

      “Also true.” But only because flirting with her was so much fun.

      “So the options are limited.”

      “Maybe I’m trying to romance the Pacific routes out from under you.”

      “You know that will never work.”

      It was true. Cole couldn’t imagine her falling for something so simplistic. Then again, he wasn’t remotely interested in the Pacific routes.

      He and Luca were following a carefully planned and meticulously orchestrated expansion scheme for Aviation 58. It was on track, and he had no intention of deviating from it for the next few years. He’d never make a knee-jerk decision based on random availability.

      “You’re great with Zachary, you know.” Cole didn’t want to talk business.

      “You’re great with Zachary. I’m mostly treading water.” Then she frowned. “But if you’re ever called to testify, the correct answer is that Amber is fantastic with Zachary.”

      “I’ve never seen such incredible natural mothering instincts,” he said.

      Her frown deepened. “I’m not his mother.”

      “I didn’t mean that,” Cole quickly corrected the innocent comment. “I only meant that it’s obvious that you love him.”

      She skated in pensive silence for a moment, the lighthearted music and bright lights suddenly seeming out of place.

      “I’m sorry,” he offered, moving back to her side, reminding himself that she had grown up without the love of either of her natural parents.

      “He’s so young,” she said softly. “He won’t remember either of them.”

      Cole reached out and took her hand.