“Come on, just put one foot in front of the other,” Danny barked. Marnie gripped his shoulder hard and tried to walk forward, but started to fall instead. She reached for Danny's arm, but in her panic, she ended up grabbing his right nipple for balance.
“Owww!”
“Sorry, I don't think this is for me.” She sat down at the edge of the rink and proceeded to untie her laces.
“Quit being such a baby!” Danny hissed. “Get up and get on the ice. It's not that hard.”
Marnie ignored him and continued to untie her laces. He muttered something under his breath and skated away. Moments later a trickle of shaved ice sprayed her hands as she continued to wrestle apart her shoelaces.
“Sorry about him. He doesn't understand how to treat a lady.”
Marnie looked up. Brian stood over her, blocking the glare of the sunlight. He wore a beige skull cap, but a few curly locks peeked through and shone in the light. The brilliance of his smile matched his polished look. He stretched his hand out waiting for her to accept it.
“I'm not going out on the ice today. I can't skate,” she explained.
She had never been able to skate. When Danny informed her of the family's plan to go to an outdoor skating rink that morning, she'd begged to stay at the cabin. He threw her relapse at the club in her face, telling her he didn't trust her alone with his family's possessions. She scoffed at the thought of her stealing anything. But she did have some trust‐building to do with Danny, so she'd sucked it up and went along with the Roland clan.
“Come on, I'm not Danny. Give me a chance,” Brian said, his hand still waiting for hers. She couldn't say no to those eyes and sexy smile. She laced up and allowed him to guide her onto the ice.
“Okay, stay steady. Now move one foot forward, then lean on that foot and push the other foot forward.”
Brian steadied her with both his hands firmly, but loose on her hips. Marnie knew he wouldn't let her fall. They slowly made their way, taking baby steps along the rink. Soon they were skating side by side, but Marnie still kept a vise‐like grip on his right arm. She didn't trust the ice, but Brian felt safe.
“Quick learner.”
“Thanks to a great teacher.”
“Was this your first time on the ice?” he asked.
“No, my father tried to teach me when I was little.”
“What happened?”
“He died from a heart attack when I was eight. I haven't been on the ice since then.”
“Oh, I'm sorry. Did it happen on the ice?”
“No, but since he died, I haven't had anyone to teach me.” Marnie choked back tears thinking of her father.
He'd loved going skating and rock‐wall climbing at the gym with her. She'd loved spending time with him. His death always mystified for her. Every time she thought about it, it felt like she was hearing it for the first time again. She still couldn't believe he was gone.
As if he sensed her melancholy, Brian helped her off the ice. The two went to the nearby lodge and cozied up to fireplace over two cups of hot chocolate.
“My dad's death was a shock too. He died ten minutes after we talked on the phone.”
“That's awful.” Marnie patted his hand in sympathy.
“It was a car crash. Idiot drunk driver had a blood alcohol level three times over the legal limit. The bright spot was, he was tried and convicted with forty years to life. By the time he gets paroled I will probably be dead, which is great for him, because if I ever saw him again, I would have to put him under.”
“You were close to your dad?”
“No, Danny was actually. I was the dreaded eldest child always trying to get in on the action. He took his death hard, didn't get out of bed for three weeks.”
“Wow.”
Poor Danny. Marnie was gaining more respect for him by the minute. He wasn't just a flash in the pan; his struggle for sobriety was the real deal. Maybe she could learn something from him after all.
“How's he doing by the way? He doesn't talk to me much, being the older brother and all.”
“I've only known him for eight months, but he's really passionate about what he does. He seems satisfied.”
“Really? That's important.” Brian leaned back in the chair. His face slackened as if a huge chip had fallen off his shoulders.
Did he get me alone to check up on Danny? A chill crept up her spine, making her shudder. Suddenly she felt three inches tall. She wished she had someone in her corner who cared about her as much as Brian did about Danny. No one cared whether she was alive or not. If given the choice, her guardian angel Danny, probably wouldn't worry about her either. This was twice as much for him as it was for her. Without the mutual benefit, he probably wouldn't bat an eye if she suddenly weren't around.
Back at the cabin, Danny asked to speak to Marnie alone. They stood for the first few minutes overlooking the view of mountains as the sun set on the balcony of his room. Orange, blue and purple hues covered the horizon. A cocoon of companionable silence surrounded them.
“So, how are you doing?” Danny said.
After Marnie's relapse at the club, Danny had taken it upon himself to pull her aside for check‐ins. If she wasn't going to be a big girl and ask for help when she was drowning, Danny would have to do his part in dragging her like a child and forcing her to talk to him. Even if she never told him how she truly felt, it was an accomplishment just to put it on her mind. She was an addict and it was okay to ask for help. This was a chance for them to refocus and re‐strategize on staying sober. Whatever adjustments in routine were needed, this was the time to do so.
“I have to admit I'm having a blast. Everyone's really nice.”
“Especially Brian,” Danny said turning around and leaning back on the balcony.
“Yeah.” Marnie glanced at him and returned her gaze to the sunset.
“You like my brother?”
A smile slowly spread across her face. She looked at him sideways, as if she was too embarrassed to answer. The glow in her eyes made his body stir. She had never looked like this before.
“It's cool. Everybody does. But for some reason I was the one with all the talent.” He did a tango step and a twirl before leaning back against the balcony.
Marnie chuckled. “It's weird seeing you smile.”
“Really? I guess I only wear it with my birthday suit,” he joked in return. “I suppose I should smile more, but when I'm working I'm serious, you know?”
“It's like looking at Jekyll and Hyde. You seem so relaxed here. And happy.”
“Mmhmm. Yeah, I am happy.”
He had been feeling lighthearted, but all of the credit couldn't go to his family. Telling Beth about his work with Marnie had earned some brownie points, but lately he'd felt stress‐free all the time. Part of him wondered if that was because of Marnie. Even though the job had been offered to make her feel easier about his sober living idea, having an extra set of hands to manage his road to comeback was making life much easier for him as well.
Silence filled the room as the sunset claimed their senses. As its rays slipped lower, her face glowed in the sunlight. Her eyes sparkled. His fingers itched to be near her. His mind drifted back to the bathroom. This wasn't the first time he'd itched to feel her. He thought about her creamy brown skin and pert nipples that had waited to disappear behind a towel. He'd wanted his lips around her. He stole a glance. What sound would she make as he sucked and nipped her nipples? Some girls moaned, some screeched, and some girls giggled. He looked again at the round face with her hard‐cut chin and sparkling eyes. Definitely not a giggler, but he wouldn't mind finding out if she would moan between his lips.
The space of only a few inches felt too great a chasm.
Danny stared at her for a beat, then leaned forward and placed a hot, wet kiss on her lips. He wasn't prepared for the jolt in his gut. As if in response, his heat rose in record pace. Her lips were salty and her tongue held a sweetness he didn't understand, but wanted to explore.
His arms wrapped around her body, the right cradling her torso, while the left held her head. His knees jerked, bending. Soon they were bound to fall to the floor. He pushed her against the wall, shifting his weight into her. Their lips sought each other fast and furiously. She wrapped a leg around his waist and her arms settled loosely on his shoulders. Her head tilted away, and he chased her with his lips. She placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back softly, but he jumped back as if she electrocuted him.
He turned back to the balcony, wiping a hand across his lips. They still ached to feel her tongue flick across them again. For a second, they didn't say a word.
“Wow that was like sex. Cigarette?” Danny pulled out two from his shirt pocket and held one toward her.
Marnie took it without saying a word. Danny lit their cigarettes and the two of them resumed looking at the fading sunlight and the colors painted in the sky.
He turned his back to the sky and studied her. The sparkle in her eyes had vanished. The cigarette dangling from her lips danced a nervous jig, but the most disconcerting thing was her breath, coming out harsh and fast as if there wasn't enough air in the room.
She was obviously scared. Damn. Although he wanted to be, he really shouldn't have been surprised. Thinking back to the bathroom, she'd jerked away when he'd placed his hands on her stomach after wrapping the towel around her. In fact, she always jerked away from his touch. Now that he thought about it, she never smiled for him. It's not like she never smiled. Kevon, Robert, and obviously Brian, received one. Instead of a smile, she most often scowled at him. The more he thought about it, it became clear she didn't like him.
It was a hard pill to swallow. He was used to women smiling at him, flirting—and she did neither. However, there was that time when she'd kissed him at her place. But maybe she was only trying to thank him for his help. Of course. She couldn't possibly be standing here, trembling, just because she didn't like him. She was upset. He'd broken their agreement, crossed the of line trust.
They weren't supposed to sleep together. Damn. At least one of them had kept their head. He was relieved she'd pushed him away. If they had continued any longer, he would've scooped her up in his arms and tested out his nipple theory on the queen‐sized bed a few feet away.
“I'm sorry,” Danny said. “That was wrong. It was a mistake.”
Tears sprang from her eyes, and she held her hand up as if she could shield herself from his words. He thought that would make her feel better, but her reaction had him thinking he'd only made things worse. She flicked her cigarette into the snow below and ran out of the room crying.
“Damn!” Danny smashed his fist into the balcony ledge.
“You know, bro, a woman like that isn't supposed to leave your room crying.”
He glanced at the smug figure of his brother standing in the doorway. “Shut up. You don't know what you're talking about.”
He pushed past Brian and went back into his room.
“Why are you sleeping with your assistant anyway?”
“I'm not,” Danny sighed.
At least he wasn't supposed to.
“Really? I've been sending signals all weekend, and she hasn't bit the bait.”
“She's just shy,” Danny lay across his bed.
“So….”
“She's a free agent!” he yelled.
“If you're passing on the opportunity, then I know how to make a woman smile.”
His big brother slinked out of the room in good spirits.