Chapter Twelve

Eden welcomed the crisp breeze stinging her face and blowing through her hair as she skated around the ice rink at Rockefeller Center. After the wedding disaster, she'd thrown on a change of clothes and escaped for a brisk walk. And ended up here.

Though her first reaction was to keep walking, she realized if anything had been gained from the past twenty-four hours, it was to stop pushing forward and take a moment to enjoy herself more. The hour on the homemade Gallagher ice rink was the most fun she'd had in years. Unfortunately, to think of that time, she had to think of Shane, and she couldn't. It hurt too much.

Eden didn't realize her thoughts brought her to a halt until someone bumped into her shoulder. Muttering an apology, she raised her gaze and froze.

“You okay, Miss?”

Eden blinked and nodded to the older gentleman who’d bumped into her, but her gaze stayed on the broad form twenty feet across the ice.

Shane.

The handsome cowboy leaned casually on the cement wall surrounding the rink—a bright red apple in one hand. She must have watched him take at least three slow, lazy bites before she found the courage to glide across the ice toward him.

Knees like jelly, Eden steadied herself on the solid cement boundary, her gaze held firm in his smiling embrace. “Wh-what are you doing here?” she asked, her breath coming out as light as the puff of mist it turned into.

“It’s Valentine’s Day, so I thought I'd take a little walk—” he held up the apple as he came around the barrier to stand in front of her “—have a little snack, and see where Cupid might lead me.”

His boyish grin infected her own lips and they tilted up, then dropped just as fast. “How's Brad?”

“He's fine. Headed to a business meeting right now.”

“Oh.” Even after what she'd done to him, she was somewhat disappointed she didn't rate at least a sliver of his attention.

The crunch of another bite pulled her focus back to Shane. And his mouth.

One eyebrow raised, he chewed slowly and swallowed. “As a matter of fact, he's the one who suggested I get my love life in order.” He waved the shiny apple between them. “Thought maybe you and I would be a better fit.”

The whole world froze to a stop. “H-he did?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

Warm fingers brushed a piece of windblown hair behind her ear and the universe spun back into motion in time to her rapid heartbeat.

“You know,” Shane continued, his hand settling on her cheek. “I think I've discovered why an apple is called the forbidden fruit.”

She struggled to pull in breath at the way his thumb caressed her over-sensitive skin. “W-why?”

“Because one bite is never enough.”

Firm lips captured hers before Eden even registered the slight pressure pulling her forward from the nape.

Cool air seeped between them as Shane drew a hairsbreadth away. “Or two.” Another sensual kiss, another sweep of erotically cool air. “Or three.”

After a longer, deliciously deep kiss, he pulled away to rest his forehead on hers. “Just for the record,” he said, a serious hue in his ardent gaze. “I never wanted you because you belonged to Brad. I wanted you despite that fact…and that knowledge was tearing me apart.”

This time his lips devoured hers with the same intensity she consumed his, and he tasted of fresh spring apples, new beginnings, and the promise of a life filled with bushelfuls of love and laughter.