Chapter 17

Then she turned around and he took her hands, guiding her around the ice again.

"You're going to do it."

"What? The triple?"

He nodded.

"Oh no I'm not!"

"Get ready-."

"Caden-."

"Set-."

"You're impossible."

"Go!" He spun her around and threw her into the air, sending her into a perfect spin. She twisted three times in the air and then touched down perfectly on one skate. "See? I knew you still had it!"

"I'm a lot taller now."

"Not by much." He took her hands again and guided her around the ice.

They skated most of the day away. But when the sun began to set and the bitter cold began to set in, she came to a stop and sat down on the bench. She knew she would pay for this the next day. Her muscles were already sore. But she had a wonderful time. "Well, I think it's time to call it a day."

Caden spun around to look at her, skating backward. "So soon?"

Jocelyn laughed as she started unlacing her skates. "We've been skating nearly all day!"

He skated around to look at her again. "Not long enough."

Jocelyn let out a deep breath and watched him skate. He was so fluid on the ice, she could watch him skate all day.

"Come on. One more jump?" Caden skated close and then glided away backward.

"For a man with so many muscles, you sure are great on the ice."

He turned around and skated backward to look at her. "You noticed my muscles?"

She laughed. "You can't help but notice your muscles!" She watched as he went into a sit spin, spun around superfast, and then held his arms out, bringing him to a stop.

"Wow." Jocelyn couldn't help but appreciate his fluidity on the ice. "Do you skate often?"

Caden shook his head. "No. I haven't even been on the ice since I skated with you."

"You're kidding."

"No, I'm not." He skated another figure eight and then did a small forward scissor skating motion. Then he skated toward her and came to a stop. But this time, he didn't shower her with ice crystals. Then he walked off the ice, sat down on the bench next to her, and started unlacing his skates. Then he looked over at her and smiled. "Party pooper."

She chuckled and nudged his shoulder with hers. Of course, he nudged her back. "You're a nut."

"I try."

Jocelyn finished taking off her skates and slipped on her boots. Then tied the laces of her skates and slid them over her shoulder. "Well, thanks for today. I had a wonderful time."

"Wait and I'll walk you to the door." Caden already had his skates off and was slipping on his boots.

Jocelyn chuckled nervously, her heart pounding in her ears. "It's just a few steps away. I think I'll be okay."

"Not for you, for me." He looked around, his eyes wide. "There might be insurgents hiding in the bushes."

Jocelyn looked at him for a minute, and then burst out laughing. "Yeah, and I'm going to protect you."

He shrugged. "Yeah. Why not?"

"You're crazy." She shook her head in disbelief.

"No, not crazy." He finished slipping on his boots, tied his skates, and slid them over his shoulder. Then he stood and placed a hand on the small of her back and they started walking toward the house. "I'm sane and I have papers to prove it."

Jocelyn burst out laughing. "I've missed you." Before he left for the Navy, Caden had been her best friend- whether he knew it or not.

"I missed you, too."

They passed by the back door and he walked her to the front door. The front porch light was off, and the house looked deserted.

"I think we were out there longer than we thought." Jocelyn adjusted the skates on her shoulder.

"I had fun." Caden held onto the railing and stepped on the bottom step.

Jocelyn laughed. "I think I can take it from here."

One corner of his lips curled into a smile. "Well, I made it this far. I'll go ahead and walk you the rest of the way."

She felt foolish and nervous at the same time. Butterflies fluttering away in her stomach, and she felt like she was thirteen again. "Well, thank you for a wonderful day. I haven't had this much fun in a long time."

"No, I should be the one thanking you." He turned away and bit his lower lip, as if taking a moment to choose his words. "Before I came back, I had mixed emotions about whether I wanted to or not. But now, you've helped to change my mind." He paused for an awkward moment. "Come here." He pulled her in for a hug, his big muscled arms surrounding her. She looked up and their eyes met. He started to lean in, but she pulled back.

Jocelyn took a deep breath to clear her head. What am I doing? "Thanks, Caden. You be careful going home." Before she did anything she would regret, she opened the front door and flipped on the front porch light, helping to break the spell of the moment. "I'll see you later."

He nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Yeah- later. Good night." Then he turned and skipped down the stairs. He turned and looked back at her and waved, then slid into his car and started it.

Jocelyn rushed in and shut the door. Then she let out a deep breath as she leaned back against the back of the door, trying to clear her head. But as she inhaled, she still smelled his scent.

"What are you doing, Jocelyn?" she asked herself.

She knew she should just walk away, but she couldn't. At that moment, she knew she was in love with him, but she also knew she couldn't. As she walked up the stairs, she wondered what she was going to do and if she would ever survive Caden Scott.