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He was trying his best to ask the question without being quite so blunt

She atteuess it is the sensible option The grown-up option I guess I need to look at other things too’ She rolled her eyes and pointed at the ice rink ‘So, Leo, what’s your back-up plan for this?’

Now he rolled his eyes too ‘I ht need to fake an injury’

She shook her head and laughed ‘Oh, no Co her hand into his ‘You just keep your feet still and I’ll pull you round’

He could tell she wanted to change the subject andelse and that was fine He’d asked the question and it was clear it was soht now, he had more ilistening ice, trying to focus on keeping his balance as she tugged hi The first time he looked up, he started to wobble and Anissa skated around behind hiht be easier I’ll help you keep your balance, and you try and move your feet’

He tried a few steps, still wobbling furiously But her hands were steady, and after a few et a little more confident

Leo alhed out loud as a kid stu onto his waist the sahten up a little He could see other people around hi too He bent his knees a bitto glide His arht to keep his balance Anissa leaned around fro loose fro’

And he was Little by little heskaters After a few circuits of the busy ice rink, Anissa released her grip on his waist and appeared back at his side, slipping her hand into his They looked like any other couple at the rink, laughing and joking on their way around

He’d never done this before Never In fact, there were a number of firsts he’d had in the last few days—all with Anissa The truth was he’d come back to sort out work issues and he should have been concentrating on convincing Joe to go through with the deal But Joe was being stubborn, just as Leo had known he would be He’d agreed to dinner, but not until toht Under any other set of circu ways to either charures Whichever strategy worked best But he hadn’t done any of that He’d been too busy entertaining Anissa

By the tied hi a little faster ‘That was fun,’ she said

He let out a wry laugh ‘Yeah, fun’ Then he stopped for a second ‘Actually, it wasbetter than I thought it would be’

She leaned on the barrier There was a distinct gleaht you’d be better, didn’t you? You thought you’d just go on out there and ace it’

She was spot on He ducked down to unfasten his skates so she wouldn’t notice the flush of colour in his face

But Anissa was just as quick She knelt down next to hi’

She was joking—of course she was—but the words made his stomach twist

For a split second their gazes connected and the words just spilled from his lips ‘If only that were true’ He couldn’t hide his bitterness

Her eyes widened and her hand reached over and gripped his jacket ‘Leo?’

He pulled away, e over She fued into her boots He could see her hesitation as she reached towards hi station Lots of people were queuing to hire skates But when her warm hand came into contact with his face he couldn’t deny the buzz

It didn’t matter that it was busy It didn’tAll he was conscious of was her touch on his face

She stepped right up to him, her body in full contact with his It was almost as if a bubble for the world outside dissipate Now he couldn’t hear the people chattering, noasn’t conscious of the flashes of colour as people pushed past All he could see was the pale blue eyes looking up at him

Her hand was still on his cheek ‘Tell ’

His first reaction would always be to brush things off To walk away To change the conversation to so else entirely

But, somehoith Anissa, he didn’t feel as if he could do that

His chest grew tight The weight of his mother and father’s deaths The strained relationship with his new siblings The pressure of the will

How could he explain any of that in a feords? He didn’t even knohere to start Leo had never had a confidante Never really disclosed any of his past to friends or colleagues

He was the original child who kept things close to his chest, and he’d carried that trait into adulthood No one could protect him or look after him as well as he could look after hi

It had affected everything Every relationship he’d formed Whether that had been work or personal He’d never dated for more than six months After that, woht should happen next That didn’t work for Leo He hadn’t wanted to play the doting husband or father