I finally decided to go for ice skating lessons with my daughter and picked a popular ice skating rink. They had a wonderful program for parents and kids to learn to skate together. I had ice skated before but by no means well enough to manage to hold myself upright not to mention my daughter who was only 5 at the time.
The teacher was incredibly patient and there were always plenty of staff to help when needed. One night as my daughter was getting some one on one instruction, I was making slow circles around the rink just working on trying to make a turn crossing my skates without falling.
All of a sudden, I bumped into someone and started to fall and felt an arm wrap around me and catch me. Embarrassed at the situation I felt his strong arms wrapped tightly around me and pulling me against his body.
Funny all I can remember feeling was how warm he was ...probably the first time I had gotten warm all night. His eyes held mine and his hands lingered a few seconds longer than needed and I finally found my voice to thank him and apologize for my clumsiness.
He just smiled at me telling me it was no problem and he hadn't minded at all but still he didn't let go. He asked if I was alone and I told him I was actually with my daughter learning to skate. He asked if I wanted some help and I told him I thought I would be ok. He held my hand and smiled telling me he better keep an eye on me...at least for the next lap.
I did amazingly well and then he smiled over at me asking me if I could skate backwards. I laughed and showed him how I could skate and turn to go backwards and after about two seconds ran out of steam and couldn't keep moving.
He stepped up to me and put his hands on my waistband as he had me hold his shoulders. He slowly guided me and instructed me in how to move my skates. I was so nervous feeling so stupid learning such a simple thing but this guy was making it pretty easy.
I remember hearing my daughters lesson end and I looked up at the stranger and smiled thanking him telling him I should get going. He held my hand a moment longer than he should have then said goodbye. I slowly skated away feeling his dark green eyes staring into my back as I left the rink.
The next lesson I saw him right at the beginning of my lesson and he skated over to my instructor and said something. The instructor just smiled and motioned me to come over. I skated over to him and he told me that the stranger wanted to help me and was offering a private lesson.
My instructor assured me he would keep an eye on my daughter and so I shyly looked over at the stranger and skated toward him.
We skated for the hour and most of it I noticed he touched me in some way. In fact, we never really weren't touching. He told me his name and I introduced myself. He asked me why I was there alone and not with my husband.
He asked if I was happily married. What could I say...So I told him the truth. He only smiled but didn't say anything more. When it was time to go he asked me if I was interested in another private lesson. I really was feeling intrigued but also I had learned a lot in the two times I had met him so I said sure.
He asked if he could call me to set up a time since he was going to be out of town for the weekend on business. I gave him my beeper from work since it had voice mail and he promised to give me a call.
The following week he finally called and he asked how late I could be out without my hubby being upset. I thought that was kind of odd but I told him I was flexible. He smiled and told me he wanted to meet me at the rink at 11:30 p.m. after the last kids hockey game that was scheduled. I agreed thinking I hope I didn't fall asleep at the rink. I remember telling my hubby I was going out with my girlfriends to a club and would be home late that night. I had dressed in my usual warm clothes for skating.... I never could get warm enough in the rink with the temperatures so cold. I had on a pair of jeans, a turtle neck and a pullover fleece sweatshirt.
When I got to the ice rink, the last period was almost over. Carrying my white ice skates in my hand, I looked and didn't see my stranger so I grabbed a hot chocolate and went to sit and watch the rest of the game. There was only 3 minutes left in the third period when I felt the warmth of someone sitting close to me.
I looked over and saw my stranger sitting next to me. He flashed me a smile as his dark green eyes looked into mine and I noticed that other people were staring up at us. I felt kind of odd and wondered why everyone was staring. The kids in the game were all grinning back up at us and I looked over and noticed my stranger smiling at them and waving back to the kids.
I asked if he taught any of them and he said no but that they had seen him skating. He was so handsome in his jeans and oversized sweatshirt. He looked completely unaffected by the cold and when I shivered he moved closer sliding an arm around me. I smiled at him and he asked if I was warmer and I nodded yes.
He asked if I watched the St. Louis Blues play hockey much and I said no not really. I go to a few games a year with friends but not very often. He asked if I like it and I told him yes although there were still some things I didn't quite understand. He asked where I usually sit at a game and I told him I have some seats behind the players and other times up in a box.
He asked what I like most and I laughed and said....the zambone lol and he chuckled and then I said no actually I was fascinated with the penalty box. I kind of wondered what guys think about in there. They always look so intense. He just smiled but didn't really answer.
The kids finished the third period and I finally got ready to go skate. He led me down to the edge of the ice and we put on our skates. He stopped me and finished lacing my skates making them tighter than I usually could lace them. He slowly caressed my calf after he finished lacing asking if they felt too tight. I smiled nodding that they were fine.
I noticed after about 15 min or so that pretty much everyone had left the rink and that we were the only ones around. He had me practice a few simple drills to work on technique.