The Secret Between Them. Cathryn Parry

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СКАЧАТЬ to her. “I hope so.” She stared at the glass doors that led to the twin rinks. “I don’t ever want to go inside those rinks again, Kyle, so I hope you don’t expect me to.”

      Kyle’s eyes were green and earnest, as if making her a promise. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Jessica. I’ll protect you from all of that.”

      As opposed to Sebastien, who’d made her agree to things that she didn’t want to do, just to keep their future on track.

      Jessica glanced away. Her mother had never cared about Jessica doing what she wanted, either. Hedley Jackson had been all about the long view. “Day-to-day discipline,” she’d insisted to Jessica. “Be practical in your choices.” Everything her mother had achieved in her own star-studded figure-skating career had come from dedication, denial and hard work. She’d expected the same of her only child.

      “I appreciate your saying that,” Jessica said to Kyle. She tried to laugh, but it came out as a choke.

      “I remember how hard it was for you.” Kyle’s face darkened. “But these are new days. I meant what I said back in the lawyer’s office.”

      Partners, he’d said.

      She nodded, swallowing. She should take her hand off his now. If Sebastien suddenly walked into the rink and saw them, it would look disloyal of her. But she knew what Kyle was doing. He wasn’t trying to seduce her but to reassure her.

      “Thanks,” she told him. “I appreciate you helping me.”

      There was a cough behind them.

      “Jessica,” Natalie said. How long had their lawyer been watching them?

      Kyle abruptly dropped his hand at the same time that Jessica stepped away from him.

      “I’m giving you the key to Joe’s office.” Natalie pulled it off the large key ring. “You’ll have the only copy, so it will be your private space.”

      Had Natalie noticed her discomfort? Jessica took the key, determined to get a grip. “That will be great. Thank you.”

      More composed now, Jessica turned to Kyle. More than ever, she needed to apologize to him for her past mistake, and she needed him to forgive her, too, but she’d wait until they were alone to discuss it. “When you come back from your walk-through, could you please stop by and see me, Kyle? I have something I need to speak to you about.”

      Gazing at a spot on the wall behind her, Kyle nodded once. Shortly.

      That was him being strong and silent in front of the lawyer. She got that.

      “Thank you,” Jessica said again, quietly.

      Kyle was home, healthy, doing what he was meant to do. Once she apologized for making Joe angry at him all those years ago, causing his departure, then she should be okay. At least, she hoped so.

      * * *

      KYLE COULD BARELY concentrate on the inspection tour ahead of him.

      Natalie held a clipboard and was making notes, matching keys to locks, mainly. Besides Joe and Johnny David, Kyle was probably the only person in Wallis Point who knew all the secrets this old rink kept.

      Too bad he was so fixated on Jessica. His guilt meter was through the roof. And now, not just guilt over dragging her back to face the past, but worry for her well-being, too.

      Dammit. How could he ask her to come in here every day? Jessica seemed destroyed just by setting foot in this place again.

      When he’d seen her face, staring at the faded spot where her picture had been, he’d been seized by the desire to take her under his wing and protect her at all costs. Which explained the touching-her-shoulder bit. That wasn’t his style. Never had been.

      Natalie cleared her throat, and he snapped to attention. They were in the garage bay beside the hockey rink, inspecting an aging Zamboni. He glanced at the high driver’s seat, not sure if he could hoist himself up there, given his leg situation.

      “Kyle,” Natalie said, “I was just saying that any time you want to confer about anything, my office is open to you. That goes for Bruce, as well.”

      Bruce, her husband—the Navy veteran. “Are you saying this because I’m a veteran?” Kyle asked, mildly annoyed. Did she think he was emotionally damaged?

      “My husband keeps in touch with a lot of your old classmates. I’m thinking maybe you’ll want to catch up with some old friends as you settle back into town.”

      Kyle had new friends, from his time in the service. “Thanks, but I’m okay.” He turned and inspected the electric panel that controlled the rink’s overhead lights.

      “Of course,” Natalie said. “I’m sure that you and Jessica will do just fine.”

      Kyle thought of the space on the wall in the lobby where her poster had been. Jessa Hughes. World Junior Champion. The Pride of Wallis Point. That had been the caption beneath it. “Did you ever skate here when you were a kid?” he asked Natalie.

      “Yes, I did. Many Friday night open skates, back when I was in middle school.”

      He nodded. When Natalie was in middle school that poster of Jessica’s had been front and center. Jessa Hughes’s presence had brought in crowds of people to Joe’s old rink. She’d been a celebrity back then.

      Slowly Kyle shut the squeaking cover of the electrical box. Everybody in Wallis Point would know about her youthful disappointment. That had to be hard for her. Yet no one knew anything about his leg. No one had been told in Wallis Point. There had been no news stories. It was his secret to tell, when he was ready.

      Natalie was staring at him. “I have to go now, Kyle. Will you two be okay?”

      They had to be. “Yes, ma’am.”

      “Great. I’ll check up on you next week. Remember, my office is always open.”

      * * *

      AFTER KYLE WALKED Natalie to the front door, he knocked on Joe’s door—now Jessica’s door. He’d dreaded combat less than this encounter.

      Bracing himself, he stepped aside as she joined him in the hallway. Through the front windows, they both watched Natalie walk down the ramp with her daughter.

      “She’s a great little kid,” Jessica murmured. “Natalie is lucky to have her.”

      Kyle stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets and said nothing.

      Finally, Jessica tore her attention from the scene outside and gazed up at him. She would always be pretty to him, with her liquid brown eyes and ready smile. But now she had dark circles under her eyes. Her arms were crossed, and she appeared somber.

      Automatically, his neck muscles tensed.

      “I got a letter from Joe.” She licked her lips and gazed straight at his chest, as if embarrassed to look him in the eye. “I read it when I got home from the law office that day. I’ve been thinking about it ever since.”

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