no description. Was he a grizzly bear? A fox? What was I working with?
“Nice. I’ve always envied that ability.” It was the truth. Shifting seemed so much simpler and so much more fun than being a witch with wonky magic.
“It’s got its perks, but it has downsides as well.” There was something ominous to his tone that told me it was probably too personal for me to ask about.
The conversation paused, and there was an announcement that the adult skate was starting. Whatever that was. It gave me an idea though.
“Let’s go skate,” I said, making a quick decision about how to save this conversation from the death it seemed to be hurtling toward.
“What?” Seren asked, looking confused.
“You’re writing a piece on Silver Skates, so I think it’s only appropriate that you actually skate.” I grinned as I drained the last of my martini and crunched on an olive. “Come on, my treat.”
“You’re a strange woman, Neve,” Seren said as he looked up at me.
“I know.” I extended my hand to him, and he took it, standing as he finished the last of his beer. A little jolt of electricity felt like it ran from where our fingers were connected, all the way up my arm and then straight down to my lady bits, making a pit stop at my heart on the way. As soon as he was on his feet, I withdrew my hand. Whatever that buzz was, I wasn’t sure I wanted it happening again.
“Let’s go get skates,” he said with a smile that lit up his whole face. I was fairly sure that it had probably caused many a girl’s panties to spontaneously combust. It certainly felt like mine wanted to.
When he walked away, it took me a second before I went after him, like his smile had caused my brain to stutter and stall out. Great. The last thing I wanted was to catch feelings for this guy. I barely even knew him. A part of me whispered about how easily that could change though.
4
Neve
The skate rental booth was built like a cabin, the same as the other buildings. There was a little awning that guests could stand under when they rented their skates and even an old rocking chair with a blanket, though I got the impression that was more for show than use. Seren walked up and grabbed some skates, handing me a pair before grabbing a set for himself.
“You didn’t even ask my size,” I said warily as I took the skates from him. My fingers brushed his as I clasped the soft, worn leather, sending another buzz of electricity through my veins.
He leaned a little closer, his blue eyes blazing in those dark frames. “They’re spelled. Doesn’t matter what size you are, they’ll adjust to fit.”
“Oh, fancy,” I replied before we walked over to the area with the benches to sit and change our shoes. My skates were the normal scuffed white leather that most ice skate rentals were, at least for figure skates. Seren’s were black ice hockey skates though, which I could have sworn they weren’t when he picked them up.
“That changes too,” he said, catching me looking at his skates.
“Impressive.” I leaned down and pulled off my heeled boots, saying goodbye to the height advantage they gave me, which was a shame, and pulled on the rental skates. The right one had a splash of neon green paint on the right side, near the blade. Almost like someone had stepped in something green and forgotten to clean off the actual shoe when they cleaned the blade. The left shoelace was ripped, which sucked since that meant I couldn’t lace it as tightly as I normally would have. When I stood, I could tell that my left ankle would be weaker, but I didn’t think it would be too bad. A thought occurred to me, and I wondered aloud, “I suppose I should have asked if you can skate?”
“I can, don’t worry,” Seren said, smiling as he looked up at me from tying his laces, and I could swear in that moment my heart grew three sizes. I actually had to look away before I did something stupid. And if I wasn’t mistaken, he’d suddenly looked terrified. I wasn’t that scary, I mean, scary sexy maybe, but a five-foot-two brunette with gray eyes and an ass to die for was not usually someone people crossed the street to avoid.
“Catch me if you can,” I said, barely glancing over my