onto the sled, then looked up at Cole expectantly.
Was he going to back out?
Eyeing the sled hesitantly, he said, “Give me a quick low down on the do’s and dont’s.”
Do spend time with me and be my friend. Don’t push me away.
The thoughts were so strong in her mind that for a moment Sophie worried she’d said the words out loud.
“Um, so most important thing is that if you put your feet down to try to stop us, use your heels, not your toes. Otherwise, you’ll flip us.”
“Heels, not toes. Got it.”
“If you want to slow down, lean back and it’ll decelerate us a little. There aren’t any trees, but if for any reason, we’re about to get too close to anyone and you think we’ll hit them, bail off the sled,” she continued. “We’re much less likely to be hurt bailing than crashing into someone.”
His brow rose and he frowned down at her. “You’re making this out to sound dangerous. I thought we were supposed to have fun.”
“Scared?” she teased.
His gaze narrowed and Sophie laughed.
“Just wait and see. You’ll love it.” Sophie glanced to see who was close, then called, “Ben, will you give Cole and me a push?”
Grinning, Ben looked back and forth between them. “Sure thing.”
Though obviously reluctant, Cole got onto the sled behind Sophie, his body instantly blocking some of the cold as he settled around her.
Oh my, she thought. She hadn’t been close to him, hadn’t touched him, since he’d rescued her from the tree. Settling back against him, his legs around hers on the sled, Sophie fought sighing.
Ben and another guy got behind their sled.
“The things I let you talk me into,” Cole mumbled.
“I’d say for you to blame Andrew, not me, but I don’t mind taking credit for this because you’re going to love sledding. Hang on,” Sophie warned as they were given a hardy push over the edge of the hill. “Wheeeee!”
Sophie held onto the strap. Cole had one arm around her waist and gripped the side of the sled with his other.
Sophie would give Andrew credit for being right, though. She really had wanted to sled with Cole. Now that she was soaring down the hillside with him, she acknowledged just how good it felt to be near to him, to be held by him.
“You’re enjoying this?”
Sophie laughed. “Aren’t you?” She let go of the steering strap and threw her arms up into the air, leaning first one way and then the other.
“Sophie, hold on,” Cole bit out.
His barked, serious-sounding command surprised her.
“I used to stand up when I got close to the bottom,” she teased. It had actually only happened once, but that counted, right?
“Don’t do that this time.”
He was right. Hadn’t Isabelle just reminded her of why she shouldn’t?
Sophie put her arms down, realized he’d tightened his hold around her. Even if she’d attempted to stand, he’d have stopped her.
He’d been concerned for her. Him. A big, tough former Marine. She’d scared him by letting go.
She smiled. He really was a protector. And she really wanted her protector to relax and have a good time.
Chapter Nine
Riding a sled down a snow-covered hill was nothing scary or shocking in the grand scheme of things Cole had done during his lifetime. It was just new.
New didn’t bother him. Sophie possibly getting hurt, however, did.
Not that she’d seemed in the slightest concerned, unlike when she’d been stuck in the tree. No, his sweet, talkative, impulsive Sophie had a bit of a daredevil spirit. She enjoyed the adrenaline rush of flying down the hill.
Cole liked that unexpected side of her personality more than he should. At the same time, that side terrified him as he didn’t want her taking unnecessary risks.
When their sled came to a stop, he got off quickly and extended his hand.
Rosy-cheeked, eyes twinkling, she smiled up at him as she placed her gloved hand into his. “What’d ya think? Wasn’t it wonderful?”
She was what was wonderful. What was beautiful inside and out.
God help him. He shouldn’t get emotionally entangled with any woman, but especially not Sophie.
Step away, Cole. Just step away and keep your distance, he ordered himself.
“I might have to go again to be sure,” was what he said out loud, though, stunning himself as much as her.
She squeezed his gloved hand with excitement. “Really? You want to sled again?”
Her excitement was palpable, making her look like a little kid begging for a favored treat. Only, Sophie was no child. She was a grown woman.
An enchanting woman who