“The dismount?” He cracked up again, but he went still. “What do I have to do?”

“Try to lever yourself up without making any marks outside your existing angel, then stand up at the bottom of your leg indentations and take a giant step away from the angel. The idea is to try to keep the outline pristine.”

He did what she said, getting to his feet and taking not a step but a large—and graceful—leap away.

“Yes! Good job!” She, however, was having more trouble. “Ugh, my high heels aren’t getting purchase on the ground. Mine is going to suck.”

“Hang on.” He came toward her but stopped a few feet away and peeled off his coat. He was left standing there in his suit—the same blue one from yesterday, but today he was wearing a lavender-striped tie.

“What are you doing?”

He balled up the coat—the plush, expensive-looking one she’d been admiring earlier—and said, “Catch” as he unfurled it toward her.

“Oh!” She was too late to understand that he intended for her to grab it like a life preserver. “Do it again! I’m ready this time!” They both laughed as he re-threw the coat. Once they’d each got a good grip on it, he started pulling on his end. “Ahh!” she exclaimed as he levered her up. He didn’t ease off soon enough, though, and she was unsteady on her feet in the snow—oh, her poor shoes—so she didn’t have a chance to catch her balance. She pitched forward, stumbling until she crashed into him.

“Steady now.” His arms came around her. They teetered together for a few seconds. It was as if they were dancing but doing a very bad job of it.

Once they’d righted themselves, he didn’t let go. He was no doubt making sure she fully had her feet before he retreated, but it felt like a hug. Something happened to her body in that moment. It relaxed, despite the cold. It felt so good to have arms around her, to have someone help her bear her weight.

When was the last time she had hugged anyone she wasn’t related to? Probably not since she’d been to Eldovia last summer and hugged Leo and Gabby goodbye before she got on the plane to come home.

Oh, but all of a sudden this wasn’t that kind of hug. Now that they’d got their balance, she was suddenly aware of him. The solidity of him. A little bit of bare skin visible on his throat between his scarf and the collar of his coat. She could see his pulse thrumming at that spot.

She stepped away.