‘Johnny, no!’ she squealed as she continued to glide without him, past him, unable to turn or stop, wholly dependent upon him catching and steering her again. In the next instant, she felt one of his hands grasp her lightly around the waist, the other taking her by the hand as he came up alongside her. ‘Oh my god!’ she breathed, gripping his hand tightly. ‘That was terrifying! You said you wouldn’t let go for even a second! Promise you won’t let me go again?’

‘That is the idea.’

Her entire body stiffened. What . . .? What . . .? She wanted to turn her head, to see with her own eyes that it was true, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the ice. Not if she wanted to stay upright.

Johnny glided past her with a wink, definitely not holding on to her, as he raced to catch up with Matty.

‘Relax. Just hold on to me,’ Kit said calmly. ‘I’ve got you.’ She could feel his eyes upon her profile.

‘I . . . I need a penguin,’ she stammered, feeling her panic rise again.

‘I’ll be your penguin.’

‘. . . What are you doing here?’ she whispered, terrified that even putting any kind of body into her voice might be enough to topple her over.

‘Well, I figured I needed to get you somewhere you couldn’t run from me again . . . This was Johnny’s idea. He told me you couldn’t skate.’

She could hardly speak from the shock. There was too much going on for her body and mind – and heart – to handle. ‘Johnny’s in on this?’

‘Yes. Although it took some work. He wouldn’t give me your address. Apparently he didn’t think it would be in your best interests to see me again. Whatever that means.’

It meant she’d spent the past fortnight in her pyjamas, alternately crying and catatonic, while Johnny had been editing round the clock. Not that she was going to tell Kit that.

‘So how did you convince him, then?’

‘Ari and I had to get him hammered.’

‘God, he would have been terrified.’ She gave a tiny shocked laugh at the thought of Kit and Ari press-ganging him.

Kit’s hand squeezed hers a little as they rounded the corner. Of course he was an expert skater too. He felt a lot more stable than Johnny had done. ‘. . . Where is Ari?’

‘Back in Oz. With his family. He flew out this morning. Very hung.’

‘Oh.’ It was Christmas Eve Eve. With the twenty-two-hour flight, he’d get back only just in time, surely? ‘And Beau?’

It took all her concentration to be able to stay upright and have a conversation with him. Her mind was racing, her heart even faster.

He sighed. ‘Beau’s back in Saas-Fee . . . Turns out it wasn’t just the powder keeping him there.’

Her eyes widened as she got his meaning. ‘He’s met someone?’

‘Apparently.’