Breaking the Ice by Mandy Baggot

didn’t know what she was doing skating round a temporary ice rink after midnight with a man.
    ‘ Hey, I didn’t mean that the way it came out. I understand, your job means a lot to you,’ Jimmy spoke, reaching out to catch her hand as they turned a corner.
    ‘ I think I ought to see if Milo’s finished clearing up the bar. He might need some help,’ Samantha said, pulling her arm away, ensuring her hand was well out of his reach.
    ‘ Don’t go. Come on, let me teach you some stuff. I meant it this morning when I said you were a natural skater,’ Jimmy insisted, moving in front of her and blocking her path to the exit.
    ‘ I really don’t have time and I have to lock up. You can’t stay here either. We have to close by a certain time or we’re contravening our contract with the council,’ Samantha informed him in a serious voice.
    ‘ Blame it on me. I’m Canadian, what would I know about local council regulations?’ Jimmy responded.
    ‘ I know about them and I know you’re here. Milo shouldn’t have let you in, I’ll have to speak to him about that,’ Samantha continued, feeling herself getting more and more flustered as she attempted to skate around him to the safety of solid, un-slippery ground.
    ‘ I did almost have to beg. I left my hotel key card in the dressing room. But then I saw the lights were still on and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to put in some extra practice so I laced up and came out here,’ Jimmy spoke, spinning around in front of her so she was unable to get past.
    ‘ I really have to go, Cleo will be…’ Samantha started, her head thumping and her heart racing.
    ‘ Tucking into a chicken vindaloo about now,’ Jimmy answered.
    ‘ She’ll worry if I’m not there when she gets home,’ Samantha insisted.
    ‘ Half an hour’s skating and I’ll drive you home. Come on, humour me,’ Jimmy bargained, moving to block her exit again.
    ‘ No, I’ve got to go. Milo will be expecting me to be through soon to set the alarm system,’ Samantha babbled, trying desperately not to look at him.
    All she could see were the chocolate eyes and the warm smile, the chiselled cheekbones and the firm jaw. And it was then it hit her, full on, like an out of control train she hadn’t seen coming. The truth was she found him undeniably attractive. She couldn’t stop looking at him because she thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Incomparable with Thomas Clancy, at least a thousand leagues above. This famous skater, someone who Cleo fancied, someone who had bedded an array of women, someone who’d been to rehab, she found him attractive too, just like everyone else. It was the most outrageous suggestion but she couldn’t deny it. That was the cause of her headaches and the sweats and the panic. She had a crush on Jimmy Lloyd.
    The jolt of this realisation made her physically reel backwards on her skates. She wobbled and Jimmy swiftly reached out and grabbed both her arms to stop her from falling down.
    ‘ Whoa! You OK?’ Jimmy asked as he held her arms and steadied her.
    ‘ I’m fine, I have to go. I need to secure the building,’ Samantha spoke hurriedly as the lightheaded feeling returned.
    She pushed off swiftly on her skates, made it to the side of the rink and hopped off the ice. She tottered over to where she’d left her shoes and the rubbish bags, and began hastily unlacing her boots. She had to go home, she had to get out of the arena and away from him. She’d have to leave Milo to drink himself into a stupor and hope he remembered to lock up. She couldn’t stay behind a second longer, not one second.
    ‘ OK, listen, we don’t start rehearsals until ten tomorrow. If you want to learn some moves, I’ll be here from eight,’ Jimmy called to her as he watched her remove her boots.
    ‘ Oh I won’t be here that early tomorrow. I have - I have stuff to do first thing,’ Samantha responded, not daring to raise her face to look at him.
    ‘ Well, if you change