Whispered Promises

Chapter 22

The telephone ringing interrupted her delightful dream and with a frustrated groan, she fumbled around for the receiver before she finally managed to pull it to her ear. "Hello?" Dani murmured sleepily into the telephone handset.

"Mornin' Darlin'. Whatcha you wearin'?" Matt's deep voice teased huskily, his smile widening as she mumbled a less-than-ladylike comment to his early morning question. "Still cranky in the morning, are you?"

"Depends on the time of the morning," Dani qualified, rubbing her blurry eyes and cringing as she noted the slightly out-of-focus numbers on her clock. Six-thirty. "I just happen to like certain hours of the morning better than others."

Matt could just imagine her all warm and snuggly soft, her hair tussled sexily around her, her eyes dazed and dark, her skin soft as satin and blushing beautifully. He would have given anything to been able to awaken her personally instead of having to use his cellular phone, but here he was, already on the ice, in full hockey gear, ready to begin his practice. "I thought about letting you sleep, considering how late you all were up last night, but I decided I couldn't start my morning without hearing your voice. I don't know what it is about you, Danielle Rocmanov, but simply hearing your voice makes my corner of the world a little brighter," Matt murmured quietly.

Dani smiled in pleasure at his gentle declaration and felt her heart skip a beat. "You sure are a sweet talker, Mr. Tanner."

"I'm afraid you're prejudice, Darlin'. The boys here disagree with you heartily. In fact, there have been rumors of a mutiny this morning," Matt countered, side stepping a puck that was suddenly heading his way and sending the offender a dark look.

"You have to play nice with your friends, or you won't have any," Dani stated with a light laugh.

Matt's deep laughter echoed over the phone line as he suddenly found himself dodging pucks that were being zinged his way. Before she knew what was happening, one of the other players had taken the phone away from Matt and stated in a dramatically menacingly voice, "We have your boyfriend and we're holding him hostage. He won't be released until you give us the re-match you've been promising us for weeks."

"Re-match? I beat you fair and square. Besides, do you really want to get beaten by a girl again?" Dani teased.

"That won't happen. We've been practicing!" the voice on the other end bragged.

"Well, as interesting and entertaining as that sounds, and as much as I'd love to kick your butts - yet again - I'm afraid I can't accommodate you just yet?"

"Ah, come on Dani. Don't tell me you're still off the ice?" the voice suddenly switched from being menacing to cajoling.

Dani smiled. She'd been fairly certain of who she'd been speaking to, but not completely. Now, without a doubt, she knew who it was. "No, Bob, I'm not off the ice anymore. In fact, I'm back in training," she stated, almost shyly.

"Yes!" Bob yelled into the cool air, his voice echoing off the open beamed ceiling, as he pumped his fist in excitement. "Really? You're back? We're all going to the Olympics together?"

"That's the way it looks. But I'm way behind in my training, so I don't have time to be playing with all of you, just now. But I'd like a rain check if you guys are passing them out," Dani suggested hopefully. Who ever would have thought she'd be pleading for a rain check to play hockey with a bunch of hockey slugs?

"Anytime. But in the meantime, come skate on our ice. We'll be happy to share a little corner of our world with you," Bob offered, excitement bubbling in his veins, for reasons he couldn't explain and didn't care to think about too closely.

"I don't know. You guys take up a lot of room and you're awfully loud," Dani teased.

"We'll share the ice, Dani, and we'll even try to keep the decibel level down," Bob pleaded.

"You really want me on your ice?" Dani asked in amazement. What was happening to the world if hockey skaters and figure skaters were suddenly getting along? Surely it was a sign Armageddon was approaching.

"Dani, when you take the ice, it's yours. You own it. Just like you'll own it when it's wearing Olympic rings. Come and skate on our ice. Who knows, maybe you'll inspire us," Bob encouraged her.

Dani's eyebrows lifted in speculation. With the exception of last night, she'd been off the ice for weeks. Was she ready to step back in front of an audience, even if it was a bunch of hockey slugs who seemed to be unreasonably happy about her return to the ice? You have to begin somewhere, she thought to herself and with a small nod of her head made her decision. "Give me forty minutes, and my end of the ice had better be smooth!" she declared firmly.

"Yes ma'am," Bob agreed happily, giving her a jaunty salute even though she couldn't see him.

"And Bob?" Dani asked sweetly.

"Yeah?"

"You do know that if there's a single little mark on Matt I'm going to have to personally deal with the person who left it," she growled menacingly, her eyes glowing with an excitement she hadn't felt in ages.

"Yes ma'am," he agreed solemnly, looking down the length of the ice at Matt who was still laughing and trying to shake the ice chips out of his jersey that one of his teammates had shoved down his back, all the while trying to gather his team for practice. "I'll see to it personally!"

 Chapter 23

Christmas Eve day, Dani and Chloe sat in the window of Dani's bedroom and gazed into the garden below. In amazed and astonished awe, they watched as Jordan's dormant garden came slowly back to life in the guise of a winter wonderland. Assorted pine trees, bedecked in twinkling white lights, shining red ornaments and sparkling crystals, lined the brick walkway that wound through the garden and lead to the gazebo. The same gazebo, Chloe remembered with a rosy blush, she and Sergei and made love one midnight not so long ago. It somehow seemed appropriate that there they would exchange their wedding vows, in a place that held magical memories for the two, and promised more of the same.

"My God, it's a fairyland," Chloe whispered in awe, watching as silk bunting was draped within the gazebo, the sheer material fluttering in the cool breeze.

"Mama really outdid herself this time. I can honestly say I didn't believe her when she said she'd pull this wedding together in seventeen days. But here we are," Dani stated, a gentle wave of her hand pointing to the workmen below, moving like harried ants, as Jordan's directions were carried out. Her smile widened even more as she watched Matt join the melee, carrying a ladder, and then head off in the direction her mother pointed him.

Chloe nodded in agreement. "I have to hand it to her. When your mother says something's going to happen by such and such a time; it's going to happen!"

"Or someone's going to die because it didn't!" Dani quipped, laughing as she watched her mother scurry into the garden and confront a workman that had to be twice her size, but stood nodding, docile as a sheep, as he listened to her orders and then hurried to see them done. "Mama's amazing."

Chloe sent Dani a sly look. "It's also awfully nice how Matt's jumped into the middle of all this craziness!"

Dani shook her head in wonder as she watched Matt set the ladder next to the gazebo and then nonchalantly climb the rungs and pull himself up onto the roof of the gazebo. Reaching over the edge, he grabbed for the box of white lights another worker handed him. Nodding in understanding at his instructions, he got busy hanging the lights on the roof of the gazebo. "Matt thrives in situations filled with craziness," Dani answered knowingly. "Why do you think he likes hockey so much? You have to be crazy to play the game!" she laughed.

"You play it," Chloe reminded her needlessly.

Dani's slim shoulders lifted in an amused shrug and smiled a satisfied smile. "Only occasionally."

Chloe's eyebrows lifted questioningly.

"What can I say? We're two peas in a pod!"

Chloe's eyebrows lifted in feigned shock, but her blue eyes danced teasingly. "I can't believe it! You're admitting you have something in common with a hockey slug? Why Danielle Janae Rocmanov, never in my life would I have thought to hear such words slip from your mouth!"

Dani stuck her tongue out at her dear friend and endeavored to send her a dark look, but wound up simply smiling like a fool instead. "Don't make such a big deal out of it. It's simply a coincidence that we both happen to like ice and skating."

"Sure it is. I mean skating is skating, right? The only difference between the two of you is he happens to skate with a stick, chase a little piece of rubber around the ice, and see if he can't draw blood sometime during the game," Chloe countered with a knowing look.

"He doesn't always have a stick in his hand when he's on the ice," she countered quietly, her mind bringing forth memories of the few times they'd skated, and he'd held her in his arms or simply held her hand. A dreamy little sigh escaped her smiling lips.

 "You're right! The exception, would be, of course, when he's chasing you." Chloe hedged. "Which, I've noticed, hasn't been much lately."

Dani sent her friend a bemused glance. "In case you've forgotten, the Olympics are mere weeks away, and we've been too busy training to think about anything else. Plus, we've been hip-deep in wedding plans. It doesn't leave much time for casual skating, or much of anything else."

"Have the two of you had any time together at all?" Chloe asked softly.

"Of course! We're together nearly every day. We share training ice, remember? The hockey team's on one end of the ice and I get the other end," Dani answered.

Chloe rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Don't be obtuse. I'm talking about time alone, just the two of you. Time when you don't have to share the ice or worry about concentrating on landing a jump or wondering about your body position."

"Chloe, weren't you listening? The Olympics are nearly here. This isn't the time to be thinking about anything but skating and landing jumps and wondering if my body position is correct. You should know that better than anyone."

"Six months ago I would have agreed with you. But things are different now. Priorities change, Dani," Chloe stated.

Dani looked at her friend, confusion turning her eyes a shade darker. "What do you mean, 'priorities change'?" she asked her apprehensively.

Chloe sighed deeply. "Think about it, Dani. Things have changed so much for Sergei and I." Chloe's delicate hand waved elegantly toward the mayhem below them. "All of a sudden our lives aren't only about skating. We're getting married in a matter of hours, we're going to have a child soon, we're going to the Olympics," Chloe counted off on her fingers, sighing tiredly.

"Granted, you've got a lot going on right now. But things will calm down. You'll see," Dani stated encouragingly.

  Chloe shrugged. "I don't know. Sergei and I have been doing a lot of soul-searching and re-thinking a lot of things the last few days."

The small hairs on the back of Dani's neck began to tingle at Chloe's words. "Don't tell me you're withdrawing from the Olympics?"

"I said we were thinking about things, not that we'd gone crazy! After all the time Sergei and I have invested on the ice, that's the last thing we'd consider. In fact, of all the things that have swirled through our minds recently, that particular possibility was never even considered!"

"Thank heavens for that. Then what's the big secret?" Dani asked quietly.

"Win or lose, we're giving up our amateur standing after the Olympics," Chloe stated.

Dani sighed softly in relief. "I hate to burst your bubble, but that particular rumor's been floating around for months. And when you think about it, would it really make sense for the two of you to stay eligible after you'd already won a gold medal? It's not as if you would have anything more to prove to the skating world. You would prove all the nay-sayers wrong who said you'd never make it as a team, wrong. That, in itself, is an achievement worth winning!"

Chloe smiled at her soon-to-be sister-in-law's certainty. "Don't get ahead of yourself; we haven't won the gold quite yet."

"It's simply a formality! You know you're walking away with gold. Get used to the idea," Dani quipped lightly with a casual wave of one slim hand.

"You make it sound like a sure thing."

"Isn't it? When you and Sergei hit the ice the response is awe inspiring; nearly as overwhelming as when Gordeeva and Grinkov used to; everyone else shoots for second!"

"Careful, you're putting us up on the same level as icons. I don't know that we can fill those particular skates," Chloe laughed nervously.

"You don't have to fill anyone's skates but your own. You're the best pair out there and everyone knows it!"

"You're prejudice when it comes to your brother and me," Chloe countered, slightly embarrassed. For as long as she could remember, Dani had always been her champion, ready to tell anybody and everybody how great she was.

"No, simply very knowledgeable when it comes to skating and ready and willing to voice my opinion if anyone asks!"

"Or even if they don't," Chloe countered.

Dani simply smiled a Cheshire cat smile and nodded smugly before finally murmuring, "Perhaps."

"There's no 'perhaps' about it, and that's one of the things that I love most about you. You stick to your beliefs and don't let others sway you to their way of thinking. It's a trait I truly admire and wish I was better at myself."

Dani reached for Chloe's hand. "You're amazing the way you are, Chloe. You don't need to try to be anyone but who you are. That's who Sergei loves and is expecting to spend his life with."

Chloe lifted tear-glazed blue eyes to Dani's shining green gaze and murmured softly, "The same could be said for you and Matt."

A rosy blush covered Dani's cheeks. "Matt and I decided it would be best to remain just friends until after the Olympics. Then, after things have calmed down, we'll step back and see if we can't get a realistic view of each other and decide what comes next."

"The best for whom?"

"Maybe 'best' isn't the right word. Perhaps 'wise' is more appropriate," Dani offered with a thoughtful frown, her gaze drifting to the window and devouring the sight of Matt as he continued to work on the gazebo's roof. Christ, the man had a gorgeous bottom!

Chloe watched Dani watching Matt and felt herself blush at the hungry expression on Dani's face. "Why don't you two end this torture and become lovers? I think it would do wonders for the both of you!"

It took a couple of seconds for Chloe's words to sink in and then Dani was looking at Chloe in shock and surprise and more than a little bewilderment. "Pardon me?"

"You heard me. If the two of you don't do something about all this sexual tension that's screaming between you pretty soon, something - or someone's - going to blow!" Chloe stated calmly, her expression knowing.

Dani blinked in surprise. "Chloe, I just told you; we're friends."

"Friends can be lovers," Chloe countered calmly.

"And lovers can come to hate each other and there goes the friendship," Dani moaned softly.

"There's always that possibility," Chloe allowed. "But, then again, you can lose friends without sleeping with them, too."

Dani shook her head in confusion. "It's such a risk."

Chloe looked at her friend and saw all the sadness and fear reflected in her dark green eyes. It didn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what was going on. "Dani, Hunter was your first love and he broke your heart, but it's time to let it go and move on. You can't go through life running from love for fear of getting hurt again. It wouldn't be fair to you, or the person who winds up loving you madly."

Dani couldn't help the tiny smile the curved her full lips. "What makes you think Matt loves me 'madly'?"

"Oh, please&ldots;," Chloe groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically. "The man can't take his eyes off of you if you're within eyesight. And considering the way he looks at you, I honestly don't know how he manages to keep from ravishing you if you're together for more than five minutes."

"I think you're seeing things," Dani mumbled.

Chloe snorted in disbelief. "Dani, given half the opportunity, Matt would throw you over his shoulder, steal you away to his cave and devour you until you were senseless!"

"Matt doesn't live in a cave."

"It's a metaphor, Dani. The man's looking to get into your drawers and you're dying to let him. What's the hold-up?" Chloe asked casually.

Dani looked up at Chloe from beneath lowered lashes. "I'm scared," she murmured weakly.

Chloe's eyes widened in apprehension. "Matt scares you? Why?"

"He makes me forget myself; who I am."

"What do you mean?" Chloe asked.

Dani puffed out a light sigh and ran her hands through her hair. "I'm not exactly sure how to explain this, so bear with me, and let me totally embarrass myself before you comment, please," Dani began, chewing her lower lip lightly, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. "Matt and I can be simply having a conversation and all of a sudden his expression can change and suddenly I can't take a deep breath and all I can think about is touching him and how his mouth feels against mine. He drives me crazy, both literally and figuratively, and I'm not at all certain I like it. But then again, I can't honestly say I don't like it; if that makes any sense at all," she ended miserably.

Chloe smiled knowingly. "I hate to break it to you, but Sergei makes me feel the same exact things."

"Do I really need to know these things about my brother?" Dani asked skeptically.

"Probably not, but if you would simply think of him as another 'male', maybe it would make what you feel with Matt a little less worrisome."

Dani sent Chloe a sideways glance. "So how did you deal with this 'worrisome' effect?"

"I teased and touched and tormented him sexually to the point of no return and when he finally got too tired to fight me off, I found out what making love is truly all about!" Chloe announced merrily.

"You're crazy!" Dani chuckled with an amused share of her head.

"About your brother," Chloe countered softly.

"How about the rest of us?" Dani hedged with a smile.

"Your parents and Dee are wonderful, Whittaker has his moments, and on good days, you're almost tolerable. All in all, not too bad a bunch of bananas!" Chloe answered tartly, her blue eyes shining with love.

"I love you too," Dani growled back.

For a few moments the two girls returned their gazes to watch the work continue in the garden, lost in their own thoughts and then turning their eyes back to each other.

"I can't believe this is happening," Chloe murmured softly.

"Believe it; it's the very least you and Sergei deserve."

"I still can't believe how calmly Jordan took everything," Chloe shook her head in amazement.

"She loves you both. Why wouldn't she love a child the two of you created?" Dani asked softly.

"It's not that I was worried about her not loving our baby, but the timing is so bad. There is so much going on, so much yet to be done. The last thing we needed was to throw a baby into the mix."

Dani reached for her dear friend's hand and held it tightly between her own. "You would think by now you would have learned we Rocmanov's work better under a pressure. Besides, you're not throwing a baby into the mix; you're carrying the next generation of Rocmanov champions. How can that be anything but a miracle?" Dani asked softly.

Chloe laid a gentle hand against her stomach, where her child rested safely and surely. A genuine sign of the love she and Sergei shared; would share for all time if they had anything to do with it. "I feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world, Dani. If someone would have told me, five years ago, I'd be not only skating with the man I'd loved my whole life, but carrying his child as we went to the Olympics, I would have told them they were completely nuts. Dreams like that don't come true. Now, look at me? All my dreams are coming true. I don't know if I can hold all the emotions swirling around me inside. I feel like I'm going to explode with joy!" Chloe murmured softly, tears of joy filling her eyes and making her voice husky.

Dani pulled her friend into her arms and gave in to her own tears. "No exploding! At least not until after the ceremony," she teased, brushing away Chloe's tears as Chloe brushed away Dani's. "Now, do me a favor and lay down for just a bit. I'll go get you some tea bags for your eyes so they're not too puffy when you walk down the aisle. Knowing Sergei, he'll blame me for making you cry."

"It's not your fault I'm happy, or hormonal," Chloe countered, stretching out on the bed and allowing Dani to cover her with a light blanket.

"No, both those categories lead directly to my brother. But knowing how he hates to see you cry, for whatever reason, please stay here while I go get you the tea bags for your eyes."

"Yes, ma'am!" Chloe quipped, sending Dani a jaunty salute, and watery smile.

Dani's light laughter filled the air. "You are still the weirder of us two," she stated firmly, shaking her head in amusement at Chloe's silly behavior. In a few steps she was at the door.

"Dani?" Chloe's soft voice echoed in the room and had Dani casting a questioning glance over her shoulder to Chloe. "Don't be afraid to take the next step toward Matt, if that's what you want to do."

"I'll think about it," she allowed, her heart skipping a beat at the very thought.

"Good. I love you."

Dani's eyes glowed with joy. "I love you too, Chloe. And just in case I haven't said it before, welcome to the family."

Chloe bit her lower lip to keep from completely dissolving into tears and simply nodded acknowledgment of Dani's kind words.

"I'll be right back; you stay put," Dani demanded softly, slipping out of Chloe's room and closing the door quietly behind her.

Dani leaned her forehead again the cool wood of the door, wiped the tears from her eyes and heaving a deep sigh, turned around to head for the kitchen and found herself bumping into the solid body of a male, and feeling firm hands steady her. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you," she began her apology, only to have her voice drift away as she found herself staring up into Hunter's caramel colored eyes. "Hunter&ldots;" her voice was a mere whisper.

"Hi, Danielle." Hunter's voice was the same deep tone she remembered, and somewhere, deep inside her, a tiny pang of regret poked her painfully.

"I'm sorry, I was kind of off in the ozone somewhere and not paying attention when I should have been. It's a little crazy around here today. Please excuse me," she mumbled, stepping out of his grasp and hugging her arms to herself protectively.

"No need to apologize," he answered smoothly, his mouth turned up in a friendly smile, his eyes glowing warmly. "Your mother was looking a little harried and mumbling to herself something about tea bags so I volunteered to deliver her message. She said, 'the tea bags are ready and to use them promptly or you'll both look like Rocky after his final round with Apollo Creed'; whatever that means," he finished with a confused shrug.

Dani smiled at his bewilderment. There was no reason why he should understand her mother's comment, and she wondered if Matt would have understood the cryptic message. For some unknown reason she felt he would have. Swollen eyes and tea bags were simply a variation of steak on black eyes. Simply another way to take care of tired, beat-up eyes. "Thank you," she stated curtly, and slipped by him, heading down the stairs.

"Danielle, I had hoped we might have an opportunity to talk sometime tonight," Hunter called after her, his gaze appreciative as he watched her hips sway subtly from side to side.

Dani stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and took a steadying breath. The look she sent up to Hunter held anything but warmth. "Hunter, considering how crazy today has already been and that things don't look like they're going to settle down anytime soon, I honestly can't say tonight holds much promise for us getting together and hashing things out for the ninety-eighth time!" Dani stated quietly, her eyes flashing with fire.

"There are things that need to be said," Hunter countered, his hands clenching and unclenching on the oak rail of the staircase.

"If I recall correctly, you've said everything you wanted to say more than once. I really don't see any point in going over covered ground again simply for the sake of doing it. I understand your position, your thoughts and feelings regarding any relationship between the two of us and I've survived watching my first love die before it even had a chance to live. I can live with the fact it didn't work out between us." Dani stated firmly.

"What if I said I was a fool and made a terrible mistake and would like to correct it?"

"I'd say you blew your chance, Mr. James. You're a day late and a dollar short," she countered with a nonchalant shrug.

"I love you, Danielle," Hunter offered quietly.

Dani hated the small jolt of emotion that hitched at his declaration and took a deep breath, hoping it would steady her already frayed nerves. "Hunter, I would have given up skating for you to hear those words a few of months ago. But things have changed, and I can't - no, correct that - I won't go back to waiting for you to find yourself and decide what you really want. I'm only just finding myself again; I won't risk getting lost in the misguided belief that your love will complete and fulfill me. If I can't love myself, in all my numerous flawed and wacky ways, I can't expect anyone else to love me," she stated calmly, growing stronger as she listened to her own words, knowing in her heart they were true.

"It's that hockey player, isn't it?" Hunter growled darkly.

Dani smiled a smug little smile. "As delightful to my ego as it would be to think of two handsome men battling for my attention, I hate to burst your bubble. Matt's a very good friend who's done his very best to make me look at myself and urged me to decide for myself what I want to do. Not what everyone else thinks I should do but what I want to do for me," she explained. "Matt let's me be me. I don't have to be 'America's Golden Ice Princess' or the Rocmanov Princess; I'm just Dani, someone who happens to skate decently."

"Everything I've done has been for your own good," Hunter countered, feeling her slip away from his grasp even as he tried to tempt her back to him.

"Everything you did was done for your own good, Hunter, to make you feel better. But you know something?" Dani argued softly. "Two lost souls can't necessarily find their way even if they're together. There's an old saying about the 'blind leading the blind'. Well that was you and I; you were afraid of commitment and I believed I needed someone fully committed to me to feel good about myself. If we were meant to be together, I don't think it would have been so hard finding a way to be together. Too many things were pulling us in different directions: our likes, our needs, our desires. Sooner or later we would have come to hate each other and that's something I never wanted to see happen. Not that I haven't wished my fair share of unpleasant things on you," she concluded sheepishly.

"No more than I probably deserved," Hunter murmured, looking down at the beautiful woman standing at the base of the stairs, calmly returning his look and seeing a new strength and maturity in her he had never seen before. In that moment, he knew her words were true. Perhaps whatever time they had been meant to share was done, whatever they had been meant to learn from each other had been learned, and it was time to simply tuck it away as fond memory. But for whatever reason, it was clear to him now, he wasn't losing Dani to Matt or anyone else; she'd never truly belonged to him. She was simply a beautiful, free spirit he had had the pleasure to hold for a brief moment, like the light touch of a butterfly. There for but a short, magical time. "So where does that leave us?" Hunter asked quietly.

"Hopefully friends who will be there for each other, if they're needed," she answered simply.

Hunter's heart swelled at her words. She wouldn't be completely gone from him and perhaps with time, the ache he felt in his heart would subside and he wouldn't always wonder what might have been. "I'd like that," he answered huskily.

"Good," she agreed with a serene smile.

Hunted hated to watch her walk away from him, yet knew things were as they were meant to be. "You'd better go get those tea bags before your mother comes looking for me wondering why I didn't pass along the message," he urged her with a lift of his chin.

A slight nod had her assenting and without another word, she was gone from his view.

But at least she wasn't gone from his life.

* * * * *

Dani managed to follow her mother's instructions, and lay down on her bed with tea bags on her own eyes for a whole ten minutes before her swirling mind coaxed her back on to her feet and propelled her toward the garden. She fairly flew down the stairs, out the back door and along the lined path before she found herself climbing the same ladder Matt had and peeking up at him as he finished stringing the lights on the gazebo roof.

"You do good work, Tanner," Dani stated, a bit breathlessly, from her high perch, looking at the twinkling lights that glimmered in the gathering dusk. Whether it was excitement at everything going on around her or the fact that Matt looked almost too delicious to resist, she wasn't going to ponder.

"Does your Mama know you're out here, Darlin'?" Matt asked softly, sending her a questioning look.

"Nope. I made a clean getaway!"

Matt's sexy, lopsided smile and dancing eyes made her breath catch in her chest. "Skipping out on your chores, are you?" he asked with a light chuckle.

"Not at all. Today, my biggest chore was to see that Chloe remained calm and considering she's napping at the moment, my job's done."

"So you decided to come out here and pester me?" he asked with hungry eyes and a husky tone.

"Not at all. I simply came to see how you were doing and if there was anything I could do for you," Dani countered, trying to ignore the way he was looking at her, as if she was rich dessert and he was looking for something sinful and sweet.

"Darlin', I can think of several things you could do for me, some of which your father would probably object to strenuously," Matt offered deeply, his eyes darkening as he devoured her with his eyes. He wondered how he was ever going to keep his promise to simply be her 'friend' when all he could think about was how silken her skin felt and how soft her lips were.

Dani's cheeks blushed rosily at Matt's words and the images they evoked. "So what can I do for you that my father wouldn't object to strenuously?"

"Well&ldots;"

What Matt was about to say would never be heard as suddenly his foot slipped against the damp roof and he went sliding downward, slipping over the edge and landing with a heavy thud on the ground.

From her perch on the ladder, she looked down on him, and breathed a sigh of relief as she watched him look up at her and shake his head in disbelief.

"Are you okay?" Dani asked, cautiously climbing down the ladder and coming to kneel in front of him, her eyes searching his, her hands flexing, unsure whether or not to touch him for fear of hurting him.

Matt sent a disgusted look up toward the gazebo roof and shook his head. "That was a stupid-shit thing to do! Just proves accidents happen when you don't keep you mind on your work."

"Are you okay?" she asked again, frowning when she watched him roll his left shoulder and grimace.

"Yes, I'm fine," he growled in self-disgust, slowly coming to his feet and rubbing his shoulder.

"No you're not. You hurt your shoulder," Dani disagreed, sending him a look of concern.

"I just banged it against the edge when I slipped off. It's nothing," he countered, trying to shrug off her searching hands as they carefully ran over his shoulder. "Ow!"

Dani winced as her hands touched an obviously sore spot. "Sorry," she murmured, looking up into his eyes and pausing as she found herself sinking beneath his searching gaze. "I didn't mean to hurt you," she finally managed to mumble, pulling her hands away from his flannel covered muscular shoulder and the electricity he seemed to emit.

"You didn't make me fall; it was my own stupid fault for not paying attention to what I was doing," Matt murmured deeply.

"If I hadn't been out here interrupting your work, you would have been paying attention," Dani countered breathlessly.

Matt ran the fingers of his right hand gently down the satin smoothness of her cheek. "I've got news for you, Darlin', whether you're here or not, you're on my mind."

"Maybe thinking about me isn't such a wise thing to do," Dani murmured, and felt herself sway toward Matt's warm body, only inches away.

"Maybe not, but it's sure a wonderful way to spend time," he countered huskily, his eyes darkening sensually as his body moved a little closer to Dani's.

"Hey Tanner, are you done with that ladder?" One of the workmen called out, breaking the spell that seemed to be pulling the two of them deeper and deeper into its grasp.

Matt jerked his attention away from Dani and fought to bring his screaming body under control. "Yeah, it's all yours," he agreed, quickly folding the ladder together and lifting it, more than a bit painfully, and carrying it forward to meet one of the other contractors busy putting the finishing touches on the garden.

"Thanks," he offered and with a polite nod to Dani, left the two alone.

Unconsciously Matt rolled his left shoulder and flexed his hand, fighting against the stiffness that was already closing in on the abused muscles.

"That's it. Come with me," Dani demanded, taking Matt's right hand and leading him through the garden, out a side gate and toward the building that housed their fitness center on the other side of their driveway.

"Where are we going? I've still got work to do," Matt argued half-heartedly, dragging his feet only a little as he allowed her to lead the way.

"We're going to put some ice on your shoulder, rub it down and then dump you in the Jacuzzi," Dani stated, continuing her trek toward the building.

"I don't have a bathing suit." Matt complained, trying to ignore the vivid mental images that taunted him of what Dani in a Jacuzzi might look like. He wasn't sure he could stand that amount of torture.

"So don't wear one." Dani countered easily.

Matt felt himself fighting for control as his body responded to her nearness. "I'm shy," he mumbled, reaching for any excuse, flimsy or otherwise, that came to him.

Dani's inelegant snort said she didn't believe him.

"We don't want to miss the wedding. Your mother would never forgive either of us if we were late for the wedding."

Dani cast a quick glance at her watch. "We've got nearly two hours."

Two hours? Sweet heaven! The things he could do to her in two hours made him dizzy just thinking about them.

In stunned silence, he allowed her to lead him up the path to the front door of the building and then inside. A quiet click had one low light illuminating a small room at the far end of the building, and showing them the way. Matt had a brief glimpse of work-out machinery and mirrored walls, but his mind was focused on trying to keep his body under control, so he didn't fully appreciate all the latest, state-of-the art exercise equipment that were spread around the large room.

"In here," Dani murmured, pulling him into the smaller room and closing the door behind them. Directing him to a padded table, she left his side, walked to a cabinet and withdrew what looked like a bottle of lotion, before moving on to another cabinet that hid a refrigerator/freezer, grabbed a can of soda and a chemical ice pack. Returning to his side, she looked up at him expectantly. "You might want to sit down and you're going to have to take your shirt off," she suggested calmly, her green gaze steady.

Matt sank onto the padded table and began to slowly unbutton his shirt, feeling as if he was suddenly the one about to be devoured. Her face looked calm and serene, but her eyes blazed with an intensity and a look he couldn't quite figure out, and that, more than anything, had him wondering if he was about to jump from the frying pan into the fire. "You do know what you're doing, don't you?" he asked warily as she helped him slip his shirt off his broad shoulders and draped it over the end of the table.

Dani gave him a speculative look. "If you'd rather, I'll go get Whittaker. I'm certain he knows what to do for a sore shoulder."

The 'not in this lifetime' look that jumped into Matt's gray eyes left Dani smiling. Whittaker's heavy hand was well known and more people than not, ran in the opposite direction when he was handing out rub-downs. "I'll take my chances with you," he mumbled.

"Nothing like being appreciated," Dani complained softly, and handed him the can of soda, then draped his shoulder with a thin towel and placed the chemical ice-pack over it.

For fifteen minutes the ice-pack sat on his shoulder, hopefully keeping the swelling to a minimum, while the two of them shared the soda and talked of inconsequential things. Both of them doing their best to ignore the fact they were alone, in a secluded room, and nobody knew where they were. The subtle lighting and the gentle gurgling as the Jacuzzi bubbled seductively, and steamed as it heated, didn't help things.

After what felt like an eternity of numbness, Dani finally removed the ice-pack and towel, and cast a questioning look at Matt. "Ready?" she asked softly, her voice unusually husky.

If only you knew how ready! Matt thought to himself, trying to shift subtly, as he'd already done numerous times, to relieve the pressure of his response his body had had to her nearness. It had reached the point where he felt he was in a constant state of arousal anytime he was around her, or for that matter, if he even thought of her. He was pretty certain he wasn't going to be able to abide by the 'friends only' rule for a hell of a lot longer, and he wondered what on earth he had been thinking of when he agreed to the silly arrangement in the first place. All he had to do was look in her eyes and see that she was feeling the same things he was. What was the point in torturing themselves when it was obvious where everything was going to lead to eventually? But then, the road there was certainly tantalizing! "Go for it, Darlin'," he murmured quietly, his voice a low, sexy rumble that set her blood racing.

He couldn't help the long sigh of pleasure as her hands, slathered with lotion, slipped over his numb shoulder, and her skin felt hot to the touch against his cold skin. Within mere seconds, a sweet lethargy slipped over him, leaving floating on a cloud of bliss as her hands worked magic on his sore muscles.

Never would she have believed that a pair of gorgeous male shoulders, curved with swelling muscles, would have turned her upside down, but that's just what was happening. Her father and brother's shoulders were certainly beautiful, and heaven knew she'd seen them shirtless often enough not to be surprised by a man's bare upper torso, but there was just something about Matt's bare torso that had her wanting to melt into a puddle. What's more, she was truly surprised sparks weren't leaping from his shoulders to her fingers as she firmly caressed and molded his shoulder muscles with her hands. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to lower her lips to that warm, tanned skin and see if it tasted as delicious as it felt beneath her questing touch.

Matt's low groan of enjoyment had her eyes darting to his and her hands curving protectively over his shoulder. "Am I hurting you?"

"God, no. You've the hands of an angel, or a harlot; I can't decide which," he murmured huskily, his blue-gray eyes capturing her darkening green eyes and holding them captive.

Dani's one eyebrow lifted sardonically. "A 'harlot' you say? What would you know about harlots?"

"Only what I've heard, Darlin'," he answered devilishly, his eyes shining with a wicked, mischievous light.

Dani's chin lifted defiantly. "Right. I can just imagine what you've heard," she stated saucily. "Probably right from the harlot's mouth!"

"Darlin', harlot's don't talk much! Their mouths are usually occupied with other matters!" Matt stated wickedly, his deep chuckle making her knees grow wobbly, and her blood pound in her veins even faster. When his right arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and she was pulled against his bare chest, her breath left her with a surprised sigh. Even through the thick yarn of her sweater, she could feel the heat of his bare skin tormenting her and her hands longed to trace wicked patterns over all that bare skin in her view.

"Are you trying to shock me?" Dani asked breathlessly, her hands fluttering as she tried to find a safe place to rest them. She wasn't sure she could control them if she touched him, so she simply held them in the air, as if allowing her nail polish to dry.

Matt gave her a speculative look, knew she was weakening and couldn't help the lopsided smile that curved his lips. "Is it possible to shock you?"

"Probably not," she quipped with a Cheshire cat look. "You'd be amazed at all I've seen," she whispered conspiratorially.

Matt's gaze could only be described as hungry and devouring as his eyes caressed her face. "Darlin', you'd be amazed at all you haven't seen!" he stated seductively.

"Oh yeah? Tell me something I don't already know!" she demanded silkily, pressing her breasts against the steel wall of his chest, barely withholding the sigh of pleasure she felt as his body sensually collided with her own.

Matt's eyebrows lifted speculatively. "You don't really mean that do you?"

Dani's dark gaze was filled with challenge. "Come on, big talker. Give it your best shot. Shock me if you can!"

The gauntlet had been thrown, and Matt fully intended to be victorious. With a wicked look, he leaned forward, his warm breath whispering words of seduction in her ear, his deep tone verbally drawing an erotic picture.

"Seen it!" Dani quipped lightly.

Matt launched into another scenario, a bit more explicit.

"Seen it!" Dani repeated, just as glibly.

Matt pulled back and looked at her in disbelief.

"What? I told you, I've seen it all!" she stated firmly, her eyes glowing brightly, her cheeks a bit flushed, her laugh a bit wicked. "You think all figure skaters simply sit around in their hotel rooms being bored when they're at competitions? You'd be amazed at some of the escapades I've heard about, and stumbled in on by accident," she concluded a bit disgustedly.

"Well, how about this?" he asked softly, and began to whisper again in her ear.

The first indication he had he was getting to her was the little gasp of shock, or surprise, he couldn't tell which, that escaped her lips, then suddenly it seemed as if her breathing had turned shallow. From the corner of his eye he watched her hands flutter and then slowly fall to his shoulders. As he continued his description, he felt the sharpness of her long nails as she clutched involuntarily at his arms, his words clearly affecting her and he pressed his advantage. His description became more and more erotic, and he felt her body leaning more and more firmly against his own, tormenting him as much as he was tormenting her. He wasn't sure who the real victor would be in this particular battle between them as they both became more and more affected by his explicit words.

Dani's mind swirled at the images Matt's words evoked and she couldn't help the whimper that slipped from her parted lips as his warm breath blew words erotically over her skin and directly into her mind. Her eyes drifted shut as the effort to keep them open became overwhelming and she simply gave in to his spell.

Matt felt ready to explode, and judging from the tremors that coursed through Dani's body, knew she was close to the same point. It took every ounce of strength he possessed to become silent, and unable to resist, nipped at her exposed neck before soothing it with a kiss and pulling away from her.

Certain she would collapse if he let go of her, Dani clutched at his upper arms, and struggled to control the world that swirled around her. Blinking to clear the stars that danced before her eyes, she looked up into Matt's dark gaze and was surprised to see the same stunned look she was sure she was wearing. "Oh my," she murmured breathlessly, still unable to breathe normally, and not really worried if she never did again. "Now that I've never seen!"

"You will," Matt stated huskily, his eyes challenging her, daring her to pull her dazed ones away from his.

"I don't understand," she murmured, her mind refusing to work.

"It's what I intend to do to you the first time we make love," he stated erotically, capturing her chin in a gentle grasp and placing nipping kisses at one corner of her mouth, before switching to the other corner, and tormenting her in the process.

"You're so bad," Dani murmured sexily, just before his mouth came crashing down on hers, his tongue slipping languidly between her teeth to duel heatedly with her own, swallowing her whimper of pleasure.

Their kiss turned torrid, each taking and giving in turn, pushing each other onward toward oblivion, only to stop before they crossed the line of no return. Dani's hands raced over the bare skin of Matt's chest, then slid like satin over his shoulders, her nails leaving tiny trails as she clutched at him in an effort to still her swirling world. Her whimpered pleas fired his blood, and his body surged against hers. A deep growl rumbled in his chest as his hands curled over her breasts and encountered her thick sweater. A moment later, his hands swept beneath her sweater, up the silken skin of her ribcage and settled over her lace and satin covered breasts, her swollen nipples rising to meet his heated palms.

"Oh, God, Darlin', tell me you're not wearing red," he pleaded, his tone low and almost pain-filled. With a quick twist, he had her laid down on the table, his hands pushing up her sweater and displaying the pale, silken skin of her stomach and her full breasts encased in red lace and satin.

"It's Christmas&ldots;" she gasped, trying to explain, only to find herself melting beneath Matt's questing mouth as his lips and tongue trailed a tortuous path up her stomach, and over the upper swells of her breasts.

Matt felt his world tip crazily and knew if he had any sense left at all he would step away from her and not tempt fate any longer. But it was impossible. Her sensual whimpers, questing hands, and open, loving response called to him; pleaded with him, to show her paradise, and his body didn't have any trouble answering her pleas. Pulling her tormenting hands from where they clutched at his upper arms, he held them still, concentrated on sanity for the moment and waited until some semblance of control steadied his breathing.

"Matt?" Dani's voice was soft, searching, her eyes filled with need and desire and uncertainty.

"This is the line Dani. We either cross it or we don't, but nothing happens unless you say so," he stated deeply, his chest heaving as he struggled to control the desire that still raged through him.

Dani's mind still felt muddled and she tried to understand what he was saying. "Don't you want me, Matt?" she asked quietly.

Matt took one of her hands and placed it against the turgid bulge at his crotch, his eyes filled with fire and need. "What do you think, Darlin'? I want you so badly I could explode! But I won't break the promise I made you and excuse it away as the heat of the moment. I'm in this for the long haul, Dani. I'll wait until you're ready and if that happens to be now, all you have to do is say is the word."

The world seemed to stop as Dani looked up into Matt's nearly-black eyes and saw her own needs and desires reflected back in them. Without a word, she flicked open the catch on the front of her bra, opened her arms to him and murmured, "Now."

Matt's breath left him in a shaky sigh and he leaned toward her, sighing blissfully as he felt her arms come around him. Their lips met in a kiss filled with gentleness, a homecoming that was unhurried, filled with promises of tomorrow and the day after. Framing her face with his hands, his thumbs grazed a gentle path along her jaw, his expression filled with awe at the beauty he saw before him. "Danielle Janae Rocmanov, I love you more than you will ever know," he murmured, his eyes filling with tears as his emotions rushed to bombard him.

Dani's smile was serene, her own eyes filling as she watched Matt's emotions swirl so clearly in his blue-gray gaze. "Matthew Tanner, you're the most amazing man I've ever known and if you love me even a tiny bit as much as I love you, I'll be the happiest woman on the planet," she returned, her hands reaching up to circle his wrists. "Now suppose you show me all those things you told me about earlier?" she asked seductively, her gaze challenging and filled with desire.

Matt's eyes narrowed appreciatively. "Oh, Darlin', you are so bad," he growled huskily.

"Give me half a chance and I'll show you just how bad!" she countered, lifting her chin daringly and accepting his teasing kiss.

What might have happened next would have to wait for another time, as the next thing the pair knew, voices were heard on the other side of the door in the work-out room and blaring rock and roll music vibrated the walls as Sergei and Hunter proceeded to work off a little pre-wedding tension.

"Crap!" Matt mumbled, dropping his forehead to rest against Dani's and grumbling in disbelief.

"My thoughts exactly," Dani commiserated and wrapped her arms around Matt's muscular back, enjoying for just a little longer the vibrating power she felt in her arms. With a wistful sigh, she wondered how she was ever going to make it through the wedding without whisking him into the garden and ravishing him amid the sparkling lights.

Wouldn't that just make it a wedding to remember?

Five minutes later, the pair snuck out the back door.

* * * * *

"Oh, my God, Chloe. Look at you!" Dani whispered reverently to the vision in the mirror, an hour later.

Chloe looked at her reflection in the mirror and gasped in wide-eyed awe at the beauty looking back at her. Draped in satin and chiffon the color of candlelight, Chloe's wedding dress was simple perfection. A stylish sheath that left her shoulders bare, but for the chiffon scarf that seemed to float above her silken skin as her gown caressed her slim form. A subdued scooped neckline didn't hide the fact her breasts swelled temptingly upward as she took a deep, steadying breath. Her hair was pulled up into curls and held in place with tiny pearls, but for a few twirling strands that teased her bare shoulders and left her feeling like a bride in Grecian times.

"Oh my!" was Chloe's only response.

Dani and Chloe's attention was drawn away from the mirror as the bedroom door opened and Jordan swept in, her arms filled with yards of velvet. "It's a good thing we insisted on having the cape completed too, just in case the weather decided to be a little chillier than we wanted. Although I don't know why I would ever be worried it might be cold on the twenty-fourth of December!" Jordan mumbled, spreading out the beautiful cape across the bed. "I mean, who in their right mind would request snow on Christmas Eve?"

"It's snowing?" Dani and Chloe both intoned.

"Only flurries," Jordan answered with a light shrug.

Chloe moaned. "This has got to be a bad omen. Isn't there something about it being bad luck to have a blizzard on your wedding day?" Her blue eyes were frantic.

"Of course not!" Jordan disagreed, taking her hand and pulling her to the window, drawing away the sheer curtains. "Now you take a look down there and tell me that even remotely resembles a bad omen," she demanded softly, squeezing Chloe's hand reassuringly.

Chloe looked down into the wintry garden below her and her breath caught at the beauty of she saw. Evergreens shining with sparkling white lights, and what looked like miles and miles of red carpet the lead from the house to the gazebo. White silk bunting danced in the breeze and swirled amid the snow flurries. A magical kingdom behind tall walls that kept everyone within safe and now promised her a happy ending; something she had only dreamed about. When Sergei suddenly stepped into view, and cast his gaze toward her window, Chloe stepped back, but not before she saw him blow her a kiss and without even thinking, lifted her hand as if to catch it.

Jordan smiled as she watched Chloe's fist close and her bring it to rest against her heart, her chin lifting defiantly, a serene smile curving her lips and her eyes glowing brightly. "Any bad omens to be seen?" Jordan asked softly.

The two women exchanged glances, silently communicating their deepest thoughts and Chloe shook her head back and forth. "Not a one."

"Then what do you say we go make you an official member of the family?" Dani asked softly, holding up the velvet cape and awaiting Chloe's response.

  Chloe simply smiled and walked to Dani, turning around and allowing her dear friend to slip the warm cape over her shoulders.

Jordan watched the two young women and sighed, both in happiness and a bit wistfully. It seemed like only yesterday that the two had played dress-up in her old costumes, screeching joyfully, as only little girls could do, and spinning in circles until they were breathless and giddy. Now, here they were, still together, one helping the other prepare for her wedding. Where had the time gone?

"Mama?" Dani called softly to Jordan, smiling as she watched the myriad of emotions pass over her mother's face.

"Everybody ready?" Jordan asked quietly, coming to stand before both young women and cupping their chins in her hands.

Shining eyes, full of joy and hope, were her answer and with gentle kisses to both girls' cheeks, Jordan nodded toward the door and then ushered them out of the room. As she closed the door quietly behind them, she couldn't help but believe she was watching one chapter of Chloe's life end and the next one begin.

And she couldn't wait to see where it took her!

* * * * *

Everything had been ready to go.

The heaters in the garden, discreetly hidden, were working just fine and the temperature was almost pleasant, despite the falling flurries. The handful of close friends to share in the celebration were seated, classical music was drifting quietly on the gentle breeze, all the twinkling lights on the trees were doing their job. Everything was a go!

And then Emily had stated she needed to go potty one more time and Aleksei was still struggling to get the little girls tights back into place, in of all places, the middle of the foyer.

At Emily's sighed 'Ohhhhhh," Aleksei lifted his head to find himself staring at quite possibly the three most beautiful women in the world, at least as far as he was concerned. Chloe, swathed in cream velvet made her way down the stairs, followed by Dani, covered in deep Christmas red, and then his gorgeous Jordan, wearing forest green. He truly didn't think he could have put a coherent sentence together if he tried so he simply whistled and shook his head in wonder.

Jordan's lilting laughter filled the foyer and she met her husband and brushed a soft kiss across his cheek. "Ever eloquent, my love," she murmured happily, wiping away the small lipstick smudge she left on his cheek. Without another word, she turned to Emily and had her tights back into place in a blink of an eye.

Aleksei could only watch his wife and shake his head in wonder. "How do you do that so easily? I've been fighting with the silly things for the last five minutes!" he complained in exasperation.

"It's a girl thing," Jordan answered simply, reaching for Emily's cape that lay draped over the newel post of the stairs and holding it out for her.

"I telled him he was doing it wrong!" Emily stated, sending Aleksei an accusing look, as she slipped into her cape, a thick and warm black velvet, and let Jordan secure it at the neck, before lifting the fur trimmed hood and draping it over her blonde curls.

"You have to excuse Grampa Aleksei; he's better at taking tights off than putting them on," Jordan teased, smiling as she watched a slow blush creep up her husband's cheeks.

Dani and Chloe swallowed their laughter as Aleksei's dark eyes speared them and one eyebrow lifted warningly.

"Well that's good to know cause I have a terrible time taking them off; they always get stucked on my toes, so he can help me later," Emily stated, smiling brightly.

"I'd be most happy to, Princess," Aleksei murmured, tucking a blonde curl back into her hood.

"That settled, shall we get this party started?" Dani asked brightly.

"I thought the party wasn't till after the wedding?" Emily asked in confusion, her blue eyes dancing from one person to the next.

"It's an expression, Princess," Dani explained, stooping down and giving her a light kiss.

"You said you would share your lipstick. Did you?" Emily asked in excitement.

"As promised," Dani nodded. "You look gorgeous!"

Emily beamed.

"Well then. If everyone's ready, how about we go add another member to our family?" Aleksei suggested.

"Don't you mean two?" Emily asked, her fingers lovingly touching the velvet of Chloe's cape at tummy level.

Aleksei and Chloe exchanged gentle looks, and Aleksei cast a devastating smile upon his soon-to-be daughter-in-law. "Yes indeed. That's exactly what I mean!"

And in a swirl of multi-colored velvet, and laughter, the group made their way toward the garden and the small group of people that waited the joining of Chloe Spenser and Sergei Rocmanov.

 Chapter 24

Snowflakes waltzed through the air seemingly in time with the classical music that drifted on the light breeze as first Dani made her way down the walkway, cloaked in her Christmas red velvet cape, her hood covering her upswept curls, a bouquet of red and white roses in her hands. Her outward display of calmness hid the still simmering passion that Matt had evoked as she strolled casually into the gazebo, and gave her brother a light kiss on his cheek, whispering something to him that had him smiling broadly before she moved to take her place across from Hunter. Looking over the smiling faces of those closest to her family, who had been invited to witness the ceremony, her eyes met Matt's and she was unable to control the involuntary shiver that coursed through her blood as she read the same need and desire she felt in her soul shining clearly in his blue-gray gaze. Unable to help herself, she lifted her chin daringly and silently mouthed her demand to him. "Now!"

Matt's eyes widened in astonishment at her boldness and the smile he sent her was filled with wicked delight. His arrogant glance told her he accepted her challenge and looked forward to the games yet to be played that evening.

Dani's heart pounded in anticipation at Matt's blatantly hungry look and she wondered what would be left of her by the end of the night.

The soft oohs and aahs of the small group had her attention leaving Matt and turning to watch Emily make her way down the path, dropping deep red and soft white rose petals along the way, a happy smile curving her rosebud mouth, her blonde curls bouncing within her velvet hood. A bit clumsily she made her way up the two steps, her long cape hampering her movement, and made her way to Dani's side. Silently she slipped her hand into Dani's.

"Ready to become a Rocmanov?" Aleksei asked Chloe gently, his dark eyes shining and filled with emotion.

Taking a deep, calming breath, she lifted her chin, squared her shoulders and closing her eyes, said a silent prayer. "I'm ready," she announced softly and accepted Aleksei's offered arm.

 Snowflakes fluttered through the air as Aleksei calmly walked Chloe down the carpeted walkway; his heart swelling with love that this wonderful woman was going to become an official member of their family. He felt ready to explode with pride when she had asked him if he would do her the honor of walking her down the aisle and as he looked down into her glowing face, he realized how truly blessed this moment was.

In this garden, his family had lovingly planted and his wife constantly fretted over, he was watching his son begin the next chapter of his life and hoped he would find as much happiness with Chloe and he and Jordan had found together.

He escorted her up the two steps into the gazebo, and led her to Sergei, who stood in awed silence as he beheld his bride-to-be. With a gentle kiss to both her cheeks, he handed her into Sergei's care and stepped away from the two, taking his seat beside his wife.

Silently Jordan slipped her hand into her husband's, interlacing her fingers with his and shared a wistful smile as she watched their son exchange vows with the woman he loved.

Time stood still as snowflakes danced in the moonlit garden, and tiny Christmas lights sparkled in the evergreens. Solemn vows to love and cherish for all eternity were murmured. Simple gold bands, inscribed with their initials, were blessed and exchanged. A prayer wishing them joy and happiness, understanding and patience, was said and suddenly they were being announced husband and wife and sharing their first kiss as such.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Sergei Rocmanov!" the minister announced happily.

Applause was heard, cheers rang out, tears of happiness fell and hugs were exchanged as everyone greeted the newly-married couple before they exited the gazebo. Following them down the pathway, toward the brightly-lit house, they excitedly made their way inside, anxious to get busy celebrating the wedding of one of figure skating's most famous pairs, and America's biggest hope for Olympic Gold.

And as Jordan and Aleksei stood alone in the garden, savoring the beauty and silence of now-quiet garden, bedecked as a fairyland, they looked to the slowly clearing night sky and sighed as a shooting star traced a fiery path through the darkness before it disappeared into the clouds.

"Quick, make a wish," Aleksei suggested quietly, holding his wife in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head.

"I have everything I could wish for," she murmured softly, snuggling deeper into her husband's arms and sighing contentedly.

Aleksei smiled. "I was thinking the same thing, but we probably shouldn't waste the chance to make a wish," he countered quietly, giving her a gentle squeeze of encouragement.

Jordan closed her eyes, wished for her family to always remain this happy and safe and added a quick prayer of thanks. "There, hopefully that will do it."

"Going to tell me what you wished for?"

"Of course not! You know how wishes on shooting stars work; give away the secret, ruin the wish."

"You're right. What was I thinking? Forgive me for asking," he murmured, rubbing his cheek against the velvet hood of Jordan's cape. For another moment he was content to simply hold his wife in their sparkling garden. "Well, I suppose we should think about heading inside; we've a wedding to celebrate!"

Jordan sighed deeply, the sound sad. "My baby got married today."

"And we gained another daughter; a lovely young woman we've known and loved almost her whole life. Not many people get to say that," Aleksei voiced.

"I know," Jordan agreed wistfully, another little sigh escaping her lips and creating a small cloud of steam before it evaporated into the darkness. "So why do I feel a little sad?"

Aleksei hugged his wife a little tighter. "Because, my love, time has slipped by us, and our children have gone and grown up and there's not a damn thing we can do about it," he offered knowingly.

"I don't know where the time went; I don't feel any older," Jordan complained.

"Only on some days," Aleksei countered honestly.

"Is it time to change the mental image I have in my mind of us? Are we old and don't know it?" Jordan asked, glancing over her shoulder and up into the ebony eyes of her husband. He was still so handsome it made her heart pound.

"My love, in my eyes, you will never be old. You will always be that magical creature who stole my heart when you were sixteen and made me so crazy I didn't know what to do with you!"

Jordan's low laugh was seductive and touch wicked. "Oh you knew what you wanted to do with me, you just knew it was illegal at the time and what drove you crazy was knowing you were going to have to wait!" she countered saucily.

"You know me too well," Aleksei growled softly in agreement, his deep tone sending shivers of anticipation through his wife.

"Stay awake long enough tonight and I'll show you just how well I know you," she promised seductively, turning in his arms and pressing her full breasts against his broad chest.

Aleksei's left eyebrow lifted arrogantly and his eyes gleamed with passion. "The day I can't keep up with you is the day I give up skating. You remember you said that when you're begging me to let you go to sleep," he countered smugly, sharing a quick, but passionate kiss that left his wife grasping her husband's arms for support as her knees grew weak.

"I can't wait!" Jordan murmured, her tongue sweeping her lips in a slow, torturous path as she lapped up the last taste of her husband's kiss.

Aleksei groaned at his wife's seductive antics and began to wish the evening was already over. It felt as if it had been ages since they'd had any time together where they weren't so exhausted all they did was fall asleep in each other's arms. But things were certainly look hopeful for later! "Well, unless you want to be shocking our guests, you're going to have to wait. But I can promise you, the wait will be well worthwhile!" he murmured wickedly, and devoured his wife's mouth in another heated kiss.

"Oh, Rocmanov, you are so bad," Jordan murmured wickedly, her slim hands running torturous paths over her husbands tuxedo clad body before he was able to still her wandering hands.

Looking into her shining green eyes, his ebony gaze mesmerized her and his deep voice set her blood to boiling. "You know the old saying, 'When I'm bad I'm better!' Look forward to it Jordan!" he warned her wickedly, chuckling deeply at her stunned expression that rapidly turned to sensual awareness before taking her hand and pulling her toward their guest-filled house and the awaiting celebration.

Thankfully, if anyone noticed Jordan's flushed face and dazed expression they simply attributed it to the excitement of the wedding and everything associated with it.

But each time Aleksei's eyes met Jordan's, he tapped his watch, and smiled in such a way that had her body aching for his touch and her mind swirling with images that would have shocked their children.

She wondered how she was ever going to survive it.

* * * * *

Throughout the beautiful ceremony, Matt's mind kept drifting away from the softly spoken vows as he pondered the flowing red-velvet cape Dani was wearing. Images not meant for a religious ceremony swirled headily through his mind as the thought she might be wearing nothing beneath her cape teased him. Or worse, was only clothed in a few bits of red silk that she would classify as 'under garments'. He wasn't sure which image drove him crazier!

  For reasons he hadn't yet been able to figure out, red had become a color that brought to his mind images of Dani in all her various moods. But what really confused him was why he didn't suffer the same intense reaction when another woman was wearing red. It simply seemed to be something directly related to Dani. Regardless of the reasons for his reaction, his breath stuck in his throat as he helped her off with her cape and found himself staring down at her bare, pale shoulders, and arms. With her hair piled high into a riot of curls, and only a few escaping tendrils that teased her bare shoulders, Matt found himself struggling for breath.

"I think it might be best if you left your cape on," Matt suggested quietly, his voice a deep growl.

"Why, did I rip it somewhere?" Dani asked, moving and dipping as she looked for some problem with her dress.

Her movements had Matt's body responding heatedly, and another low growl escaping his chest. "Darlin', you bend over any farther and you'll definitely make this a wedding to remember!" he stated. "You didn't rip your dress; I just wish there was a bit more to the top of it," he offered with a raised eyebrow.

Realization hit and a small, teasing smile curved Dani's full, red lips. "You don't like my dress?" she asked Matt slowly, her voice a sexy drawl.

Matt's heated gaze swept her from head to toe and back up again. Her gown, the same shade of red as her cape, was form fitting at the bodice, and displayed her swelling breasts too damn enticingly, then draped into yards of chiffon that drifted like teasing smoke lit by a fire whenever she moved. "Don't get me wrong, Darlin', I like your dress very much. My only concern are the others that might find themselves liking your dress also, maybe a little more than they should." Matt's eyes sparkled a bit dangerously and there was a definite look of possessiveness about them.

Dani cast a glance around the room at the small group of people she had known all her life who were here to share in the wedding celebration. With the exception of Hunter, Emily's mother, and Emily, everyone was paired up with a spouse, or significant other. As Dani and Hunter's eyes met, and they exchanged a smile, Dani felt Matt's hand slide onto her shoulder in a move should could only label territorial. "Why Mr. Tanner, I'd swear there's a little green monster whispering in your ear," Dani teased, patting his hand reassuringly and turning to face him.

Faced with a full view of her swelling bosom and low neckline, Matt shook his head in misery. "Darlin', he's not whispering, he's screaming at the top of his lungs!" The more he looked at her neckline the more he was certain he was never going to survive the evening.

Dani's eyebrows lifted questioningly. "Oh, and what's he screaming?" she asked calmly, straightening his already straight bow tie and running her palms down the front of his tuxedo.

"Either cover her up or get her the hell out of here!" he growled in answer.

Dani simply smiled at his comment and tilted her head in consideration. "You know, you probably don't want to hear this, but not so long ago, Hunter was in the same position as you are now; concerned about my 'over exposure'."

"Oh, and how did he handle it?" Matt growled, sending the aforementioned person a dark scowl, not that Hunter saw it.

"Not well. In fact, and you'll probably be happy hearing this, he got totally ripped and cracked his head open on a tile floor."

Matt smiled a somewhat satisfied smile; feeling better knowing he wasn't the only male Dani had this effect on. "It looks as if he survived the encounter," Matt offered flatly, sending Hunter another dark look.

"Yes, the doctor did a fine job with the stitches; there's not even a scar. Regardless, it was pretty much the end of whatever relationship we might have had."

Matt cast another glance toward Hunter and saw a man who screamed success; designer clothes, designer haircut that let not a hair out of place; fancy car parked out front - the man practically oozed money. Still, he was unable to stop the little smile that curved his lips as he thought of the same guy bleeding all over his fancy suit because he couldn't fit Dani into the perfect little niche he believed she belonged. At the same time, he had Hunter to thank because now Dani was free to be with someone else, and he just happened to be that someone! He had to admit; sometimes it was a little strange how one man's misfortune became another man's good luck and everything he ever wanted fell like treasure into his lap. And that's exactly what Dani was: a treasure, a miracle of light and laughter and love; the sparkle that made his eyes shine and made each day a marvel. "Maybe I should go thank him for being an idiot?"

Dani's eyes filled with confusion.

"He was stupid enough to let the best thing in his life slip through his fingers. I believe I can be gracious enough to thank him for showing me that angels really do exist in human form," Matt offered softly, lifting her hand, turning it over and gently kissing the warmth of her wrist, his eyes gleaming with anything but an angelic light. "But, Darlin', I have to admit, I've never seen an angel looking quite as delicious as you do this moment."

Dani's heart thumped madly in her chest and her breath came in little gasps as Matt watched her cheeks blush rosily and her eyes darken sensually. Suddenly, she wished the evening was over and they could find a quiet, dark corner and escape from the world. "You're going to spend the evening driving me crazy, aren't you?" Dani asked breathlessly, looking up into his gorgeous eyes, filled with the same raging emotions that matched her own, and wished they weren't surrounded by people.

"Darlin', I simply complimented you on how lovely you look tonight. Anything else you may have read into my words comes strictly from your lively imagination and I can't be held responsible for it."

Dani's chin lifted challengingly and her dark green eyes flashed with daring. "Are you saying you have no interest in seducing me this evening?"

"Darlin', seducing you is at the top of my list of things I'd most like to do. However, doing so in the middle of this group; small though it be, and most especially, with your parents, coaches, and newlyweds within reach, let alone, your ex-boyfriend, I think showing a little willpower might be the better course of action tonight."

Dani took a little step closer to Matt. The chiffon of her skirts whispered against his pants, while her breasts pressed temptingly against his jacket. Her eyes gleamed darkly. "What if I'm not interested in showing a little willpower? What if I told you I'd meet you under the Christmas Tree at two a.m. wearing nothing but a red silk teddy and a smile?"

Matt glanced at his watch and grimaced - a little after seven o'clock. "I'd say it's cruel and unusual punishment to suggest such a thing to a man and then make him suffer having to wait so many hours to view that visual image. We men are simple creatures. We torment easily and patience isn't one of our strong points!"

"Are you telling me you don't enjoy anticipation?" Dani murmured softly, running her thumb across his full lower lip, before stretching up onto her toes to kiss his mouth lightly.

His wishful sigh was a warm caress across her cheek as she pulled away, and delight sparkled in her eyes as she watched Matt's eyes glaze with desire. "Darlin', anticipation is a fine thing when you know the prize is within arms reach. However, when it's several hours away, anticipation is highly over-rated!"

"Poor baby," Dani purred seductively. "Imagine how my brother and Chloe feel knowing they have several hours until they can disappear and have a little alone time."

"They've already had their 'alone time'. Isn't that the reason you're having this little celebration?" Matt groused, his expression closing in on pouting.

"They were planning on being married in a few months anyway," she stated with a defiant look. "And don't whine!" Dani scolded lightly.

"Men don't whine!" Matt argued quietly.

Dani's eyebrows lifting in disagreement and her soft snort of disagreement said differently.

"We may snivel occasionally, and with good reason, but we don't whine," he stated firmly.

"Ah," she murmured quietly, a soft smile curving her lips.

Matt looked at her dubiously. "Don't 'ah' me."

"What? I was simply agreeing with you," Dani murmured softly, her eyes flashing with amusement.

"You were patronizing me, Darlin', not agreeing; there's a difference."

Aleksei chose that moment to join his daughter and Matt and slip the matching chiffon scarf over Dani's shoulders. "Your mother said you should wear this to alleviate many of the same problems you encountered at the Gala," he suggested, placing a kiss on his daughter's cheek and shaking Matt's hand before he disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.

"Thanks Daddy," Dani called after her father's retreating back, before returning her attention to Matt. "Now, where were we?" she asked calmly.

Matt's long fingers grasped the chiffon scarf and he wrapped the two ends around his hands and gently pulled her toward him until she was pressed tightly against his body. "Let me see," he murmured huskily, pressing his hips against hers and leaving her no doubt as to his state of being. "You, obviously, intend to tease and torment me over the next several hours, and I, being the gentleman I am, will allow you to do it."

"What?" Dani interrupted with a surprised gasp.

Matt's tone grew huskier and his eyes darkened in passion. "However, don't think this little game you've started will be one sided," he stated, placing a light kiss beneath her right ear, his breath a warm caress against her neck. "You're new to this game of seduction, and, Darlin', we southern boys can talk virgins out of their white cotton panties without even breaking a sweat!" Matt teased her huskily, stealing a nipping kiss from her lips before he released the ends of her scarf and let them drift through his fingers.

"Oh?" Dani's chin lifted defiantly and her eyes blazed with a daring fire. "Would you turn around for me for just a moment?" Dani asked softly, taking his shoulders and pushing him to face away from her when a confused expression filled his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Matt asked over his shoulder, his body blocking her from the view of others, as he listened to the gentle swish of her chiffon skirts.

"First off, I haven't worn 'white cotton panties' since I was six! And secondly&ldots;" Matt felt her hand slide into his coat pocket, slide out again and then pat him on the bottom. "Now you won't have to worry about talking me out of my panties," she murmured over his shoulder.

Matt peeked into his pocket, saw a small scrap of red silk fabric, and swallowed hard. "Danielle Janae Rocmanov, what the hell do you think