Page 12 of Holiday Promise

Warmth seeped into her face. She wanted to deny it, but she already knew what this was about. There was only one question. Was she strong enough to push him away? “Okay,” she whispered against her better judgement.

Blake paused for a moment, as if he needed to gather his thoughts. Then he reached for her hand, his thumb trailing over her knuckles. “What I’m about to say, I don’t say lightly. I’ve never experienced the desire for a fling or a relationship without strings attached. I’ve always found that my heart’s desire is usually exactly what I need.”

She couldn’t breathe. Even though she suspected this was where he was going, to have him actually say it was a whole other issue.

“I should probably apologize for my candor, but I won’t.”

Melody’s legs went numb. It was all she could do to remain standing upright. She’d had boyfriends before, but none of them had affected her the way he was in this very moment. Oh, how she wished she’d called her sister to tell her about her developing crush. She would’ve likely had a thing or two to say about it.

“I can’t fight these feelings. They’ve been growing steadily over the past few days and there’s no way to ignore them any further. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

She nodded, her mouth so dry she wouldn’t have been surprised if she spit sand when she spoke next.

Blake took a deep breath and exhaled. His next words came out in a pleading whisper. “Tell me you feel it too.”

Her shuddering breath, her roaring pulse, all of it gave her away. She might have even collapsed right then and there if it wasn’t for the fact that she leaned her hip against the counter. “I do,” she whispered. “But it’s a bad idea.”

His brows furrowed.

“Think about it,” she said quietly. “This isn’t just about us. Max would be brought into the middle of everything. If weallowed our feelings to lead us, then what happens if we no longer feel any of this?”

“That’s not how things work for me.” He searched her face as if he might be able to dig past all her hesitations.

“But what if that was exactly what happened? I can’t see him hurting again. When you hired me, it took a lot to get him to trust me the way he does now?—”

“And I don’t want him to lose you, either. Max needs you.”

“So you agree?—”

“If you’re suggesting that I agree we shouldn’t at least give it a try, you’re wrong.”

She snapped her mouth shut, unsure of where this could go otherwise.

Blake tightened his hold on her and tugged her a little closer. “I’ve managed my company for nearly a decade. I’ve had to oversee the hiring and firing. I have had to deal with clients I despise and I’ve even lost the ones I’ve held dear. I can be professional even if what you’re suggesting were to happen.”

Melody shook her head. “It would be too messy.”

He grasped her chin, his voice lowering further. “Even ‘messy’ is worth it if it means finding happiness.”

She didn’t know what it was exactly that had her wanting to believe him so dearly. It might have been the way he looked at her, or the gentleness of his touch. Heck, it was probably the way he sounded so dang believable. No wonder he’d grown such a successful company. With one twitch of his lips, one graze of his skin against hers, she lost her resolve. Melody nodded. “Okay.”

“Okay?” The hope in his voice nearly tore her to shreds from the inside out. Her stomach churned and twisted in a devastatingly delightful way. Before she knew what was happening, he’d pulled her against his frame. His hand rested at the small of her back while the other grasped the back of her neck.

He paused momentarily, his eyes meeting hers, questioning hers, before he closed the distance between them and kissed her.

His lips claimed her in ways she’d never experienced. Their kiss was soft and sweet, but at the same time there was a tang of passionate desire that only added to the thrill of it all. What they were doing would be frowned upon. No one in her family would understand. Heck, if the people in town were paying attention, they might think she’d manipulated her way into a millionaire’s arms.

She probably should be worried. No, she definitely should be worried.

Unfortunately, the way Blake kissed her made her forget everything, every reservation, and every fear. Right here, right now, all she wanted was to be held by him, caressed by him. Loved by him.

EIGHT

Christmas continued to approach at a speed that Blake wasn’t prepared for. The closer it got, the sooner he’d have to return to his usual work schedule. With each passing day he spent in Melody’s presence, he found he craved even more.

They’d promised to keep Max in the dark about the whole thing. He wasn’t old enough to understand what was going on, and they’d agreed there was no rush in the matter.

Still, each time he shared a meaningful look with Melody across the dinner table, each time his hand brushed against hers when they went to town for some fun, his joy grew. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this happy.