Page 16 of Holiday Promise

“Yeah, of course.”

“Was everything okay? Is everything at work going the way… it’s supposed to?”

“Sure, why?”

She hesitated. Discussing personal and business with Thomas didn’t feel quite right. But she didn’t have much of a choice unless she wanted to risk losing more than she wanted to. “Is Blake?—”

“I know you two are dating,” he murmured.

“You do?” She shouldn’t have been surprised. Thomas knew everything about Blake. It would’ve been easy to look through his financials and see that Blake had bought her flowers last week.

“It wasn’t that hard. One look at the way you two stare at each other…” His voice trailed off, but she didn’t miss the hint of disdain in it.

“You don’t think it’s appropriate,” she murmured.

“You want my advice?”

She didn’t speak. There were several reasons she wanted him to tell her what he thought and just as many why she didn’t want him involved.

He sighed, his exhaustion coming through with that one breath. “He’s your boss. It’s not really appropriate for that reason alone. You’re in his home, with his kid all day. It wouldn’t be hard to manipulate you?—”

“He didn’t manipulate me,” she shot back.

Thomas was quiet for a moment. “One way or the other, there’s a power difference between the two of you. But let’s say there wasn’t. What do you think is going to happen after the holidays? Do you think everything is going to remain the same? Let’s assume that this relationship of yours grows even deeper. Okay, so what’s next? You get married and you have to spend days on end without him because of his work?”

She hadn’t thought that far, but Thomas was right. Blake might have been spending more time with his son for the holidays, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t revert back to the man he was before. There was a reason he’d hired a nanny tocare for his son. There were several weeks when he barely saw Max. At first, it had really frustrated her, but then she’d learned to accept it. Children all over the world had parents who traveled for work.

But could she handle being with someone who did? That was a choice she’d have to be willing to make, and consequently one that she wasn’t sure she could.

“I hate to say this,” Thomas murmured, “but you have to consider all the possibilities. It’s been a year since Alison passed. If there’s even a chance he was just passing the time with a pretty face, do you think you could handle learning the truth?”

Those were the words that shattered her resolve. It would make sense for Blake to start distancing himself if his end goal was to break things off. That would make it so much easier to remain ‘professional’ after it was over. Everything Thomas has said made sense.

Which only made her feel even sicker to her stomach. “I have to go,” she murmured numbly. “Good night, Thomas.”

TEN

While Blake remained uneasy about how his relationship with Melody had begun, he knew he couldn’t continue avoiding the problem. As terrified as he was about bringing it up, it had to be done.

He’d lost Alison to a stupid accident on the ice—one he couldn’t control. He refused to lose Melody because he didn’t speak candidly with her about something that bothered him. He’d been too closed off for long enough.

Blake left his office after a particularly long day of work. The house was quieter than usual. He didn’t hear Melody’s voice, nor Max’s for that matter. When entered the kitchen, the only person he found was Ms. Anthony.

She glanced up at him with a smile. “Can I make you something for lunch? Max and Melody already ate, but I’d be happy to?—”

“Where are they? I haven’t heard them recently?”

Ms. Anthony motioned toward the backyard. “Max is building a snowman. And I’m not sure where Melody is.”

Blake froze mid-way to the window. He turned toward her with confusion. “She’s not here?” his heart hammered as a million terrible scenarios filled his mind. Alison had gone totown by herself that day. When she wasn’t back by dinner, that had triggered the worst night of his life.

“I’m sorry, dear. She said that she needed to run an errand and she’d be back before supper?—”

Blake was already halfway to the door when he cut her off. “Can you keep an eye on Max? I’m going to look for her.”

“I’m sure she’s fine.”

“Me, too,” he murmured without conviction. “I just need to speak with her on an urgent matter.” He opened the door without a second backward glance. It wasn’t against the rules for Melody to take a break. She’d done it a hundred times throughout the year. When Ms. Anthony was available to watch Max for an hour or two, Melody took advantage of the opportunity.