Page 8 of Holiday Promise
Blake emerged, pulling the door shut.
“Don’t shut it all the way,” she whispered, catching him off guard.
He shot a look toward the door. “What?”
“Leave it open a crack. He likes to see the light from the rest of the house while he falls asleep.”
“But we’re going to bed, too.”
She swallowed hard, fighting the blush that threatened to fill her face. “Actually, I stay up a little longer so I can turn off the lights after he falls asleep.” Why did it feel like she was confessing to something she shouldn’t be doing? What was the harm in letting the boy feel safe while he fell asleep?
Blake’s narrowed gaze did nothing to ease her state of mind. Thankfully, he released the doorknob and stepped away from Max’s bedroom.
Using that as her cue, Melody hurried down the hallway to the make-shift library. It was more like a study than anything else, but the walls lined with shelves made it feel like she’d been transported into a famous fairytale. She plucked a book from a shelf closest to the door and settled into a large chair.
Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she gasped to find Blake hovering a few feet away. “Can I help you with something?” she asked quietly, never feeling quite this anxious in his presence. She wasn’t sure when it happened exactly, but the feeling was there, and she couldn’t see it leaving her any time soon.
He shifted, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe. “Yeah, you could answer a question.”
“Okay.” She placed her finger in the book where she’d been reading and closed it there. “What do you want to know?”
“That game. The one with the cookie…”
Immediately she blushed, just like she had before. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t like Max playing with his food. I just thought?—”
“It’s fine. We weren’t at the dinner table. But I’m curious. Do you do that sort of thing… often?”
“Sir?”
He cocked his head slightly. “Alison used to play games with Max. You can’t imagine the sorts of messes I’d come home to.”
Alison. It had been a long time since she’d heard the woman’s name. That length of time was the sort of thing that could give power to it. Melody swallowed hard and forced a smile. “Sure. Kids need games and activities like that. The memories they make now are the ones that will build the foundation for the kinds of parents they’re going to be.”
He frowned.
Shoot! Had she offended him?
“I don’t think I’m a very good father.”
She put the book to her side, forgotten. “Don’t say that! Of course you’re a good father.”
Blake shook his head. “I could be better.”
“Well, of course you could be better.”
He shot her a sharp look and she let out a laugh.
“What I mean to say is that we can all be better. None of us is perfect.”
“There are some who come close,” he murmured so quietly she wasn’t quite sure she’d heard him correctly. “I wanted to thank you,” he said, louder this time.
“What for?”
“For being there. For sticking up for my son.” His dark eyes drilled into her, pinning her to her spot just like he had earlier today. She wasn’t sure what it was exactly that was causing her to feel so helpless in front of him. Only a couple of days ago, she’d all but yelled at him. Now, she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze for more than a few seconds.
“It was nothing,” she whispered.
“No, it waseverything.”