‘Anything for you.’ For the first time, Caroline looked completely serious. ‘I’m just so happy to see you, Blake. You look good.’
As they drove away Callie didn’t say anything. Caroline’s cryptic words kept swirling around in her head, rousing the thoughts she had refused to have for such a long time. Rousing feelings she had ignored even when they had demanded attention. Because she couldn’t give in to them. Not when she didn’t know where she stood with Blake.
One moment she felt as if she didn’t know this man she’d spent so much time with, the next he was kissing her as if he was a dying man and she was his last breath. And then he’d arranged this trip to a fairy godmother.
How could she love a man like that? she thought, and then went very still when she realised it.
The very simple truth that made his strange behaviour so difficult to swallow.
She looked away, out of the window, although she didn’t see any of the buildings they passed. She just needed to look away from him. She didn’t want him to know that she loved him. That she—Callie McKenzie, who hadn’t thought she would ever open herself up enough to fall in love—was in love with her boss.
She squeezed her eyes closed, letting herself process the novelty of her thoughts.
Except that they weren’t new, she thought. They had been there since—well, she didn’t even know. But then Caroline had nudged her and cracked the armour she’d protected the thoughts in. She was in love with an incredible man. A man who cared about his company, about people, about her. A man who made her feel she wasn’t alone. A man who had helped her work through feelings from the most difficult part of her past.
If she’d had to pick him from a list on paper, Callie would have put money on herself picking Blake, and a part of her took joy from that. But that joy was quickly dimmed by the fact that the man she had fallen in love with wasn’t the man who was sitting next to her. And it terrified her—wholly and completely—to consider the reasons why that was the case.
She was so deep in thought that she didn’t even notice that they’d stopped until Blake put a hand on her thigh.
‘Callie?’
‘Yeah?’
‘We’re here.’
She looked around in surprise. ‘This isn’t the hotel.’
‘No, it isn’t. This is the salon my stepmother goes to. I made an appointment for you, and a car will come and get you in a few hours.’
‘Blake, this really isn’t necessary...’
‘A car will come and get you and bring you back in time for the event,’ he repeated, and then he continued, ‘There will probably be someone inside to help you with all the make-up stuff, too.’
‘Blake—’
‘No, don’t say it. Don’t tell me that you don’t want this. Because this isn’t about you. This is for you. You deserve this. After all you’ve done...’ He lifted a hand to her face and she thought that it was as if he needed her to believe him. ‘You deserve a few hours of relaxation. When people do things for you. Let me do this for you, okay?’
She wished she could just accept his words at face value. Her heart was full of him, of his compassion, of his gesture for her. But something told her that he’d said them out of obligation. Out of a need for her to accept this from him. And how could she resist such a plea?
‘Okay.’
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll see you in a little bit. Go and have fun.’
BLAKE WAS SURE he would burn a trail in the carpet if he didn’t stop pacing.
But he felt unsettled and couldn’t stop. Not when some of his employees passed him, smiling politely to hide their curiosity, or even when guests did, aiming puzzled looks at him as he walked back and forth in front of one of the rooms. He wasn’t sure if it was adrenaline for what was to come during the evening that fuelled his legs, or anticipation at seeing Callie when she finally emerged from the room she was using to get ready in.
He hadn’t seen her when she’d got back, so he didn’t know what she had thought about the limo he had sent to pick her up. It might have been overkill, but he wanted her to feel like a princess tonight. He wanted her to know that the effort she had put into the hotel hadn’t been for nothing. He wanted her to know that what they’d shared together meant something to him. Especially when he wouldn’t be able to tell her himself...
He paused. He didn’t want to think about those plans. He didn’t want to think about the way he had put distance between them, about Callie’s face every time he’d done so. He didn’t want to think about leaving her when it was all too painful. When he was doing it because he couldn’t bear to lose her, to disappoint her. He just wanted to spend one night with her without worrying about what it would do to them when he left. Or, worse, what it would do to her if he stayed and couldn’t give her what she wanted.
But he wasn’t running, he assured himself. He was just saving them both from the potential hurt.
But all thoughts froze in his head when she opened the door and hesitantly took two steps towards him.
The neckline of her gown lay lazily over her chest, hugging her curves and accelerating his heart. Especially when he saw a diamond necklace sparkling just above her breasts, as though it wanted to distract him and draw his attention to them at the same time. The rest of the dress was just as flattering, clinging to her curves and revealing legs that Blake now realised he had vastly under-appreciated. She wore silver shoes that wrapped around her legs from just below her knee, and never before had he found a pair of shoes more attractive.
Finally, when his body had settled, he rested his eyes on her face. Her hair was like silk, tied into some kind of intricate knot at the base of her skull. And her face was glowing, slightly red at his appraisal, and absolutely gorgeous.
‘Hi...’ she said huskily, and Blake had to check himself before he could speak.
‘Hi. You look amazing.’
She smiled hesitantly, closed the door behind her, and Blake had the pleasure of seeing how much skin the back of the dress revealed. He wasn’t sure which side of it he appreciated more, he thought, and smiled when she turned back to him. Just one night, he promised himself—and his conscience—and offered his arm.
‘Thank you,’ she said as she straightened the tiny train of the dress behind her.
When they got to the elevator he looked at her in question.
‘It would probably be best if we took the elevator today,’ she said, without moving.
He squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t worry, the electricity won’t go off tonight. And if it does I’ve made sure the generator is working, so we won’t get stuck.’
‘Famous last words...’ she breathed, and then straightened her shoulders and walked into
