by Dana Volney
“Their game.” The smile was still on his face. “I’m just playing their game.”
That’s it. She couldn’t take it anymore. I’m not the one who should be navigating this world. “You really should’ve just brought your girlfriend.”
Blake looked puzzled and opened his mouth to speak when the lights of the foyer started to dim, signaling the crowd into the theater and ending their conversation. Blake placed his hand on her back, a motion she was coming to expect… and crave.
* * *
The play about love, Christmas, and magic was long and tedious. And when it ended, they shuffled out with the masses. So far he’d managed to have spoken only to his mother, and the look on her face was priceless. She obviously thought he was dating someone and she was the last to find out. Ha, I couldn’t have planned that any better if I’d tried. Joke’s on you, Mom. He shouldn’t act like this, especially to his mom, but he was mad about his family trying to control his life and the fact that they didn’t know much about Halle was probably his twisted way to get back at them.
Blake’s goal was to have a quick word with the senator, the only reason he was here in the first place, and then make a beeline for the door. He surveyed the crowd. The senator was an equally tall man and finding him in a crowd was usually not a problem. Blake felt his sleeve rustle. His heart rate quickened before his mind realized who it was. Halle. He took a deep breath. Why had she surprised him? Of course she was right next to him. He could smell her intoxicating scent; she’d changed it tonight, but something was still the same.
There he was. His eyes settled on Paul Davis, the man of the hour.
“Let’s go say hi to Senator Davis,” Blake spoke low as he ushered Halle toward the man. “His wife is Veronica. She is big into animal foundations. My family has been close with them for as long as I can remember. I just need to chat a moment, then we can go.”
At that moment, someone moving past them bumped his hand lower on Halle’s back, down to the fullness of her butt. Blake’s heart rate kicked up a notch as he returned his hand to its former position. His gaze dropped to where his hand just caressed. He couldn’t help it. Halle looked amazing in her bronze dress. She always looked good – jeans, dresses, it didn’t matter. He steadied his breathing to control his physical reaction to her and her curves. Get a hold of yourself man. He still had business to conduct. And Halle clearly wasn’t interested in him. She barely made eye contact with him all night and still seemed less than thrilled to be there. Not that he could blame her on the latter.
He cleared his throat and reached out to shake Paul’s hand. “Good to see you.”
“Blake. It’s been a while.”
“How’d ya like the play?” Senator Davis asked after the round of obligatory introductions.
“Well, Senator, I thought it was as good as your duck hunting skills,” Blake razzed the man he’d known since grade school.
“Yes, I thought it was magnificent as well.”
The men chuckled and the women rolled their eyes.
“I swear, the more I work to save animals, the more he kills.” Veronica directed her retort to the group but snickered with Halle.
“It’s called relating to the constituents, dear.”
“I’ve heard of your work with animals,” Halle admitted to Veronica. “Don’t sell yourself short, you do a lot of good. I envied the anti-animal testing laws you helped pass.”
“Hey, I had a little something to do with that,” Paul weighed in.
“Yah, writing that signature is heavy lifting,” she shot back good-naturedly.
Blake marveled at how Halle always seemed to know what to say. He’d witnessed her holding her own in all types of situations over the past couple of weeks. She never faltered, even when Blake suspected she had no idea what she was talking about. She’s crafty. I’ll give her that. He could use a woman like that on his arm all the time. Halle could be the sociable one and he wouldn’t have to worry about coming to these things anymore. What am I thinking? This is ridiculous.
“You’ll have to come down to the center, we’d love to have you,” Veronica capitalized on Halle’s feigned interest. “We need volunteers for all sorts of things.”
“I’d love that.” Halle’s eyes lit up. “I have a weak spot for all creatures.”
Huh, I didn’t know that. How is it she knows more about me than I know about her? That thought disturbed him. He prided himself on keeping his life to himself. How had he told her as much as he already did?
“Oh, dear, that is Mr. Dempsy.” Paul’s gaze averted as he reached for his wife. “Didn’t you want to catch him?” She nodded, clearly having moved on mentally to the next conversation for the evening. “Blake, great to see you. I’m in town after the holidays. I’ll call you.”
“Sounds good. Merry Christmas.”
He turned to face Halle as the couple sought out Mr. Dempsy.
“That was it?” she said.
“Yep.”
“Aren’t you offended?” Halle’s brow furrowed.
“No. I’ve known Paul for years. That’s what he has to do. When he comes back to town we’ll get together and have some beers, kick back. I just had to formally say ‘hi’ here more or less to make my mom happy.”
She seemed confused and that caused Blake to grin. She was so naïve to the world that was second nature to him. All of these events were really about glad-handing and appearances for the most part.
“I’m not seeing anyone, you know,” he blurted out the words. “No girlfriend. I’m not sure where you got that from.” He had no plan for what to say from there, and his words seem to hang in the air between them.
“Oh.” Halle’s eyes widened.
Blake felt his temperature rise. He searched her face for some indication that his news was good… or bad. For some reason he felt like he’d just told Halle a secret, and he was nervous about her response. She stood there in silence, so he seamlessly moved to her side, put his hand where it loved to sit, and led her to the door. He didn’t feel like mingling and his duty for the night was over.
“Blake.” A strong voice called out behind him. Dammit. He knew that voice. So close.
He stopped and circled around, catching Halle’s hand to stop her progression. The touch of her hand was soft, and somehow their fingers managed to tangle. He probably should’ve dropped her hand as soon as she got the hint to come back, but he didn’t. A yearning burned low in his belly for her and he wrestled that feeling as he stared into the eyes of the board president of the North Platte River Bank, Myles Thomas.
“Blake, I’m glad to see you here.” Myles glanced down at their hands. It was quick, but Blake caught it.
Just perfect. Myles wasn’t exactly known for discretion, and he wouldn’t ask questions, he’d just assume. Time to start using this deal to my advantage.
“Myles.” Blake extended his right hand, glad he’d caught Halle with his left. Myles was a nice guy, but he didn’t want to talk about the bank right now, or about Blake’s impending decision whether to stay on as the bank president or to work at the ranch.
“Have you thought more about our conversation?”
“I have.” Blake nodded. “But, tonight, I promised this beautiful woman my full attention. So, if you don’t mind…”
Best idea of the year to bring Halle here. This is working out better than I expected after all.
“Hi.” Halle let go of Blake’s hand and hugged Myles. “So nice to see you. How have you been?”
Blake was suddenly jealous of the man who received a full embrace from Halle so easily. Blake had to stop himself for reaching for her hand when she was back by his side.
“Halle. My dear.” Blake watched Myles’ face soften. “The family is well. Thank you. How about you? We missed you at Thanksgiving.”
Thanksgiving? Halle kept her focus on Myles, giving Blake no clue to her emotions.
“Oh, well, you know how that goes.” She studied the ground.
M
yles didn’t wait long before he asked, “Have you talked to your dad?”
“No, Uncle Myles, I haven’t.” Halle lifted her head and looked right at the man.
Uncle? Blake’s head reeled from the new knowledge. He realized he didn’t know Halle extensively, but to not know that Myles Thomas was her uncle? Did that mean she really did know everything she’d been saying at these events? She’s been lying to me. Blake could feel his blood pumping in the side of his neck.
“You two are so stubborn.” Myles chortled and shook his head.
Halle shrugged. “Family trait.”
“You should mend fences soon. There’s some big stuff on the horizon.”
“Yeah, well, you know as well as I do that is what started this. I’m happy and the shop is doing great. You should come by and see it. I’ve done a lot to it since the last time you and Aunt Betty were in.”
“We’ll do that. Maybe go out to dinner afterward?”
“That sounds like a plan.”
They hugged again as Blake stood there gawking. He didn’t know how to put into words what just happened. Betrayed? Deceived?
He’d told Halle more about himself than he’d ever shared with someone before. Albeit that didn’t amount to a lot of information, but it was still more than others had received. And now come to find out, he had no clue who she really was.
Halle rotated to face him as Myles nodded his goodbyes. There was nothing else to say between them. Blake knew what Myles wanted him to do, and now Myles thought he was dating his niece. What a curious story he was in.
“Shall we?” Halle’s lips curved up slightly and her face shone hopefully.
“Yes.”
Blake started to put his hand on the small of her back but stopped. It didn’t seem right anymore. Irritation at being sideswiped by Halle’s identity took over his mind. He had thought Halle was not of his world, that she was innocent in this mess and he was bringing her into it. He’d even started feeling bad that he’d introduced her to this community of people. He didn’t have to feel bad now. He had no reason to – she was one of them.
“So, Myles is your uncle?” He tried to sound nonchalant. He didn’t succeed. They had managed to make it to his truck before the question exploded from him, and now he sat in his driver’s side seat staring at her. He’d started the truck but only because it was a chilly ten degrees outside and freezing to death wouldn’t get him any closer to the truth.
“Yep.” Halle casually nodded.
Blake’s jaw jumped. He wanted her to be more forthcoming. The woman always wants to talk and now she won’t say a word? Typical.
“And your dad would be…?”
“Edward.”
I knew it. “Edward Adams,” Blake firmly said as he continued to stare at her. Myles’s wife and Halle’s dad were siblings.
It was dark, but the parking lot light next to them shone into the cab. Her green eyes were surveying him. He could see them narrow at him, too.
“Does that matter?” she asked in a careful tone.
Yes. No. She should’ve told me. “Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”
“Why would I?” Halle’s voice started to rise with an edge.
“Why?” his voice raised now, too. “Why would you mention that your uncle is on the board – correction – the president of the board, of my family’s bank?” Blake shrugged his shoulders, adding to his sarcasm. “The same bank my Grandpa just left to me and I’m supposed to take over?” He tried to put his hand on his hip but, sitting down, that motion didn’t quite land. “No need to tell me your father is Edward Adams, either. The man who basically controls all prime real estate and new construction in town. It’s not like any of the Ellison businesses do business with him. But, I’m sure you know that. Why do you even need a loan? Why can’t you run to Daddy?”
Blake watched the rage build in Halle’s eyes as he ranted. If he weren’t so upset, maybe he would have recognized the need to stop his rant at the beginning.
“My relationship with my dad is none of your business.” Halle’s tone was sharp and unyielding. “Why would I tell you any of that? We had a deal. You,” she shoved her finger toward him, “and me.” Halle’s finger touched her chest. “Not anyone else. Not my uncle. Not my dad.” She shifted in her seat to square up with him. “You are the one who didn’t want to talk about family and pressures, Blake. You don’t get to change that now. If it were your business, then I would have told you.”
The words he’d once used against her stung as she spat them back at him.
“You didn’t think mentioning who your dad is with all of his connections to my family was important?”
“No. I didn’t. I don’t concern myself with his business anymore.”
“Why haven’t I ever seen you at these things?”
“I have no idea.” Halle took a deep breath. “You are incredible, you know that? Incredibly self-centered and irritating.”
Blake opened his mouth, although he wasn’t sure what he was going to say. Thankfully, or not, Halle didn’t let him try.
“Please take me home.” She swiveled in her seat, crossed her arms, and looked straight ahead.
He sat there as well, continuing to study Halle. He was still reeling from all of the information she’d just thrown at him. He pressed two fingers to his left temple in a poor attempt to defuse the beginnings of a headache then jammed his key in the ignition. Of all the places I could’ve walked into to get Candace a present.
He pointed his truck toward her townhouse. He ran through all of the conversations, all of the times she could’ve said something. She had opportunities. She knew exactly what she was doing with all of that schmoozing. How had he never met her before? He knew her uncle and had met her dad on several occasions, but never remembered seeing Halle. And, from her reaction in her store the first time they’d met, she had no idea who he was either. I can’t believe this.
There were still three events that she’d signed on to attend: a fundraiser, a feed the homeless charity, and his family Christmas party. Oh, great. He wished the last one wasn’t less than a week away.
He pulled up to her townhouse. She was out of the truck as soon as he put the gearshift in park. No goodbye. No good night. Nothing. Blake watched to make sure she got inside her home safely. He rubbed his hand down his face. If he could just close his eyes and go back a couple of weeks… that wouldn’t solve anything.
In all honesty, he thought this night would go a lot differently. He’d pictured, for some dumb reason, that Halle would end up in his arms. That she would put her lips on his and kiss him all over. That was not the case. At this point he didn’t know if he still had a date for the rest of the month… or if he wanted one.
Chapter Eight
Halle lit the Christmas lights around her shop, then poured herself a glass of wine. Stupid men. She wanted to turn back the tables to the beginning of December and put her closed sign out. Why did I let myself get wrapped up in all of this? Unbelievable. Truthfully, maybe not so unbelievable. Halle wasn’t great at dating; all of her past relationships told that tale. But her deal with Blake wasn’t dating. It was a mutually beneficial agreement. Except now, she wasn’t sure she’d get her benefit.
She let out a sigh, grabbed the wine bottle, and headed to her sitting area in the middle of her store. I wasn’t obligated to tell him. He never asked about my family. Halle curled her legs under her and continued her pity party until Corrine materialized.
“I thought you had a dealio tonight.” Corrine said.
Corrine sat down and took a sip from the wine glass Halle had abandoned. She wasn’t in the mood to drink. She wasn’t in the mood to do anything.
“Yep. Not going.”
“Why not?”
“Don’t feel like it.”
“Halle, what’s going on?”
“I wanted a business loan and the bank said no.” her words rapidly spilled out.
There was no use keeping details from Corrine any
longer. It would probably feel good to tell her, anyway. Halle would take any comfort she could get right now.
“Then Blake came into the store,” she continued as she watched the lights on the trees change color. “He needed a date and I needed a loan. I’m not long-time friends with him. I just met him that day.” She took a deep breath into an aching chest. “So, we’ve been going to these functions, had a couple more left actually, and everything was going fairly well.” She picked at her light-pink polished fingernail.
She shouldn’t be upset over all of this. She needed to calm down. Maybe she was just sad about the loan.
“We got into a big fight last night. I’m not going to any more events. Which means no loan for me.” Halle rested her head on her folded up knees, then faced Corrine.
“Obviously there is a lot to talk about here. But why in the world do you need a loan?”
“My independence. I want to be on my own. I don’t want to be under Dad’s umbrella anymore. I want our relationship to be on my terms; ones that I have a say in.”
“Independence needs a loan?”
“To buy a store. I don’t want to rent from Dad anymore. I bought my own car, home, and this building is the only thing left financially tying me to him. I like Casper and I don’t want to move to where Mom is, so this is the only way. If Dad and I are going to have a relationship, it can’t be with strings. He doesn’t play fair.” She picked up her wine glass and traced the top with her finger. “We could go in on a building together ya know; that’d be fun.” Halle tried to lighten her voice.
“What was the fight with Blake about?”
Halle scoffed. “My dad of course. He ruins everything.”
“First, he doesn’t ruin everything. You turned out pretty good.”
“Only because I went with Mom.”
“Second, how in the world did you two fight about your dad? Blake doesn’t like him?”
“I don’t know if he even knows him. Blake was pissed I didn’t tell him all of the names of my family members in town.”
