Making It Personal Wells, C. (red queen free ebook TXT) 📖

windows. He tightened his arms around Will. It felt so right, lying like this.

How can you even think of giving this up?

The answer to that was easy. He couldn’t, not now.

The hard part would be to work out how to keep him.

Chapter Eleven

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Dave slipped in the question at the end of their weekly catch-up chat.

Blake leaned back into his chair and thought hard. “Wednesday. Nothing at the moment. Except wrapping presents for this lot.” Thursday was Christmas Eve and although the office would be open, it was only a half day. Traditionally there was a final team meeting, followed by a small party where the team exchanged gifts, nothing too extravagant. Everyone drew a name in secret and could only spend a maximum of twenty pounds on that person’s gift. Blake had drawn Karen this year, and her present was causing him some concern. Lately she was snapping at everyone, Will in particular. Rick had hinted there might be troubles at home with her boyfriend, a bricklayer who reportedly kept Karen on a short leash.

Blake’s gift to Will was already sorted. He’d got together with Beth and given her Will’s book, asking for her discretion once she’d read it. She’d carried out the edits in one night, and had passed it back to him the following day, her eyes shining. She’d clearly found it as moving an experience as Blake had. Strictly speaking, it should have gone to Will to accept or reject the edits, but Blake had a plan. He’d had run up a one-off copy, together with a cover designed by Peter. He wanted to give Will a taste of how it would be to have his own book in his hands. After New Year, they’d go through the whole process properly, but Blake wanted to surprise him.

“How would you like to come to dinner tomorrow night? My treat.”

Blake whistled. “Oh wow. Better write this one in the diary.” He grinned, waiting for Dave to react. He didn’t wait long.

“You cheeky sod. I paid last time, if you remember.”

Blake chuckled. “Yeah, I do, actually, so you must be after something. Out with it.”

“Well…” Dave hesitated. “The offer is for both you and Will.” Blake was stunned. He’d taken Dave out for a pint last Thursday night and told him about Melissa’s ultimatum. Dave’s reaction had been almost explosive. He demanded to know why Blake would even contemplate giving in to her demands. Then his mood changed. He’d asked quietly how Blake felt about Will.

Now there was a question.

Blake could no longer deny he had feelings for his PA. And the depth of those feelings continued to surprise him. As New Year came closer, the thought of giving up Will filled him with sorrow. He wasn’t sure he could do it. Not now. It had only been a week since the party, but already the difference in their relationship was apparent. The most noticeable thing was that Will had spent every night in Blake’s bed. In fact, in the last few days, he’d taken to leaving a change of clothes at Blake’s apartment so he didn’t have to crawl out of bed at stupid o’clock in order to go home and get ready for work. Blake had to admit he liked it. At work he knew he was walking around with a huge grin on his face, but he didn’t give a damn. And of course, everyone noticed. He could see his team dying to ask what had turned him into Mr. Happy all of a sudden, but typical of them, no one had broached the subject, not even Ed.

And as long as neither Blake nor Will mentioned Melissa, Blake could ignore the elephant in the room for a little longer.

Dave had been delighted to learn about Will. And as for asking them both to dinner, it would be their first outing as a couple.

A couple. Why are you deluding yourself like this? You know it can’t go anywhere.

Yeah, Blake knew. They both did. Oh, it had been a blissful week—that much was true. Long nights together, lying in each other’s arms, enjoying each other’s bodies. Waking up each morning to see Will beside him, curled up in his arms. Putting up a Christmas tree and decorating it together. But yes, they were deluding themselves. They tried to pretend it was bliss. Tried to make it anything other than what it was—their final moments together. Ticking away, one by one. The two men snatched bits of time wherever they could. Furtive kisses in Blake’s office when they were sure no one was around. Eating together. Every glance was memorized, every touch cherished. Every kiss filed away to keep them warm on the lonely nights that lay ahead.

Blake snapped out of his internal wanderings. “Dave, I think that’s a lovely idea. Eating out or your place?” Dave had an apartment above his studio.

“My place. And I’ll order in. You know what my cooking is like.”

Blake snorted. He and Dave had shared accommodation at university, and he still had vivid memories of Dave’s first cookery ‘experiments’.

“Ooh, now you’ve definitely sold me. I’ll be sure to bring the Gaviscon tablets. Just in case.” He chuckled as Dave gave out a low growl. “What time?”

“Seven? Think you two can manage to tear yourselves away from that hive of industry you slave away in?”

Blake chortled. “Yeah, I think we can manage that. This assumes, of course, that Will says yes.”

“Do your best. I need to see you both.”

Now Blake was really intrigued.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Mind if I use your bathroom?” Will asked.

“It’s along the corridor on the right,” Dave directed him. “I’ll have coffee ready by the time you come back.” Will smiled warmly as he exited the kitchen. Dave sidled over to where Blake was stuffing the Chinese takeout boxes into the trash. “I like him, Blake,” Dave said