Page 18 of The Christmas Accomplice

“Well, fine. I rescind the moving vans comment. But you’re standing here psyching yourself out and insisting nothing could ever work between the two of you without even giving it the barest possibility of a chance to get started.”

“Look, I need to focus on this job promotion. Anything outside of that is just going to be a distraction.”

“I get that, but answer one question for me.”

“What?”

“How’d you feel when you were building that snowman with Welton?”

Reece shrugged and turned away from her, busying himself with arranging some pens and straightening a small stack of papers. “I don’t know. Fine, I guess.”

“You’re not being honest with me or yourself.” She took a step closer and lowered her voice as she slowly repeated her question. “How did you feel when you spent time with him?”

He stopped his frantic rearranging and braced his hands to either side of the terminal as he stared out across the lobby. The hotel guests, holiday decorations, and beautiful and comfortable furniture all faded from view and he was once again back out in the snow with Welton. Every time Welton laughed, Reece had felt a zing of attraction. When Welton blushed, Reece thought he’d never seen anyone look more adorable.

Good God, I just thought the word adorable about some guy I haven’t even known a day. I’m in way over my head here.

Nick was still waiting for a response, and he faced her. “I felt good. Happy.” He smiled. “I wasn’t thinking about the promotion or going up against Graham or anything else.”

“You were in the moment.”

“I was in the moment.”

“How often has that happened for you?”

Reece gave a wry chuckle. “Not often.”

“Don’t you think it’s something you should pay attention to?”

“You know, that’s all well and good to say, but it’s not that easy. It doesn’t just happen, you know? At least not for me.”

“Right, I know,” Nick said. “Your track record isn’t so hot.”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far,” Reece said, feeling a little stung.

“From what you’ve told me, the guys you’ve been serious about have either not returned the feelings with your same level of emotion, or they were already in a relationship.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“But what about Welton? Did you get the sense he might feel the same way you do?”

A guest approached, and Nick greeted her, giving Reece some time to think about what she’d asked. He remembered Welton’s laugh, the shine in his eyes, the red in his cheeks and nose, and the dimples when he smiled. Yes, Welton had felt something between them as well. But so what if he did? Once Christmas was over, Welton was heading back to Detroit where he had a life waiting for him.

And for all I know, someone he’s involved with as well.

Once Nick finished assisting the guest, she asked, “Well?”

“It doesn’t matter if he feels the same or not, because he’s a guest, and the one thing all guests here have in common is that they leave. After Christmas, Welton’s going back home, and I’ll be standing behind this desk checking him out. And since I’m going to be staying here, I need to focus on doing my best with whatever activities Graham submitted so I can at least move up here at work.”

“It is important to be upwardly mobile,” Nick said. “But it’s nicer when you have someone other than me rooting you on.”

“That’s a nice thought, but it’s just how it’s got to be. As cute and nerdy and potentially right for me as Welton is, it would never work out.”

“And so why even try, right?”

“Right. All that energy I might use on trying to build something with him, I can direct toward the assistant activities director job.”

“Perfect,” Nick said. “And that’ll keep you warm at night.”

A few guests approached the desk before Reece had a chance to respond. As he worked, he made sure to keep thoughts of Welton at bay.

Or at least at a minimum.

Or maybe just not front of his mind.