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We continued walking, and Blake began to chat about his day, telling me about the different facets of his job that I knew nothing about.
In turn, we talked about my job. How much I loved the gallery and all the things Hugo and I have done to update it and turn it into what it is now.
"I think I would like Hugo," Blake mused as we turned a corner, Rockefeller Center coming into full view.
"Hugo would like you," I said with a chuckle. "He loves hot people."
"Duly noted."
I could hear the grin in Blake's voice, but I didn't turn to look at him. Not as we approached the massive tree lit from top to bottom with shining lights and ornate baubles.
It had always been my favorite part of the city, even if it was a tourist trap and brought in more people than it was worth. I loved how the city came to life this time of year, the way it shined a little brighter.
And if that meant I loved this tree, then so be it.
A man a couple dozen feet away from us took a violin out of a case and began playing it, and Blake turned to me with a smile.
Before I could protest, he began to twirl me, spinning me round and round as the violin trilled out familiar chords.
Christmas songs filled the air, and there I was, dancing with Blake.
"Are we gonna be late for the next part of the date?" I asked, smiling up at his handsome face.
His stormy blue eyes shown with mirth. "This is the next part of the date."
I looked past him at the tree and the crowd and the people milling about as we danced. A few people glanced at us skeptically. Others threw soft smiles our way. But a few others, others that apparently knew exactly who Blake was, had their phones held in the air, clearly taking pictures of the two of us.
"People are noticing," I said under my breath, turning my attention back to him and making sure to keep my smile affixed to my face. "They're taking pictures. We'll be splattered on the tabloids again."
"Well," he grinned conspiratorially. "Your family will have to see some kind of proof that we actually see each other when they're not around. Otherwise, they'll start to doubt us."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Was this your plan all along?"
He shrugged one shoulder, stepping back to spin me around before pulling me back into his arms.
"Part of it. The museum was just for us, though."
I laughed despite myself and decided to give myself entirely over to the moment.
I leaned forward, pressing my head to his chest as we danced, turning round and round as the onlookers continued to gawk. And the longer we danced, the more I got to hear the steady, comforting beat of his heart, the less I cared about the people staring.
The thought danced into my mind that I was treading a dangerous line, that I was enjoying this and enjoying him a lot more than I should.
We had an expiration date, and I knew that.
But there was a part of me, a much larger part than I cared to admit, that thought maybe, just maybe, Blake might be worth getting hurt for.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
BLAKE
I satat my desk the next day, unable to get thoughts of Nell out of my mind. The night before had been so… magical.
I snorted out a laugh as the word flitted through me, but I had to admit that nothing else really fit.
Having the museum to ourselves, being able to hold her, to dance with her for all the world to see without a care in the world – getting to open up to her.
I hadn’t lied when I told her that besides Jourdan, she was the only person I’d ever told about my past.
