by Jenna Brandt
“I don’t care. I want nothing to do with that dog. If he stays in this suite, I’m going to be forced to give my resignation,” James threatened.
“Over a dog?” Blake shouted in shock.
James nodded his head firmly. “I’ve worked for you for three years now, Mr. Witlock, but I draw the line at getting bit.”
“James, you can’t mean that. You know how much I depend on you.”
“I do, Mr. Witlock, which is why it pains me to do this.”
“What if I double your salary?”
“Mr. Witlock, that isn’t the issue.”
“Then I’ll get rid of the dog right away,” he pleaded.
“It’s fine. I can take Comet,” Peyton interrupted their negotiation. “He’ll be better off with me where’s he wanted anyway,” she said, giving them both a dirty look. “Have fun on your trip tomorrow,” she added sarcastically as she stormed out of the room.
Peyton knew she shouldn’t be mad at Blake, that she had thrust Comet on him and James, but it made her wonder if she became inconvenient, what would happen to her? She entered her room and sat the kennel down on the table in front of the couch. She opened it and let Comet out. “What do you think, boy? Would Blake toss me aside if it suited his needs?”
Comet jumped up on the sofa and into Peyton’s lap, nuzzling her neck. He might not be the most well-behaved dog, but she considered him an exceptional emotional support dog. She stroked his back repeatedly, finding a rhythm that they both liked.
“Am I expendable, boy? Do you think Blake sees me that way? I like to think he values my backbone, but he is a billionaire. He could buy anything he wants, including a lot of women. Would he just move on to a more pliable prey if I didn’t bend to his will in our relationship?”
Comet barked repeatedly, wagging his tail as he stared at her. She hoped that meant ‘no’ that he didn’t think Blake would do that to her, especially now that she knew if Blake ended things with her, it would break her heart.
Chapter 8
Blake realized Peyton was upset the moment she stormed out of his room. At first, he thought it was simply about Comet, but when he texted and called her repeatedly with no answer, he realized it might be more. He figured he would give her the night to cool off and he would go talk to her before he headed to David’s portion of the island. However, when she sent Comet over with a short note saying he needed to take care of the dog because she was busy working, he realized it might be more than simply needing a cooling off period.
He tried to track her down all over his section of the island, but no matter where he showed up, she managed to avoid him. If he didn’t know any better, he would have sworn his employees were helping her dodge him. The only one that didn’t seem to be on her side, was Joelle, but she wasn’t about to give up Peyton’s location for her own selfish reasons.
“Can I help you with anything else?” Joelle asked in a cooing voice. “I’m sure anything Peyton could do for you; I can do better.”
Then an idea came to him. Maybe he could use this obvious gold-digger to his advantage. “Really? You’re willing to help me out?”
She nodded her head profusely. “Anything for you, Blaze.”
Internally, he cringed at her using his nickname. They were definitely not at that level, nor would they ever be, where he would want her to use it. Knowing he was going to ask her for help though, he refrained from correcting her.
“You see my dog here? His name’s Comet and I need someone to watch him while I go run an errand.”
“You want me to watch your dog for you,” she said placing her hand on her hip in irritation. “The dog you share with Peyton?”
“It’s the island’s dog and you would be doing me a huge favor,” he corrected, trying to side-step that because the dog was basically useless as an effective emotional support dog, Comet had in fact become the couple’s de-facto dog.
She glanced from Blake to the dog and back again. Letting out a heavy sigh, she said, “Fine, give him to me.”
Blake handed the leash over to Joelle.
“When will you be back?”
“In about four hours,” he explained. “Can you handle him for that long?”
She shrugged. “How hard can it be?” She bent down to pet the dog, but Comet must of sensed her duplicitous heart, because he barked twice and then snapped at her, catching the edge of her finger with his teeth.
“He bit me!” she shouted, jumping up and backing away from the dog. “No way am I watching him now.”
“Seriously? He barely grazed you,” Blake countered, hoping he could talk her back into it.
She shook her head. “Sorry, but I can’t have a dog damaging this face. It’s my money maker,” she said. “If I couldn’t post on social media, I wouldn’t be Joelle Sanders anymore.” She sauntered off, sashaying as she left the gym.
What was Blake going to do now? With no other choice, he decided he had to take Comet with him. The good news, he didn’t get car sick. He managed to survive the ride in his kennel without throwing up. The bad news, he pooped in it. With no one to clean it up for him, Blake had to do it himself. He really wished James hadn’t refused to work with the dog.
Blake found his older brother, David, inside the glass-blowing studio where they agreed to meet.
“Hey, there David, thanks for agreeing to help me with this.”
“Sure thing, Blakey. You know I’m willing to help you with whatever I can. So, you mentioned you wanted to make an ornament for Peyton? I wanted to give you an idea Nora came up with. We’re not offering them to the public yet, but your family so I’m sure she won’t mind. She’d tell you about it herself, but she’s getting ready to teach a class.”
“Okay, you’ve piqued my interest. What is it?”
“Nora found a way to have precious gems inserted into the glass as it’s blown,” David explained.
Blake snickered with a shake of his head.
“I know, don’t say it. Everyone makes that joke. Let’s move on,” David said authoritatively. “I can help you do it, or you can try it yourself.”
“I know how to blow glass, David. You’ve shown me before,” Blake challenged. “You act like you’re the only artistic one in the family.”
Blake sat down at the chair and began to work at making his ornament. The problem was, every time he got close to finishing, Comet would bark, would weave in between his legs with his leash, or get excited and jump on his leg, causing him to drop his ornament. Each time, he would get madder and madder. By the fifth one, Blake was about to give up. He wasn’t sure how many precious gems he’d lost in the fire, but it was probably the price of brand new car.
“Ready for some help?” David asked from across the room, his arms folded across his chest.
“Fine, you win. Get over here and help me.”
His brother came over and quickly got the ornament to shape into a heart. On the front of it, they placed the gems to make the shape of Andromeda. Once it cooled, on the back, they added the couple’s names and the year with permanent ink.
“How about I have this wrapped up and sent over to your suite?” David suggested.
“Sounds good, thanks.” Then standing up, Blake headed towards the door. Over his shoulder, he said, “I’m going to go visit Mom for a while.”
“I’m surprised you don’t go more than you do. I know how much you miss her.”
Blake made his way to the large mausoleum with the garden around it and his mother’s statue in the center. He sat on the bench, just staring at the image of the woman who gave him birth. It was so odd that someone so important in his life, held so few memories. His time with her was cut far too short.
“Hey Mom, I was just coming by to say ‘hi.’ I know it’s been awhile, but up until recently, it’s been really hard for me to be here on the island. It used to only remind me of you, or the absence of you, but since Peyton came, I’m actually building happy memories here for the first time, in a long time. I wish you
could meet her, Mom, because I think you would really like her.”
Comet barked several times, dancing around and around, wagging his tail, almost as if he agreed with Blake. “Peyton’s great, isn’t she, boy,” he said, picking up the dog and rubbing his head between his ears. Comet barked another few times, agreeing a second time. “You’re not all that bad,” he said with a grin. “You’re actually pretty cute, when you’re not being a total terror.” Comet nuzzled up to Blake, letting his chin rest on his shoulder. “James is going to hate me, but I don’t think I can get rid of you. Peyton knew you were exactly what I needed. She’s good like that.”
Blake stood up and reached out with his free hand to touch the side of the statue. “I love you, Mom. I always will. I know you’re watching over all of us from Heaven, and I want you to know we’re all doing okay. Dad is too, though it might be nice if you send him a companion. He won’t admit it, but he seems lonely. I think it’s why he focuses on all of us so much. Do him a solid, and send him someone nice. One Mara is enough to last a lifetime.”
As Blake headed back to his side of the island, he realized he needed to talk with Peyton and find out what was bothering her. He cared too much about her to let her brush him off.
A knock at the door drew Peyton’s attention. She opened it to find Blake standing on the other side. “What are you doing here?” she accused, crossing her arms over her chest.
“We came to see you,” Blake said, carrying Comet in his arms. “Can we come in?”
She glanced at the dog, then back up at Blake. “I suppose so, after all, I miss Comet.”
“Just Comet?” Blake probed, a look of hope on his face.
“Why should I miss someone who treats animals like their expendable? They’ve done studies, and people who treat animals poorly, correlate to people who treat other people poorly too.”
“What are you getting at? Do you think I treat people badly?” When she didn’t answer, he added, “And for the record, I don’t treat all animals poorly. I happen to be good with most of them, but Comet and I got off on the wrong foot. To be exact, he got off with most everyone on the wrong foot. Earlier today, however, we bonded and we’re in a much better place now.”
“You did?” Peyton asked with a hopeful tone.
“The thing is, Peyton, people think because I’m in the spotlight so much that I’m a natural people person. I’m not. I take a while to warm up to people and really let them in. Once I do though, I’m loyal to a fault. Like for instance, this little guy,” Blake said lifting Comet into the air. “I’ve decided to keep him.”
“Really? I have to say I’m surprised by that.”
“Well, after all, he was a gift from the woman I’m dating, or at least, I hope I’m still dating,” he amended.
“I suppose we are,” she relented. “And for the record, I missed you too.”
“You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that,” Blake reached out and placed a kiss on Peyton’s lips. “What do you have planned for today?”
“I was actually thinking it would be nice to do something for the staff as a Christmas gift.”
“Really? What did you have in mind? Hawaiian trips for everyone? A new car for each family? A yearlong golf membership including weekly flights to and from the club of their choice?”
“Are you serious about those options? You would consider them viable choices?”
“I would. What’s wrong with that?” he asked defensively, setting Comet down but holding onto his leash.
“I think it looks like you’re trying to buy your employee’s loyalty rather than showing them how much you appreciate them.”
“I never thought of it that way,” Blake admitted. “That’s the last thing I want.”
“Then you should go with my idea,” Peyton suggested.
“And what’s that?”
“We are going to bake Christmas cookies for them.”
“We’re going to do what?” Blake asked with incredulousness, his eyes widening with horror.
“Bake Christmas cookies,” she repeated. “What, you’ve never done that before?”
“Not that I can remember. I mean my mom might have done that with us when we were little, but I can’t remember, and there was no way Step-Monster would ever be caught lifting a finger in a kitchen.”
“That makes me sad. Baking and decorating cookies with my mom was one of my favorite holiday memories.”
“I get the sentiment behind the idea, but I’m pretty sure mine won’t come out edible. Can’t we just have the pastry chef do it?” Blake pleaded.
Peyton shook her head. “It’s not the same unless you do it yourself. We used to make plates full and give them out to neighbors and my mom’s co-workers. Look at it this way, it’s a new adventure for you. You’re always saying how I need them, so now it’s your turn.”
Blake looked like he wanted to argue further. He opened and closed his mouth several times. Finally, he shrugged. “Okay, let’s head to the kitchen. You’re going to have to show me what to do.”
“Sure, it’s going to be fun. I promise.”
A few minutes later, they arrived at the professional-grade kitchen. Stainless steel gleamed everywhere, and there were endless rows of gadgets and appliances Peyton had never seen and had no idea how to use. She was beginning to wonder if Blake had been right and having the pastry chef bake the cookies would have been a better idea.
She pushed the doubt from her mind. Shoving her shoulders back with newfound determination, she set about finding the ingredients for the cookies and frosting.
“Why don’t you grab a set of baking sheets,” Peyton directed.
“What do they look like?”
“A metal rectangle. You’ve seriously never seen a baking sheet? Not even on TV? I mean, most everyone has watched reality TV cooking shows.”
Blake shook his head. “No, I didn’t have a lot of time to watch TV chasing after gold-medals. When I did have a little downtime, I might watch a movie here or there, but that was about it.”
“Wow, I love a good reality show. I’ve been secretly watching Richard’s Santa show at night in my room. It’s so funny.”
“Really? I had no idea. Maybe I should check one out,” he said as he opened cabinets and looked for the baking sheets.
“Better be careful; you might get addicted,” Peyton teased as she gathered up the last of the items they would need. “Then I’ll find you glued to your TV, a long unkempt beard, bloodshot eyes, and a pot-belly from eating and drinking in front of it all day and night.”
“Not…gonna…happen,” Blake said very deliberately. “I will never get a pot-belly.”
“That’s what bothered you about that statement?”
He chuckled. “What can I say, I work hard to keep this physique. I’m not letting it go anytime soon.”
Peyton glanced around and confirmed they had everything for the cookies. “Okay, I think we’re ready.”
Step-by-step, Peyton explained the process of making sugar cookies. They had the dough mixed and were starting to roll it out. Next, she handed Blake a Santa face cookie cutter and she took the Christmas wreath. “Now we press these into the dough and pick them up. We place them on the parchment lined baking sheets so they can bake. When they are done, we will decorate them.”
They finished cutting out the rest of the cookies, then slipped the first four trays in the ovens. She set a timer on her phone, then leaned back against the counter.
“What do we do now?”
“We wait until they are done baking,” Peyton explained.
Blake let out a heavy sigh, and leaned back beside her.
“You really hate waiting, don’t you?”
“To be honest, I haven’t had to do it much.”
“Perk of being a billionaire’s son, I’m guessing.”
He nodded. “Spending so much time with you is teaching me a lot of things. At the top of the list, patience, which I guess is a good thing.”
“It will be if you ever decide to have kids,” Peyton pointed out. As soon as she said the words she regretted it. They’d never discussed anything about their relationship that serious. She wasn’t even sure if he was the marrying type, let alone looking to start a family one day.
Blake seemed to be thinking about what she said. After a few minutes, he turned to her with a serious look on his face. “Is that an offer to be my baby mama?”
At first, she didn’t know what to think of his question. Then he raised his eyebrows and gave her a smirk. “I had you going.”
“What?” she squeaked out, punching him in the arm. “That wasn’t very nice. I literally thought you were asking me to be your surrogate.”
“No way. If I ever have kids, I want to do it the traditional way. Wife, house, kids. I’ve got enough land here on the island to do whatever I want.”
Peyton couldn’t help it. Her mind drifted to the image he painted. She could see them sitting on a porch of a big, wooden house, looking out over the Sound with their children playing in the snow.
Suddenly, she smelt char and looked over at the ovens. Smoke was billowing out from them. She rushed over and yanked the first one open. Inside, the parchment paper was on fire. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but for some reason the cookies were engulfed. She peeked at the other three ovens and they were in the same state.
She glanced to the side of her and noticed Blake was rushing around, looking for something.
“What are you doing?” she shouted in panic.
“Looking for the fire extinguisher. I know they have to have one, but I’m not seeing it. This place is like a maze,” he growled out in frustration. “I can’t let this place burn down. My dad and brothers would never let me hear the end of it.”
The fire alarm kicked on, making a loud piercing noise that repeated over and over with a strobing light, followed by the worst part of all, the sprinkler system getting activated. A gush of water came streaming down, coating everything it could touch, including both of them. However, it didn’t help with the fire because it couldn’t get into the ovens.