Page 14 of On Thin Ice

And I was forbidden from looking.

The only thing Cory—Sinclair—said was “It’s not even September yet, Edna.”

“I know. I’m just excited.”

“Kitchen and dining room only.”

She frowned but shrugged and winked at me. I was curious—how would a person decorate an entire mansion for a holiday? Maybe that was why Sinclair asked her to confine the decorations to two rooms.

After Sinclair left, she promised she’d show me everything in October…and I went to work.

Tonight I’d be presenting him with my new school plan—something totally different. Something worthy of me, just like he’d asked. I would be asking him to put his money where his mouth was. And I’d already made a decision that would protect me if he changed his mind: although I would fill out the financial aid paperwork, I wouldn’t accept any loans. If he wouldn’t pay the bills when they were due, I wouldn’t attend. It would be as simple as that.

Because he hadn’t told me when on Wednesday evening I’d need to submit my new proposal, other than the vague statement “at dinner,” I brought it with me to the dining room. And I wore my prettiest dress—a fuchsia number with a short skirt and shorter sleeves that fit my waist and breasts like a glove. Nothing popped out but it was like another layer of skin. I’d only ever worn it once or twice because, back in Winchester, I didn’t want the attention. When I’d bought it online—on clearance—I hadn’t known it would be so form fitting, but it had turned out to be cool on hot days, so I hadn’t tossed it.

Here, though, I did want Sinclair’s attention. He’d already told me I was worth far more than I valued myself—and so I was going to show it off.

But he wasn’t there when I arrived, so I sat at my usual place, trying not to peek at it again. What was done was already done, and I had only to get his approval on it—or his demand that I do it again.

After a bit, I heard his voice in the hallway, and I was surprised at myself—how I sat a little straighter, tried to make sure my expression was smooth yet hopeful…but also trying not to look too hopeful…or lovesick. But that was the road I’d been heading down for the past few weeks. My feelings for him had gone from mere lust to something more.

And I suspected that, if I couldn’t get a grip on myself, it would lead to heartache.

As he entered the dining room, he said into his phone, “Get it taken care of. I’ll expect a full report in the morning.” He didn’t look the same as he’d appeared at breakfast. He seemed taller…stronger. The more time I spent around him, the less I felt like I could take a full breath—and that was how I felt in this moment as his hot blue eyes connected with mine.

I’d expected to feel the aftereffects of the conversation he’d been having but instead he smiled at me—and then his eyes shifted to the papers beside me. “Is that your new proposal?”

“It is.” I smiled back at him, warmed by his presence. Possibly even heated by it. But that was stupid—he’d already told me I was too young and that his position as my employer made it all the more forbidden.

Was that why I was attracted to him?

No…it couldn’t be. But somehow that made him all the more tempting.

He held out a hand. “May I?” Nodding, I handed him the two sheets of paper that now comprised my new proposal. As he sat down, his eyes skimming the typewritten words, I held my breath, waiting for him to turn me down again.

This particular proposal was quite different from the one I’d given him on Sunday. This one involved my attending the University of Denver in person, majoring in Art History. Then, still with DU, I would focus on earning a master’s degree in Art History-Museum Studies. I had already earned 33 credits from WCC, all of which should transfer. If I took two three-credit courses every semester including summer, I could earn my bachelor’s degree in five years while still being able to focus on whatever full-time work Sinclair wanted me to do. Then I could turn around and earn my master’s in another two.

That met my expectations—finishing my education before leaving his employ, which should mean I’d be completely debt-free. And, if I was lucky, he would start putting that education to good use in some way.

But I was certain he would say no—because it was going to be time-consuming, especially if I had to take a bus to and from campus and it was expensive. Even the cost of a year’s worth of textbooks was out of my price range.

It wouldn’t have been so bad had I not gotten my heart set on it. After spending hours putting together this final proposal that was detailed to the penny and to the date, I was certain he was going to toss it back to me once more.

When he looked up from the proposal, he had a small smile on his face. Was that because he was getting ready to deal a cruel blow?

But I was completely mistaken.

“This was the kind of proposal I was looking for. Well done.”

Edna came in with salads that she quickly set in front of us before whisking herself back out of the room.

“Thank you,” I said, breathless again but for entirely different reasons. “I realize it’s going to cost a lot.”

“It is. And I’d say you’re worth it.”

I pressed my lips together, finding it hard to believe that he’d just said something so kind and sweet to me…and I believed he meant it. No longer could I hold my lips together, so I beamed and thanked him again.

But then I followed it up with my concern. “What if they don’t accept my application?”

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