Page 35 of Decorated

He would have kissed Blaine longer and harder, but right at the moment they pulled back for air, Group Captain Parker stepped up to them, his expression guarded, and cleared his throat, saying, “I think we need to talk.”

TEN

Every time thingswere about to end happily in Blaine’s life, something came along to knock that blissful possibility right out of his hands. The look on Group Captain Parker’s face as he interrupted his and Alfie’s kiss had all the markings of one of those moments.

“Parker,” Alfie greeted his superior with a nod. He shifted to stand beside Blaine but kept one hand on the small of Blaine’s back, which was potentially a good sign. “Do we need to talk immediately, or is this something that can wait?”

Parker tilted his head slightly to the side, studying Blaine and Alfie for a moment. Then he said, “The bigger conversation can wait, but I think I have to say something right now.”

Blaine’s blood practically froze in his veins. This was it. This was the moment the beautiful, potential thing he’d almost grasped was yanked away from him. Parker could only want one thing, and everything he was offering was a much better deal for Alfie.

“I’m all ears,” Alfie said with a half shrug.

Parker shifted to a more casual posture and smiled. “I’ve been watching you all evening,” he said. “Watching you with the kids and with your friend here.”

He nodded to Blaine, still smiling. Was that a good sign?

“I hope I haven’t done anything worthy of comment,” Alfie said with a troubled look.

“Oh, you most certainly have,” Parker said. He pretended to be serious for a moment, then, like he couldn’t keep up the act, chuckled and said, “I had no idea you were so brilliant with children. They flock to you like you’re Santa.”

Blaine blinked and felt Alfie tense.

“I’ve always liked kids,” he said, looking like he didn’t know where the statement was going. “I might have gone to university and earned a teaching degree when I left school, except that I couldn’t afford it.”

“Ah! Everything makes sense, then,” Parker said. “I thought I sensed something special there.”

“Alfie has been wonderful with the kids all evening,” Blaine said, not sure where the conversation was going, but wanting to speak up for Alfie in any way he could. Alfie had spoken up for him to his family, after all.

“I agree,” Parker said. “It seems like he likes you quite a bit, too.”

Blaine felt his face flush. “We’ve only just started dating,” he said, feeling way too bold for saying that out loud. One quick glance up at Alfie told him it was the right thing to say, though. They were absolutely an item now. “I’m a hot mess with questionable fashion sense, but he seems to like me anyhow.”

“You’re not so much of a hot mess that you can’t be sorted,” Alfie said, tightening his arm around Blaine’s waist.

Parker nodded. “And now I understand your hesitation to take up an offer for a commission. I would hesitate, too, if I had such an amusing and lively significant other here in the UK.”

Blaine felt suddenly off-kilter. He pulled away from Alfie slightly, glancing up at him in horror as he said, “I don’t want you to turn down the offer of a lifetime just for me. I would feel terrible if you gave up Cyprus and glory just to stay here and clean up after me wherever I go.”

Alfie laughed. The sound was warming instead of making fun of Blaine. “Believe me,” he said. “Whatever decision I make, it will be in my best interest and what I want to do.”

“Take this man at his word,” Parker said. “He’s as straightforward as they come. I’ve never known him to mince words or say something he didn’t mean. That’s one reason we’ve been so interested in persuading him to change his mind about transitioning to civilian life.”

“Thank you, sir,” Alfie said, looking pleased.

“Incidentally,” Parker went on, “I was chatting with one of the ladies from Maidstone Children’s Home earlier. I hear they have an opening for a full-time houseparent, since they’re planning to expand. I’m sure they’d welcome an application from a decorated military officer with a background in logistics.”

“Really?” Blaine answered, excited by the idea, even though it had nothing to do with him.

It might have something to do with him someday, though, if he didn’t mess things up.

“That’s an interesting prospect,” Alfie said. He sounded only mildly curious on the surface, but Blaine was sure from the twinkle in his eyes and the way he glanced over to a group of kids eating cupcakes near the rainbow trees that he was more interested than he was letting on.

“Think about it,” Parker said, reaching out to clap Alfie’s arm. “We would be sad to see you go, but I think some others would be delighted to have you on their team.”

“Thank you, sir,” Alfie said, nodding as Parker reached over to grab a cupcake, then walked away.

“Wow!” Blaine said, gesturing with his own cupcake as he realized he was still holding it. “I don’t even know what to say about that. Could you see yourself as a houseparent in a home for children?”

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