AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Daisy.’
‘Daisy. Right.’ Ben rubbed a hand over his aching forehead. ‘Sorry—long flight.’
A look of carefully schooled concern settled onto her face. ‘Why don’t we get you checked in, then, sir? I’ve put aside the King James Suite for you again, if that’s okay?’
‘Wonderful,’ Ben said, taking the key. Not a chance in hell of getting any sleep there without Luce beside him. Great.
Even the walk to the lift was full of memories. Ben distracted himself by watching the other guests instead, trying to observe them in a professional manner, figure out their wants and needs and how the hotel could meet them.
The businessmen by the bar were easy; Ben’s father had known exactly what they needed. A comfortable room, with a desk or table to work at, all-night concierge and room service, meeting rooms and wireless internet access, a business centre with photocopiers and fax machines, and admin assistants they could hire by the hour. A well-stocked bar and well-served restaurant. All done. The Royal Court had them covered. Of course so did every other business hotel in every city.
But what about the couple canoodling by the pot plant? What did they want?
Well, if they were anything like him and Luce...privacy, a sturdy bed, champagne in the mini-bar, a big, deep bath. Maybe a romantic restaurant for dinner, breakfast from room service. Nothing unusual. And, honestly, the couple by the plant were so wrapped up in each other that it didn’t look as if it mattered where they were, as long as they had each other.
Which just left him wondering why he and Luce had never managed that. Which was depressing. Time to move on.
But the family waiting by the lift, with two huge suitcases and a small boy with an oversized rucksack... They didn’t look happy.
The father was in a suit, tie knotted tightly, jacket still on, briefcase in hand. This wasn’t a man who’d left work and gone straight on holiday with his family. This was a man who was still working. And, from the frown creasing his wife’s forehead, she wasn’t too happy about it. The boy just looked miserable.
Ben knew that look. That was the another day, another hotel look. The will I get to see my dad between meetings? look. The did I bring enough books to read? look. That boy knew his family weekend was going to be spent watching his parents arguing, then his mother putting on a brave face while his father disappeared to yet more meetings.
Ben had been that boy. And Ben knew what would happen when the mother couldn’t take any more.
He couldn’t change another family’s future—couldn’t explain to every father dragging his wife and kids to business hotel after business hotel instead of actually taking a holiday what could happen and how it felt. But maybe he could make it a little more fun for the families waiting for their husbands, wives, mothers or fathers to finish their meetings.
Pulling his mobile from his pocket, he called his brother. ‘Seb? That new style of hotel you wanted? I’ve got an idea.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
IT HAD BEEN eight weeks. He’d said he’d be away for a month, and now it was nearly two. Luce dropped her bag by the front door and collapsed onto the sofa, preparing herself for another evening of not hearing from Ben.
Damn him.
She should have known better than to believe him when he said he’d call. Hadn’t he made it perfectly clear what they were? One night only. He wasn’t going to call again.
But eventually she’d have to call him. He deserved to know.
Her head ached, her body was exhausted, and constant low-level nausea left her weak and miserable—and, damn it, she wanted to tell him! Wanted the secret off her shoulders. Wanted to share it with someone else.
Dolly knew, of course, and had been more wonderful than Luce had imagined possible. Her little sister had grown up unexpectedly, and Luce loved seeing this new, responsible side to her. Having her onside made things bearable. But soon she would have to tell other people—her boss, her mother, Tom. God, she’d even have to tell Dennis eventually. But Ben had to know first.
She’d have to call him. If he wasn’t back soon she’d have to tell him over the phone. Except then she wouldn’t be able to see his face, his reaction, the truth about how he felt. She’d imagined it a dozen different ways. Sometimes, if she was feeling excessively romantic, he fell down on one knee and proposed instantly. Most of the time he looked shocked, stunned and slightly horrified. That was okay. She expected that. But sometimes, after that, her imagination had him take her in his arms and tell her they’d figure it out together. And sometimes it had him walk out without looking back.
