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“I’m sorry,” she bit down on her lower lip and Bronte had the strangest feeling she might be about to cry. Oh, great. What had she just done?
“The Pemberley wing flooded a few weeks ago, taking several of our larger rooms out of action. We had to do a last minute rearrange to accommodate your party – as it was, at least two dozen guests are staying in town at The Swan and Duck – and because our notes indicated you were travelling as a single, you were allocated this room.” She fidgeted her pale fingers in front of her. “You were also one of the last to check in so all the rooms are now in use. I’m so sorry. I can see if there’s someone who might swap? Or – I –,”
She felt Luca standing behind her, his presence warm despite the fact they weren’t touching. “The room is charming. Bronte’s just anxious because it’s our first weekend away together.” Bronte looked up at him just in time to catch his jovial wink. She stared at him, impressed by his acting abilities. She could almost have believed he was her actual, real-life boyfriend.
“Oh, thank you. It’s been such a mad panic but I see what you’re saying – for two people, this room is – and you’re so tall – your feet are going to be dangling off the foot of the bed.”
Luca’s grin made Bronte’s knees feel wobbly. “Then I guess I’ll have to get inventive.”
Bronte’s stomach looped. She gripped the door handle, turning back to Jane. “Thank you for checking on us. The room really is lovely.” She pushed the door shut then turned around, her mouth open as she stared up at Luca.
“What were you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s going to think we’re a couple,” Bronte hissed.
“Isn’t that the point?” He hissed back, imitating her tone perfectly.
She stared at him, comprehension of their situation dawning. “Oh God.”
“What?”
“It’s just…this is a whole weekend. A long weekend. And we’re going to have to fool people into thinking we’re –,”
He stared at her straight-faced, waiting for her to continue, but she had the most infuriating sense he was laughing at her.
“Yes?”
She dredged a tone of ice into her voice. “Actually a couple.”
“You mean we might have to,” he gasped dramatically. “Hold hands?”
She sent him a withering look before reminding herself this was her boss and he was doing her a huge, unexpected favour. Then again, if she’d seriously thought about the reality of spending three nights in a tiny hotel room with Luca Montebello she might have chosen the sympathy glances and feeling like a third wheel over this.
“I don’t know. What should we do?” She moved away from the door, sitting down on the edge of the bed, aware Luca was watching her the whole time.
“Bronte?”
She nodded distractedly. How could they best convince people they were an item? Not people. Ashton, she thought
with a grimace, her heart lurching with the realisation that within an hour she’d be in the same room as her ex. Panic made her skin crawl.
“Bronte?”
She lifted her eyes to his face, her heart sinking further. He was so handsome. From his symmetrical face that looked as though it had been chiselled in stone to his wide, curving lips, eyes the colour of dark caramel, thick, black hair, and a physique that was half-Olympic athlete, half-Greek-God.
“You’re a very smart woman, si?”
She tilted her head to the side. If that was true, she sure as hell didn’t feel it.
“I know you’re smart because I’ve seen your university transcripts. I’ve seen your work, and your brain in action. I know you’re intelligent. You’re attractive. Everyone in the office seems to like you so I presume you’re funny, and nice.”
Her heart skidded against her rib cage. How did he know she had made good friends at work?
“What’s your point?”
“You’re acting as though you’ve never confronted a difficult situation in your life.”
