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Chapter Six
By the time Zoe left the hotel, her heart had finally resumed its normal pace, but she was so angry with herself for letting Dale unsettle her the way he had. She hadn’t expected him to bring up the kiss, damn it. And after that, she’d been a complete mess. She hadn’t been able to think straight, let alone string words together to make a coherent sentence.
“Zoe!” she heard someone call and looked up. Caitlin walked towards her all smiles and sparkling eyes.
“What a nice surprise. I didn’t expect to see you here.” Caitlin hugged her.
“I… um… I had a meeting with Dale,” Zoe said. “You look gorgeous.” She smiled and touched her sister’s belly. “This little one is growing by the second.” She laughed, hoping to draw Caitlin’s attention away from the topic of Dale. But, of course, no such luck.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Caitlin pulled her to the side. “What did you have to discuss with him?”
Zoe sighed. “He… I’m going to do the interior decorating for their hotel near the Kruger Park.”
Caitlin stared at her for a few minutes. “Come with me,” she ordered. “We are going to have tea.” She motioned towards the hotel Zoe had just left. “There is a lovely tea room with lots of decadent cake and pastries. We are going to sit down and you can tell me all about Dale.”
“I don’t have time—” she began, but Caitlin was already steering her back into the hotel.
“I’ve only seen you briefly since your return, you can spare another fifteen minutes for your pregnant sister to explain what is going on,” Caitlin insisted, and before Zoe knew it, they were sitting in the tea room.
Caitlin ordered for them while Zoe looked around her. Here were the same greys and whites she’d seen throughout the hotel so far. Elegant but comfortable chairs lent a relaxed feel to the place.
“Before you try to waste time, I’m fine, baby is fine, Daddy is overprotective and driving me crazy, but we’re both so excited about the little one. I’m happy. So that’s my news. Now I want to know why you look upset.” Caitlin smiled and sat back in her chair.
“I’m not really upset, it’s just…” She didn’t know how to continue.
“Yes?” Caitlin urged her.
Exasperated, Zoe flipped her hair back. “Dale wants me to do the decorating of their new hotel.”
“But didn’t you already tell him no last year?”
“I did. But then he contacted Susan during the time I was in London and they’ve signed a contract. One I’m told I can’t really get out of. Also, you know Don asked him to consider my firm, and I think he feels obligated somehow. Anyway, I’ve come to realize working for the Cavallos is good for business and I’ve agreed to do the job.”
Caitlin frowned. “Then why are you upset?”
“I’m not upset—” she began, but Caitlin lifted an eyebrow.
“You’re forgetting I’m your sister and I know you,” Caitlin said.
She sighed. “Okay, you’re right. I’m upset. He wants me to visit all their hotels, including the ones in the Seychelles.”
Caitlin’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Zoe nodded. “And I don’t see the point. If I look at their hotels here in Cape Town, I can come up with ideas. Damn it, after only seeing this place, I can show him what I have in mind.”
The waiter brought their tea, Caitlin poured and handed Zoe her cup. “I can see that leaving so soon again would be inconvenient, but it’s not as if you haven’t done this kind of thing before. I’m still not sure why you are upset.”
“Because…” Zoe began and then just shook her head.
They drank their tea in silence for a few minutes.
“He’s very attractive,” Caitlin said. “They all are.”
Zoe looked up quickly. “What does that have to do with anything?”
A sly smile played around Caitlin’s mouth. “Just sayin’.”
Zoe put her cup down. “Okay, yes, he’s attractive.”
