One-Man Woman

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He certainly wasn’t an untidy man. In fact, looking around at the neatness of the suite, she acknowledged that it was difficult to tell whether it was occupied or not—no personal effects were lying around anywhere. But he was definitely still staying here; Ellie would have been the first to know if he had booked out. And the first to give thanks. He had been a disruptive influence on her life ever since he’d first booked in. And she had to sit down to dinner with the man in—oh, just over half an hour.

She would get this over with as quickly as possible and make good her escape; the last thing she wanted was Daniel Thackery returning to his suite while she was still there!

She had barely begun to turn back the bed when she heard the sound of a door opening behind her. She turned sharply, her expression one of guilty dismay. Not that she had anything to feel guilty about tonight, but—

It hadn’t been the bedroom door that had opened, but the adjoining bathroom door. Daniel Thackery must have just taken a bath or shower. His hair was still damp—his body completely naked!

Ellie just stared at him, hardly able to breathe. He—She—They—Oh, God...!

Daniel looked no more pleased to see her standing in his bedroom, apparently rooted to the spot, than she was to see him. A dark scowl marred his handsome features as he returned her stare. ‘You again!’ he snapped disgustedly.

She was still too shocked to react to that ‘again’, keeping her gaze riveted to his darkly scowling face after that first shocked recognition of his nakedness. There would be time later to remember the smoothly muscled contours of his body, his darkly tanned skin, the almost black hair that lightly covered his body. For now she had to concentrate on explaining herself—and then getting out of here!

‘I did telephone and knock before coming in to your suite.’ She rushed into breathless speech. “There was no answer, so I—’

‘I was taking a shower.’ He drily stated the obvious, making no effort to cover up his nakedness. ‘But the offer was for last night, not tonight!’

Her face suffused with colour as his meaning became clear. ‘The maid wanted to turn back the bed—’

‘Then why didn’t she?’ Dark brows rose over piercing blue eyes.

Why didn’t he put some clothes on, instead of just standing there completely unconcerned with his nudity? He might be accustomed to being naked in front of women, but she certainly wasn’t used to being in the same room with men who had nothing on. And who seemed completely unruffled by the fact!

‘Because for this evening I am acting as the maid,’ she bit out forcefully. ‘Our usual maid is in the bar because we’re short-staffed, and—’

‘Never mind, Ellie,’ Daniel interrupted in a bored voice. ‘I get the picture. You—’ He broke off with a frown as the telephone began to ring on the bedside table. ‘It’s like being stuck in the middle of a traffic junction! Get that, will you, while I put something on?’ he said impatiently.

She was relieved that he was at last going to cover his nudity, but she was not his personal secretary. The fact that she was here at all was because of a set of circumstances she had no control over. She—

‘Ellie!’ he prompted again harshly as the telephone continued to ring and she made no effort to answer it. ‘Just get it, will you?’ he said wearily at her mutinous expression, turning away to open the wardrobe door and look through its contents for something to put on.

She snatched up the receiver. ‘The Grafton Suite,’ she barked automatically, keeping her gaze firmly averted from Daniel, not wanting to watch him as he dressed. It would be too intimate an action, and intimacy was definitely something to be avoided between herself and Daniel Thackery.

‘Oh, good grief.’ The female voice on the other end of the line sounded almost as impatient as Daniel had when the telephone had begun to ring seconds ago. ‘I asked to be put through to Daniel Thackery’s room, and instead I’ve been connected with another part of the hotel. Are you able to put this call back to Reception?’ the woman continued briskly. ‘Or will I have to call back and start again?’

She didn’t exactly sound pleased at the prospect. ‘Actually, you have been put through to Mr Thackery’s suite,’ Ellie answered while giving Daniel Thackery a beseeching look.

She was relieved to see that he was at least wearing a pair of black underpants now. Not that the brief garment made any difference to the intimacy of the situation. He might be wearing as much now as he would at a swimming pool or at the beach, but this wasn’t either of those places—and the two of them were completely alone here in his bedroom. Except for his female telephone caller!

‘But he—er—be can’t come to the telephone just now,’ she continued conversationally as Daniel Thackery made no move to take the receiver but continued to look through the wardrobe for his clothes for the evening. ‘He—’

‘What do you mean, “he can’t come to the telephone just now”?’ the woman cut in sharply. ‘What—?’

‘Thanks, Ellie.’ Daniel at last took the receiver from her unresisting fingers, lifting it to his ear. ‘I thought it must be you, Angela.’ He spoke drily into the mouthpiece. ‘A member of the hotel staff. Yes, a female member of the hotel staff,’ he acknowledge, with a mocking look in Ellie’s direction. ‘How observant of you, Angela. No, I’m not up to anything,’ he added hardily. ‘Angela,’ he said impatiently a couple of seconds later, ‘will you stop giving me a damned day by day countdown to the wedding? I’m well aware of the fact that it’s only ten days away!’ he snapped harshly.

Wedding...Good God, yes—this man was getting married in ten days’ time.

Ellie had been standing close to him, unable to take her eyes off the lean strength of his body, aware of the clean, male—unscented!—smell of him, all of her senses aware that he really was a very attractive man. But the realisation that he was talking to his fiancée on the telephone, to the woman he intended marrying next week, was enough to break the spell. She had to get out of here, had to—

‘Where are you going?’

Ellie had almost reached the door, and escape, but she knew from the way Daniel had raised his voice that he was talking to her. She came to an abrupt halt, turning slowly to raise her gaze to meet his. Daniel was watching her from across the room with narrowed eyes, his hand over the mouthpiece of the telephone, his full attention on Ellie.

‘Where are you going?’ he repeated evenly. ‘I thought you came in here to turn down the bed,’ he reminded her mockingly, his blue eyes gleaming with humour now as he saw the almost desperate way she eyed her avenue of escape only feet away before turning back to look at the almost untouched bed beside him.

Her eyes flashed deeply green at his mockery. ‘It’s a courtesy thing only,’ she snapped. ‘I’m sure you’re more than capable of dealing with it yourself!’

He eyed her challengingly. ‘Surely it’s what your employer pays you to do?’

Two bright spots of colour appeared on her cheeks. Who did he think—? A sudden realisation occurred to her: he didn’t know she was co-owner of this hotel, appeared to have no idea she was Beth’s sister. Probably because he didn’t expect to see the owner of the hotel on the reception desk or in the rooms turning back the beds. But this was a small, family-run hotel, and she and Beth had always filled in wherever necessary.

And then another, more wicked thought occurred to her. If he didn’t know she was Beth’s older sister, then he didn’t realise he was having dinner with her later this evening either...

‘And I suppose you would tell her I’ve been lax in my duties,’ she said in a disgruntled voice, deliberately keeping her head down as she moved to turn back the bed; if she had looked up at him at that moment he would have seen the laughter in her eyes—at his expense! ‘And if I lose my job what will happen to the husband and seven children I have at home?’ she added accusingly.

His mouth twisted. ‘You’re too young to have seven children!’ he scorned disbelievingly.

Ellie met his gaze with steady innocence. ‘I was a child bride.’

‘You would have to have been,’ he said drily. ‘Are you really—?’

‘Don’t you have someone waiting to talk to you on the telephone?’ Ellie reminded him lightly. ‘And I have the rest of the rooms to see to.’ She walked back to the bedroom door. ‘I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay, Mr Thackery,’ she told him dismissively as she prepared to leave.

‘I’m sure I will,’ he said slowly, his frown obvious in his voice.

Ellie didn’t turn to look at him, making a dignified exit and no longer feeling at such a disadvantage where Daniel Thackery was concerned. Yes, he might have his suspicions about her presence in his room last night, but she had also been in his suite this evening, so if directly challenged she could always make the claim that it must have been the lingering smell of her perfume that had caused him to sneeze.

And she now had a certain advantage inasmuch as he didn’t realise that she actually co-owned this hotel and that he was having dinner with her this evening. She didn’t feel quite so awkward about the situation now. In fact, she was quite looking forward to the dinner now!

Beth eyed Ellie with a frown a short time later as she moved about the kitchen humming to herself as she put the finishing touches to the dessert. ‘You seem to have cheered up since our conversation earlier,’ she said suspiciously.

Ellie gave a dismissive shrug. ‘I was a bit concerned about the staff problem. But it’s all sorted out now, so we can relax for a while. Will you be OK here while I just go and change?’

‘Fine,’ Beth answered distractedly, still eyeing her uncertainly. ‘But what’s wrong with what you’re wearing?’

She was still in the smart skirt and blouse she had been wearing to work in all day, and while she accepted that they were perfectly suitable to entertain in she wanted to be able to disconcert Daniel Thackery completely. And, looking and feeling her best, she felt sure she would be able to do that.

‘I feel like changing,’ she dismissed. ‘I won’t be long.’

Just long enough to freshen up and change into her little black dress—a figure-hugging sheath of a dress that finished just above her knees. Her legs were long and shapely, her hair she had washed that morning, so it swung silkily about her shoulders, and she added light make-up to her creamy complexion, red gloss to her lips. The overall effect was one of cool elegance.

Let’s see what Mr Daniel Thackery thought now of the hotel receptionist-cum-maid who was also a child bride with seven children!

She could hear the murmur of voices in the sitting room as she approached—Both seemed to have relaxed enough at least to engage in conversation with their guest. What was he going to think when Ellie joined them?

He turned frowningly when she opened the door to enter the room, that frown turning to puzzlement as he instantly recognised her. Well—he thought he recognised her; he obviously still had no idea she was Beth’s sister. He rose slowly to his feet.

‘Ellie!’ Beth said with some relief. It was evident that she wasn’t as relaxed in their guest’s company as she had been trying to give the impression she was. ‘Daniel is here,’ she said unnecessarily.

Poor Beth—she wasn’t at all happy, Ellie realised. Not that she exactly blamed her sister for feeling the way she obviously did, but the two of them were here now; surely together they could get through this evening?

‘How nice,’ she murmured with complete insincerity. ‘I don’t think the two of us have ever been introduced.’ She moved forward into the room as she spoke, extending her hand in greeting. ‘I’m Beth’s sister, Ellie. And you are an old friend of James’s.’ She smiled at him as she spoke, and knew by the way his mouth tightened that he hadn’t missed the slight barb in her tone when she’d said ‘old’ friend. Not that Daniel was in the least old—probably in his late thirties at the most—but she intended keeping him slightly off-balance if she could.

He clasped the hand she held out to him a little too tightly, painfully so for a few brief seconds, before slowly releasing it again. “The two of you don’t look in the least like sisters,’ he murmured softly, his narrowed gaze taking in Ellie’s appearance.

‘We’ve fooled a lot of people with that over the years.’ Beth smiled, starting to look more relaxed now that she was no longer alone with Daniel.

Beth had always been tiny and blonde, Ellie tall and red-haired—some people might have described her as statuesque—and when they’d been at school together it had disconcerted more than one person to find that Beth had a big big sister.

‘I’ll just bet you have,’ Daniel said slowly, his narrowed gaze still on Ellie.

He looked very attractive himself in a dark blue suit and light blue shirt, with a conservatively patterned tie knotted meticulously at his throat. His hair had dried now, and was brushed back from his face, curling softly over the collar of his jacket.

‘I’ll just go and check on the chicken and put out our first course,’ Beth put in brightly before she hurried from the room, obviously anxious to get the meal started.

There was silence once Beth had left the room, and Ellie met Daniel’s gaze challengingly as he continued to look at her. She had no reason to feel embarrassed by the assumptions he had made earlier—but he did. Although she doubted embarrassment was something this man felt very often, no matter what the circumstances!

‘What happened to the husband and seven children?’ he finally said drily.

She gave a dismissive shrug. ‘You know how it is—here today, gone tomorrow!’ she said flippantly, green eyes alight with mockery.

‘Is that a family trait?’ he said hardily.

Ellie tilted her head questioningly, frowning slightly. ‘Sorry...?’

Daniel shrugged. ‘Your sister and James haven’t been married very long, and yet they appear to be separated.’

Her mouth tightened at the implication. ‘Surely that is between Beth and James?’ she said pointedly; if by some chance he was here on James’s behalf, she wanted to make it very plain what she thought of his interference.

He gave an abrupt nod. ‘And you aren’t the receptionist or the maid after all but the sister...’ he said slowly.

Ellie looked at him sharply, not altogether sure she liked the way he’d said that either. ‘Yes,’ she answered almost defensively. ‘I’m Beth’s sister.’

‘James has spoken of you,’ Daniel murmured evenly.

She frowned, trying to read from his expression the meaning behind those words. For she felt sure there was one. But Daniel Thackery had made an art, it seemed, out of the enigmatic expression, and consequently, if there had been a double meaning behind the statement, she wasn’t going to learn of it from looking at his face.

‘How is my brother-in-law?’ she returned just as guardedly; at least she might be able to find out the answer to the question that was most bothering Beth at the moment.

‘The last time I saw James he was very well,’ Daniel returned noncommittally, obviously having no intention of telling her exactly when that meeting had taken place.

It could have been months ago, before Beth and James’s separation, for all Ellie knew. Although somehow she had an instinctive feeling that it hadn’t been...

Ellie continued to meet Daniel’s gaze for several seconds before finally turning away. ‘Can I get you a drink while we’re waiting?’ she offered with cool politeness.

‘Your sister has already provided me with a glass of wine, thank you.’ He indicated the glass sitting on the coffee-table beside him. ‘But I’ll pour you a glass, if you would like one?’ he offered mockingly.

It was almost as if he knew how much in need she felt of a soothing sip of wine! Probably he did. This man wasn’t disconcerted for long; he had recovered fast from the surprise of realising she was Beth’s sister.

‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly let you do that,’ she refused with saccharine politeness. ‘After all, you’re our guest.’

‘So it would appear,’ he conceded drily. ‘I notice, from my lack of sneezing, that you aren’t wearing Sapphire this evening?’

Ellie eyed him warily. ‘I do wear other perfumes,’ she told him defensively. ‘And in view of your remark concerning your allergy...’ She shrugged with a casual dismissiveness she was far from feeling; she would rather not get into a discussion about the perfume that made him sneeze every time he went near someone wearing it! He might start to question her about the occasions when he had been sneezing during the last two days...!

His mouth twisted. ‘That’s very kind of you.’

‘I can be kind, Mr Thackery—’

‘Daniel, please,’ he cut in smoothly, his gaze lightly mocking.

‘Daniel,’ she acknowledged distantly, moving to the dresser where Beth had left the tray containing the cooling bottle of white wine and the necessary glasses. ‘Let me fill your glass up for you.’ She smoothly crossed the room to pour the wine, hoping she had successfully diverted his attention away from that damned perfume; in view of the trouble it had almost caused her she never intended wearing it again.

Where on earth had Beth got to? She only had to check that the chicken hadn’t gone dry and put the prepared avocados and prawns on the table; surely it couldn’t be taking her this long just to do that?

‘Cheers!’ Daniel held up his glass once both glasses were filled. ‘To an enjoyable dinner,’ he toasted drily.

It was as if he knew very well that neither she nor Beth was actually looking forward to sharing this meal with him! Which he probably did. After all, Beth had run off like a scared rabbit and not returned, and Ellie knew she wasn’t exactly being welcoming.

‘Cheers,’ she echoed abruptly, lightly touching her glass to his, pointedly not echoing his remark about ‘an enjoyable dinner’.

Basically, she doubted it would be. There was an edge to her own conversation with Daniel, and Beth was hardly relaxed in his company either. What a wonderful evening this promised to be!

‘Shall we sit down?’ she invited as she smoothly lowered herself into one of the armchairs, crossing one knee over the other, her legs long and silky in the slightly dark tights.

Daniel sat opposite her, totally relaxed, still looking at her with narrowed eyes. ‘I don’t remember meeting you at the wedding,’ he finally said thoughtfully—as if he would have remembered only too well if he had met her!

Which he probably would, Ellie conceded; the sparks seemed to have been flying between them since the moment they’d first met! ‘Unfortunately I missed it because I wasn’t very well,’ she explained dismissively.

Dark brows rose. ‘So unwell you couldn’t make your only sister’s wedding?’

Ellie sensed the censure in his tone and frowned. ‘Yes,’ she bit out tersely, having no intention of explaining to him, of all people, the reason she hadn’t been able to attend Beth and James’s wedding.

‘That must have been rather upsetting for your sister.’ He met her gaze challengingly. ‘Although I believe your parents did come over from Spain for the wedding...?’ He arched dark brows.

‘Yes,’ she answered slowly. Of course her parents had come over for the wedding; they had stayed on for several weeks afterwards to help at the hotel too, what with Ellie in hospital and Beth away on her honeymoon.

Daniel nodded. ‘I believe they left you and Beth in charge here after your father’s illness?’

‘Yes.’ She replied warily this time; he had been busy doing his homework about them, hadn’t he?

‘So you and Beth must have come to rely on each other a lot over the last couple of years?’ he ground out harshly.

She and Beth had always been close. At this precise moment Ellie felt as if she was under attack—and she wasn’t exactly sure why. What difference did it make to this man whether or not she had been at Beth and James’s wedding? What business was it of his anyway?

She shrugged. ‘Beth understood why I couldn’t be at the wedding.’