The One Addicted (20 page)

I smile at her warmth. I haven’t seen her since our last meeting but we’d been in touch via e-mails and the more I had contact with her, the more I liked. She was a savvy business woman who didn’t take any shit - someone I could relate to. “Carolyn - so glad you came. You are already my client so you have no fear that I belong to James Marcell.”

“Ooh, goody.” Her eyes twinkle and I glance to the nearly empty cocktail.

“Can I get you a refill?”
 

“Do you know I think I will - these Elysium cocktails are delicious - clever marketing strategy that. Might need to get the recipe for the Gilded Fox, we have cocktail hour on a Thursday night. What’s in it?”

“Haven’t a clue I’m afraid - but I know its fundamentally a red velvet martini - to go with the red velvet interior theme. There are Black Cherry Velvet’s and also Grey Goose Vodkas over dry ice. All my assistant’s doing, so I can’t take the credit, I’m afraid.” I grab another red velvet for Carolyn from a nearby waiter and guide her in the direction of the bedroom. “Shall I give you the guided tour?”

For the next ten minutes we review my work and whilst I already have a signed purchase order for her Inn, I am confident she’ll spread the word of my creativity; she is full of positive praise. She has also given me plenty of ideas to consider for rooms at her own pub. I break off to meet and greet other interested parties during our tour and advise them to take a company brochure from the ones near the door. The Suite, in particular has gone down a storm, which was always going to be the case and I finally can begin to breathe again.

“Lucia, this is my daughter, Dawn.”

As I escape an overzealous gentleman, who’s had far too many Grey Goose vodkas, his hand determined to test all textured surfaces of the Suite, my pearl beaded butt included, I see that a woman of a similar age to myself, perhaps a year or two older, has joined Carolyn Walters; the similarity between them is striking. “Well, I can see that - you are like two peas in a pod. Pleased to meet you, Dawn.”
 

I hold out my hand and she shakes it rather formally. Carolyn’s tinkly laugh is contagious but whilst Dawn smiles she is far more reserved and it certainly doesn’t reach her eyes. She has long dark hair, worn in a similar style to mine, hazel irises that would be striking if she wore a little make-up to enhance them and quite possibly, a good figure underneath her baggy top and trousers. She didn’t draw attention to herself, in fact did quite the opposite.
 

“Nice to meet you, Lucia. My Mum has talked a lot about you.”

“Ooh, all good I hope.” For some reason I feel a little off - like I’m having to put in more effort here.
You already have the job and she’s a silent partner, so don’t beg.

“Of course.”
 

“I’m glad we’ve met - I did say to your Mum if there were any parts of the design plans you were not happy with, we could discuss them…”

“No no, I’m much more of a silent partner right now, as I’m sure Carolyn has already mentioned.” I nod encouraging her to continue; the woman interested me, she was definitely an enigma. “She did.”

“Well, I like your plans and my Mum likes you, oh and red velvet cocktails it appears.”

We laugh together and Carolyn tuts. “Leave an old lady be - I’m allowed to indulge at my age.”

“You’re only 68 mum! Well, anyway I saw your work when I stayed over at a hotel in The Lake District…”

“The Queen’s Head!”

“That’s the one. I loved it and did my research and the owner gave me your name. The rest is history.”

“Well thank you, that’s a real compliment. I worked on The Queen’s Head a couple of years back.”

“I only went the once.” I watch Carolyn put her arm around her daughter and consider their behaviour.
 

“If you liked that, I also did Rooks Hill, B & B in the Dales. You must stay
 
- it’s lovely and if you mention my name, they’ll give you 10% off. Maybe try and have a romantic getaway.”

“Not for me. Never again.”

I lower my head, slightly embarrassed at her dramatic statement - it all seemed a bit much for a first meeting but each to their own. Jim Carey’s words ring prominently in my mind -
All … righty then!
Just as she seems to become more
normal
- she turns all psycho again.

Carolyn attempts to make up for Dawn’s bluntness and in a bubbly voice natters about romance and her dearly departed husband and as if on cue, I look up at the doorway to see my own love leaning, watching, drop-dead-gorgeous. His timing could not have been better. He’s always there to rescue me, even when I don’t need it.

“Any chance of a tour?” his drawl could melt butter.

“Will you excuse me, Carolyn, Dawn?”

“Of course dear. We’ll be in touch.”
 

“No probs. Nice to meet you, Dawn.”

“And you, Lucia.”

I make my quick exit and head over to Seb but Dawn’s voice halts me in my tracks. “Lucia? Just be careful ok?”

I turn to face her.
What a strange thing to say?
“About what, Dawn?”

“Who you spend time with.”

“I’m not sure what you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter - I’ve said too much already.”

I glance across to Carolyn but she has already moved towards the door and is out of earshot. “Ok, then, Dawn. Night.”

Cuckoo!

I walk straight into Sebastian’s outstretched arm, feeling it wrap round my waist and release the breath I’d been unknowingly holding.
My safe haven.
The woman had given me the heeby-jeebies, something I’d experienced a lot of late. I feel sorry for her; she’s obviously unhappy but definitely got a screw loose.
What the hell had that all been about?

“All good?”

“Yes. Can we head downstairs for a bit.”

“Of course. You can give me my tour later - I’d like to check out your plumbing…”

I grin up at him. “Are you sure you’re Ok with it?”

“Fine. Is everything alright, Lu - you seem off kilter?”

“Just something a client said to me, or rather didn’t say, oh whatever… I’m good. Let’s go.” I reach up to plant my lips on his wide sexy mouth. Who cares if this is work - all I want to do now is play.

“Well, I have a surprise for you that will cheer you up - even though they’re not usually your thing.”

He knows me too well.
“You do, do you?”

“I do. Not nearly as good as your little declaration downstairs.” His eyes drop to my groin and I squeeze my thighs together at his words. “But, I think you’ll like it.”

“Well, don’t leave me hanging.”

We make our way down the stairs, his hand in the small of my back at all times and through to the bar, where Nathan holds up a beer for Seb. I practically run alongside his long steps, trying to keep up.

“I think I’ll hold off a little longer, baby. One more hour and you’ll know.”

*****

“So, I think that all went rather well, Lucia don’t you?”

I glance over my shoulder as the owner of the establishment settles in next to me in the library. “It’s been wonderful, James. Truly. Thank you for such an amazing launch and including Elysium in it.”

“Hard to believe that you’ve achieved so much in such a short time.” He sips his whiskey and settles back into the purple velvet settee. “I seem to be having a severe case of
déjà vu
, darling.” He raises a bushy brow, “You, me and garishly dressed male here, discussing the brief - was that really only a month ago?”

“Yes. We seem to have all changed in that month.”
 

“That day brought a fabulous interior designer into my life, who I like to think of as a friend.”
 

“Of course we’re friends, James. This weekend has been such a treat; you’ve ruined us all.”

“It was my pleasure, darling. Tell your friends that they do not have room bills, I’ve already got Debbie to sort things.” He holds his hand up to stop me arguing with him. “Colin wanted to have a house party, and play Lord of the Manor and this was his chance - I wanted to indulge him.”

“That’s very generous of you - thank you, James. How are you and Colin?”

“Dreamy, darling. A month ago, I got you and a new man. He is a bloody whirlwind, but he’s good for me. He keeps me young and less stuffy -
and
keeps an eye on my cholesterol.” He pauses to chuckle. “What about you? Sebastian Silver is certainly a catch.” He raises his glass to me in cheers and I bite my lip.
He certainly is that.

“A lot has changed in the last month. I am open to what the future holds.”

“That’s the attitude. Gorgeous girl like you can pick and choose but just remember to grab those opportunities when you
see
them,
feel
them, or another month will have gone by just as fast as this one did.”

“It’s flown hasn’t it? Are you happy with the completed works James - I mean you’ve signed them off but its always nice to hear?”

“Bloody marvellous job you’ve done, Lucia. Marvellous! I just wanted to grab a quiet moment with you before you’re too busy for my little Hotel.”

I chuckle at his words - he was my most affluent client to date, owning an estate and lands worth millions
 
-
pah! little hotel
- I would not be discarding him for new blood. “I take it you would like me to address some of the other rooms in the same design manner?”

“This party has been wonderful for feedback from both locals and our regulars and the rooms have gone down a storm - why break what is a winning strategy? Put some figures together and we’ll talk but yes, to answer your question, I have another 20
−
30 rooms at least to work over and our private dining room needs a makeover before Christmas, if that’s something you’d be interested in?”

My head is spinning with ideas. “Yes, of course. I’ll have my assistant set up a meeting and we’ll talk next week.”

“Super. You are a rare gem.”

“Exquisite, isn’t she?” I sense Sebastian at my back, his fingertips, softly kneading my vertebrae and I roll my head into his touch.

James’ clears his throat and stands. “Exquisite is a perfect word for her. Right, I think I’ll retire to bed now that all the guests have gone. Enjoy each other.”

We watch him leave, all the while Sebastian at my back, his fingers doing wicked things to my skin and then his lips brush against my ear. “Are you ready for your surprise, baby?”
 

And with my nod of encouragement he pulls my chair back, never losing contact with me, skin on skin at all times.
 

“Time to go upstairs where untold pleasures await.”

*****

We’d said our goodnights to Colin and Gino, Suzie had gone to bed earlier and Nathan and Abby were about to head up themselves. It was time to call it a night. We take the staircase together, head down the Alice in Wonderland corridor and I’m about to stop at my room, when Sebastian slips his arms under my knees and around my back. Then he lifts me, cradling me to his strong muscular body and I loop my arms around his neck intuitively.

“What are you doing?” my giggles are nervous but reactive.

“Doing what I wanted to do the first time we walked down this corridor together…”

I look up at his face, intent on his path and fixated on his goal,. I’m allowed those few minutes to enjoy his features at my leisure and inhale his intoxicating scent. I place my palm against his chest, only to feel the heat burning there, the tanned skin visible at his neck, makes me gulp - he is fucking gorgeous and all mine for the night!

We reach the end of the corridor, the two huge doors to the honeymoon suite in front of us, now closed. “Do you want your tour now?”

He ignores my question and shuffles to whip the keycard though the lock, then with a deft flick of his hand the door opens and he carries me through it, closing it behind us with his foot. “The only thing I want a tour of is your delectable body.”

“We can’t be in here, Seb.”

“We can and we will. It’s our’s for the night. We’re going to finish what we should have done in here last month and you’re going to scream so loud, they’ll think this place is bloody haunted.”

He sets me down onto my feet and disappears into the bathroom. I can’t believe he’s booked this room?
He
was the person who’d booked it weeks ago - I wonder if Colin was in on it?

The curtains are now closed, creating a luxury floor to ceiling draping that is both dramatic and sensual. Colin had been right about the fabrics, they worked well together. Fresh logs spit and hiss in the fire grate, while candles, glow around the room - many more than I had arranged for the launch. I remove one stiletto, then the other and pad barefoot towards the bed, passing the champagne that chills in the ice bucket on the coffee table. I lift the bottle seeking the label; ah, Laurent Perrier Rose, my favourite. He’d thought of everything. Or had he?

At the wardrobe I open it and find all our clothing, hanging uniformly. Yep, everything; he was such a control freak but I am beginning to love that about him.

His arms wrap around my waist, pressing me passionately to him and I reach up on tiptoe to rub noses with him affectionately. “When did you do all this?”

“It’s been planned for some time but your sister helped me pack your things when you were working the room, and then the night porter distributed it in here, whilst we were with James downstairs.”

“I so wanted to be the first to stay in this room.” I step back from him, suddenly highly emotional.

“I know, baby. It’s another first for us. We should have christened this room weeks ago but at least now, we can enjoy it in style. It’s our room.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now come here and let me undress you by the fire.”

Sebastian had removed his jacket and tie and slipped it onto the nearby chair, then he moved to unzip my top and skirt and I’m discarded of both seamlessly, leaving me standing in front of him in nothing but my bra and jewellery. I instinctively unhook it and slide it down my shoulders aware of his eyes on me, at all times. A few weeks ago I’d have wrapped my arms around myself, conscious of my naked status but now I’m happy to see his liquorice blacks fill with lust at the sight of my body; I’m empowered by the evident rise I can achieve as my eyes drop to his groin, where his erection is thick and hard, the fabric pulled tautly across his trousers.