Page 24 of Lilly
“What are you doing in here, anyway?” he asks as he walks towards the bed. “Wow.”
I watch as he crouches down so he can get a better look at my designs. He’s silent as he studies each room laid out in front ofhim.
“I’m sorry, I’ll make sure the room is put back perfectly. I just like the peace and quiet,” I say, going over and starting to tidy everythingup.
“Lilly, these are incredible. You’ve basically done the wholehotel.”
I feel my face flush at his compliment. I mutter a thank you before continuing to tidyup.
“Do you fancy a job as my designer instead of mycleaner?”
“Don’t be stupid, Lucas. I’ll meet you upstairs when I’m sorted,” I say in the hope he’ll leave me to it for a bit. He’s taken me by surprise, turning up looking all sexy bad boy. I need a moment to compose myself and remind myself he’s my boss. Unfortunately, he doesn’t leave. Instead, he helps me get everything together before insisting on carrying it all backupstairs.
The second I step foot in his room, I realise what was missing this morning. There was no music. Every single time I’ve been here, whether Lucas has been here or not, there has been music playing. Usually it’s easy going kind of stuff that is easy to work along to. This afternoon is different, because the sounds of Tinie Tempah filter through the entiresuite.
I look over my shoulder at Lucas but he ignores the question in my eyes and just walks past me before putting my stuff down next to the sofa. I can’t help but watch his backside as he bendsdown.
When he looks up, he catches me staring at him. A smirk tugs at the corners of hislips.
“See something you like?” he asks, reminding me of the night he took meout.
As he stands looking smug and waiting for my reply, I spot a flask, a loaf of bread and bowls on a tray on the coffee table behindhim.
“Ah, your mum’s famous chicken soup,” I state before heading in thatdirection.
When I look over my shoulder, I see him looking at me with his mouth open. “How do you know about that?” he asks but then immediately answers his own question. “You spoke to her this morning, didn’t you? I wondered how she knew I was ill. I just presumed the gossip got back about my cancelledmeetings.”
“I’m sorry. Your phone rang and to stop it waking you up, I answered it. I’m sorry,” I repeat, because I have no idea if he’s going to be annoyed with myactions.
“It’s fine, Lilly. I bet she was thrilled that a female answered my phone,” he comments with alaugh.
“You’d already told her aboutme.”
“Not really. She’s tenacious, my mother. Once she gets something in her head she won’tstop.”
The fact he’s not denying telling his mum about me is a shock. Maybe she’s right—maybe there is more here than the one night stand I thought it would be and that Lucas does actually want to spend more time with me. I thought maybe it was all a bit of a joke or something. I mean, not every hotel owner wants anything to do with his cleaningstaff.
Once I gather my thoughts, my mouth runs away with me. “And what did you tell herexactly?”
“Well nothing, actually. I went over the day after we went out for dinner and… she can see everything, that bloodywoman.”
“What do youmean?”
“Would you like some soup?” Lucas asks, completely ignoring myquestion.
The soup is delicious—I even have seconds. Lucas, on the other hand, has a couple of spoons full, then puts the bowl down. When I glance up at him, he looks a little green. After a bit of an argument, he eventually concedes and takes himself back to bed. He looksexhausted.
Just like before, he was almost asleep before his head hit the pillow. I pull his bedroom door shut before finishing off the cleaning I escaped from earlier. Once everything is looking as it should, I peek my head around his door to see if he’s still asleep. I’m surprised to see a bright blue pair of eyes looking back atme.
“Hey.”
“Hey,yourself.”
“I was just coming to say that I’m heading off. I’ve finished cleaning,so…”
“Don’t go.” My eyes snap back up to his. “Please,” he says, in an almost begging tone. He sounds so sad and looks a little pathetic with his green glow that I haven’t really got a choice but toagree.
I slip inside the room, pulling the door closed behind me. I stand at the side of his bed and he lifts the covers for me to join him. I’m feeling a little unsure of myself now. I may have just agreed to stay, but what happens next? It’s only just getting dark outside, so going to bed seems a little crazy, and I can guarantee nothing untoward is happening in said bed. And that’s not only because he’s ill. I can’t go there again, even if my memories alone are enough to get me revved up forit.
