Page 39 of Lilly
“I didn’t mean about your accountant problem, you fool. I meant, what did you do with the deadone?”
“Well, we didn’t know he was dead at the time so we rang an ambulance like most people would. What did you think we woulddo?”
I shrug at him because I hadn’t really thought about it. I was just shocked by thesituation.
We have a great night. It’s nice to see Lucas laughing with friends. I usually only see him when he’s in work mode, and that Lucas can’t always be that fun. I know he’s only doing his job but he can be a little uptight. Okay, a lotuptight.
When we get back to the hotel we get stopped by Catherine in thelobby.
“Lucas, can I borrow you for a fewminutes?”
“Can’t it wait,Catherine?”
“No.”
Lucas turns to me, whispers that he’s sorry in my ear and tells me to wait for himupstairs.
I do as I’m told, although a huge part of me wants to go with him. I don’t trust Catherine as far as I could throw her. It’s obvious she wants him; she might as well be wearing a sign. I do trust Lucas though, so I head upstairs, just a little irritated that she’s interrupted ourevening.
I go straight to the bedroom, smiling to myself when I realise Lucas must have set up his playlist ready because the music is soft and perfect for what I have in mind. I undo the strap of my dress that is knotted behind my neck and wiggle out of it. When I went shopping with Taylor I also headed for the underwear section, much to his delight andamusement.
“Oh, so the cotton ones aren’t cutting it now you’ve got a man then?” he said very loudly as we walked over to the fancy section. I turned around and glowered at him but it was too late—I was already beetrootred.
I leave my shoes on because Lucas seems to like that and I crawl on to his bed. I prop myself up against the headboard andwait.
Lucas
“What is it, Catherine?”I bark as I follow behind her towards her office. The extra swing she puts into her hips pisses me off. If she thinks that is going to entice me, then she’s got me verywrong.
“The system’s crashed. It’s double booked some of therooms.”
“And I’m neededbecause?”
“I thought you might know what to do,” she saysinnocently.
I can’t believe she interrupted my night with Lilly for thisbullshit.
“Just ring IT, have them fixit.”
“No one’sanswering.”
“Well then, wait until the morning. No one will be checking in this time of night, and if they do, we have some empty rooms that are ready for the referb next week. Just use them if you haveto.”
“You’re so smart,” she says as she runs her hand down my arm. Her act doesn’t fool me. I’ve known her too long. Catherine hasn’t always been the workaholic bitch that she is now and I feel partly to blame for it. When she first started working for me she was waiting tables. I saw something in her straight away and soon started moving her up through the ranks until she was managing one of our small hotels up north. She was dedicated but she also had empathy and consideration that’s now disappeared. Her life was turned upside down and she started on a downward spiral. She had months off work. When she came back she was more determined than ever and she latched on to me, I think it was because I’d kept her job for her and given her another chance. I should have said no when she tried it on with me, but I was young and horny. She’s made it clear ever since that she wants another chance but I’ve refused. She’s turned into an amazing manager but she’s ruthless. I think she’s so focused on not falling back into the person she was during her months away that work has taken over her entire life. It’s almost like she needs control more than Ido.
“Are we done?” I snap. My blood is starting toboil.
“Do you fancy a drink,Luc?”
“No, thank you. I havecompany.”
“I saw. But don’t you want a real woman? Not just thecleaner.”
“Lilly isn’t just a cleaner, Catherine. Now do your job and leave me to do mine.” I push past her harshly and march out of her office. She might be good at her job but she is a serious pain in myarse.
I take the stairs instead of the lift to try to burn off some of my frustration before I get to Lilly. When I step through the door the first thing I hear is the music I set up earlier. I hate being in the quiet so there is always music playing in here. Something I’m surprised Lilly hasn’t asked me about. Being surrounded by silence brings back too many painful memories of mychildhood.
Everything is quiet other than that. The thought of her waiting for me makes my cock twitch. I haven’t been with her for way too fucking long. I almost cancelled on Joe and Nat so that we could have the night alone, but I knew I’d get no end of grief for it. We’ve got the rest of the weekend to make up for losttime.
