and exploded into a real belly-laugh. The kind of laugh which turned heads and made the barman look at Sean over the top of his spectacles.
And why not? It had been far too long since he had laughed out loud—really laughed.
He had almost forgotten what it felt like, which was more than sad. It was a judgement of the life that he had chosen for himself and had never stopped to question—a roller coaster of work and travel, then more work and more travel, which never stopped long enough for him to get off and see the view now and then. It was too fast, and the highs and lows were so exhilarating, that it was impossible to look anywhere else but straight ahead because he never knew what was going to happen next.
It was a life that was as addictive as it was exhausting. A rush of daily adventure and excitement that called for his total focus and attention.
That was why he had been so attracted to Sasha.
They loved the hotel trade, and the rush of pulling off seemingly impossible projects and delighting his father and their hotel guests along the way. Sasha had been on her own roller coaster and at first they had been side by side, project to project. But slowly their tracks had simply drifted apart, further and further away, until they hadn’t been able to see one another. Both of them had been strapped in and going for the adventure of their lives.
It was true. His life was one long roller-coaster ride. He had jumped on when he was sixteen and was still strapped in at thirty-one.
Almost half of his life.
Strange. He had never thought of it that way until now.
And he knew exactly who he had to thank for that.
The girl with the twinkling green eyes who was grinning up at him.
The girl who had swept into his life like a warm breeze on a cold day.
The girl who he was going to leave behind, and sooner than he had planned.
Sean slid one of his hands from her waist and onto the bar so that he could lean forward slightly. He inhaled the light floral fragrance that she was wearing like the aroma of a fine wine. Intoxicating and provocative. Heady and enticing. Daring him to find out if her skin tasted as delicious as the aroma promised.
‘I still haven’t forgiven you for texting me when you knew that Tuesday was our Bake and Bitch Club night. The girls were scandalized by that sort of suggestive language.’
‘How could I forget our first anniversary? And you did call me brazen last week. I have a reputation to maintain, young lady,’ he whispered into her ear in a voice that was not meant to be overheard, especially by the hotel staff.
Her eyes met his without hesitation or excuse. Beguiling. Honest. True. And, oh, so magical.
‘I know. And I am certainly not complaining,’ she said.
Sean swallowed down a lump in his throat.
Dee was so close. So very close. Her gaze was locked onto his face, as though it was the most fascinating thing that she had ever seen, and he almost flinched with the loss when a guest sidled up behind them at the bar.
‘That colour looks great on you.’ He smiled. ‘Stylish and...’ He paused and, when he was sure that she was looking at him, silently mouthed the word ‘hot’ before slipping off the bar stool and grabbing her hand.
Her eyebrows lifted and she replied with a girly giggle and a small shoulder-wiggle, which was so endearing that he had to distract himself by focusing on the way her fingers felt clasped inside his.
Time to move to something less likely to scandalize his staff.
‘I think it’s about time you showed me what you have been up to in my conference suite. Don’t you?’
Dee paused outside the main doors to the conference room where she had spent most of the day with Prakash, and a stream of porters, delivery drivers and other people who she had never met before but who somehow seemed to be able to transform her sketches and lists into reality.
She raised one hand, palm upwards. ‘Now, it might come as a bit of a shock. So prepare yourself.’
Sean nodded just once. ‘I have been through everything, from Mardi Gras to beer festivals. I can handle it.’
Dee stretched out her hand towards the brass door plate, then lifted it back and whirled around on her heel. ‘First of all, I should say that Prakash and the team were amazing. Just amazing. And they did it all in one day! Totally brilliant, in fact. I couldn’t have done any of this without them... And now I am babbling, because I’m so excited and it’s wonderful, and did I say that it is amazing and the festival is tomorrow and...?’
‘Dee.’ Sean smiled and gently rested a hand on each of her shoulders. ‘I spoke to Prakash. He helped, but this is your idea. Your design, your colour scheme, your concept. So I know that it is going to be wonderful.’
‘Perhaps you should come back tomorrow when the exhibitors are setting up. There will be such a buzz.’
Sean looked over her shoulder into the middle distance and seemed about to say something, but changed his mind, turned back and lowered his head so that his nose was almost pressed against hers. He spoke in a jokey, firm voice.
‘Dee. I want the full tour and I want it now.’
‘You are so bossy!’
‘I know. But that’s why you like me.’
‘Really? Is that the reason? I thought it was your snazzy ties and shiny shoes.’
‘They only add to the allure. And you’re putting off the inevitable. What is it? Why don’t you want me to see your design? You know that I am going to, one way or another. ‘
‘Yes. I know. It is your hotel. It’s just that...’ She sucked in a breath then exhaled on one long string of words. ‘I am seriously nervous because this is the biggest thing that I have ever done on my own and I know that it’s mad but my whole future depends on this being a big success.’
Then she stopped, but Sean kept looking at her with that smile on his face, as though he was waiting for her to carry on.
Then without waiting another second he stepped forward, pushed open the doors to the conference suite with both hands and stood to one side.
Then he nodded towards the space behind him, reached out and grabbed her hand. ‘Come on.’ He smiled. ‘Show me what you have done. Show me what your imagination has created. Share it with me. Please.’
For the next ten minutes Sean walked slowly around the room as Dee explained each of the display panels in turn, starting with the history of tea production, then slowly walking from stand to stand.
She didn’t need to. But he liked hearing her voice, so he let her carry on.
The whole room was decorated in co-ordinating shades of green with stencils of green tea leaves against cream, pale gold and emerald green. There were plenty of stands for the exhibitors, power points, fresh water dispensers. And a portable professional kitchen. All ready for the morning. He couldn’t have been prouder.
‘So
