were cursing it only five minutes ago. I think I heard every swear word in the English language. French, too.”
“Oh, shut up.” Ruby finished her coffee. “Coffee tasted good by the way. Is this real coffee?” She looked at him speculatively.
He grinned. “I went shopping.”
Her eyes widened with horror. “You did what?”
“Relax. No one took a blind bit of notice. I’ve even got us some dinner in.”
“Oh, yeah, I’ve failed to get to a supermarket this week.”
Steve stood, clearing the table. “So when do I start my new job?” he asked, taking the mugs out to the kitchen.
“You can start tomorrow. You’ll have to do some training first, about the facilities, hygiene awareness and general hotel procedures.”
“Awesome.”
“You’ve really got to work on the accent.”
“I am!”
“You’re an actor for Christ’s sake. Pretend it’s a part you’re playing, a role.”
Steve opened the fridge and started taking the ingredients out he needed to make dinner.
“You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” he said, in his best British accent.
“Ha! Ha! Very Michael Caine. Just tone it down a little.”
Steve felt a sting on his right ear where Ruby flicked it.
“That hurt.” He rubbed his head and scowled. “Make yourself useful and peel the potatoes.”
“Pardon?” Ruby raised her eyebrows, as if waiting patiently.
Steve cleared his throat. “Please can you peel the potatoes,” he concentrated on sounding more British, “Darling? Ouch!”
***
“Okay, thinking about tomorrow,” Ruby said, tucking into her plate of food. “I think you might want to act a little clumsy or nerdy. It worked for Clark remember?”
Between them they’d knocked up a simple dinner with lamb chops and lashings of mint sauce. Damn, had he missed mint sauce. This was what living an ordinary life was about.
“More acting required, huh?”
“Yes, and I was thinking that we should change your name.”
Steve nodded. She had a point and he had thought this too.
“What about Stuart, it’s close to Steve? I wondered about Stefan, but would that be too close?”
“Stuart is good. Not so keen on Stefan.” Steve pulled a face.
“Then, Stuart it is. If I start saying Steve, at least I can correct myself. Also, as you’re my brother you’ll have Fisher back for your surname.”
Steve nodded. “Stuart, Stuart, Stuart,” he said, more to himself. Would he remember he was using a different name? Maybe he really did have to look at this as just another acting part. But there’d be no camera on him.
“Oh, and we’ve got to come up with a back-story, for why you’ve been away. You phoned from the airport.”
“How’d you know about that?”
“Lydia let it slip.”
“Will I get to meet Lydia? Is she cute?”
“I don’t know, she’s not my type.” Ruby rolled her eyes. “She’s quieter than Alice. But I’m not getting you a job so you can shag half the staff. You’re going to have to pull your weight, Steve, otherwise the others will start moaning. You have to work.”
“Yes, I know, boss.”
Ruby parked in the staff car park – as a manager she had her own space. Steve looked up at the quaint hotel, getting out of the car. Ivy grew up the corner of the brickwork and around some of the signage. Durdham Lodge. His insides jolted.
Nerves?
“It’s four stars, but it’s a small, manageable hotel,” Ruby said as she locked her car. “You’ll be fine.”
Since landing, he’d been sure someone was going to shout out, “Hey, that’s Steve Mason,” and draw attention to him. Fortunately, it hadn’t happened yet, and with a telephone call to Marie yesterday late evening, she’d reassured him the tabloids believed he was still holidaying in the Caribbean getting over his break up with Erica.
But was this foolish?
No, if he wanted to find a woman to love him sincerely, for him, not his looks, fame or fortune, then he had to give this a try. However mad it seemed.
What if he didn’t find anyone?
Then he’d given it a go. At least he’d have had quality time with Ruby…
“In the week it’s mainly people staying overnight on business, and at weekends we have spa breaks and tourists on city breaks.” Ruby chatted as they walked in through the staff entrance, at the back of the hotel and along a narrow corridor not for the viewing of the paying public. It didn’t have the luxurious decor expected in a four star country hotel, just dirtying magnolia walls. They passed a waiter and a chambermaid, and a small room that looked like it was for the staff, with smells of coffee wafting from it. Ruby swung open a door, they hit the plush red carpet, lavish decor and the aroma of freshly cut flowers. They were inside the hotel. A telephone was ringing in the background. Steve pushed his new glasses up on his face and slouched a little.
Ruby held open a door to an office – her office – and closed it after them. Steve breathed a little more easily.
“I warn you now, this is not as glamorous as producing a film,” she said.
Steve chuckled, straightening his back. “You’ll be surprised. A film set can be far from glamorous at times.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure it’s really boring.” Steve laughed again at Ruby’s sarcasm. He was starting to get used to her British wit again.
“Actually it can be very boring.”
“Yeah, yeah…We’re in early, but the hotel is staffed twenty-four seven.”
No shit early. Ruby had him up and out before seven a.m. this morning. Okay, he was used to early starts on set, and very long days, but this morning he’d found it hard to get out of bed, as if his body wanted to recoup some sleep. It had only been a couple of days since landing. Jet lag would still be taking its toll. It hadn’t helped it was still dark outside, either.
