His eyebrows shot up. ‘You’re busy, too.’ Jeez, could the woman not see how much she was taking on?
‘That’s just the point, I’m not, am I?’ Faith let out a deep sigh, her expression turning so sad he felt a pang of long forgotten emotion. ‘And if I carry on like this, I won’t be busy any time soon, either. I mean, I’ve just thrown away a huge booking I couldn’t afford to lose. Maybe I’m not ready to have my own business yet.’ Before he could say anything, she jumped up from the bed, flapping her hands. ‘Oh God, I shouldn’t be moaning to you about this. You’re my only paying guest right now.’
Though true, the statement hurt. ‘I thought we’d moved on from that.’
For a moment she was silent, frowning down at her hands before finally meeting his eyes. ‘Sorry. We never did firm up our rules for …’ She gestured between them. ‘This. If it was the start of a relationship I’d want to share things. But as it’s not …’ She trailed off, shrugging her shoulders, looking as uncomfortable as he felt.
Jack must have picked up on his tension because he started to wriggle. Unsure what else to do, Adam placed his hand on the baby’s back. Much to his astonishment, Jack quietened instantly.
Faith started to laugh softly. ‘You’ve got the touch.’
He stared at his big hand on Jack’s tiny frame. ‘I’m terrified I’ll squash him.’
‘You won’t. You’re far gentler than you think. I’ve also dumped him on you for longer than I’d intended. Here, hand him to me and I’ll take him back to his mum.’
Jack made a few disgruntled noises as he was passed over, but settled again on Faith’s shoulder. Adam was surprised how much he missed the warmth of the little body snuggled up against him. He suddenly realised he’d gone from being terrified of the mite, to being soothed by him.
‘I’ll see you later?’
Her eyes met his and desire surged through him at the promise he saw there. ‘Absolutely. I’m around all evening.’ She smiled and as she turned to leave he bolted up from the bed and went to open the door. ‘About the hotel.’ He cupped her chin, tilting her face towards his. ‘Don’t lose confidence in yourself. You’ll make it work, and you’ll do it the way that’s right for you.’
She beamed with gratitude, reaching up to kiss his cheek. ‘Thank you.’
‘And as for what you said about us,’ he added. ‘I’ve never had sex for the sake of sex, so let’s not overthink this. I like you. I enjoy your company both in and out of bed.’
Her cheeks flushed a little. ‘Me, too.’ Then she rolled her eyes. ‘I mean I enjoy your company, too.’
Once she’d left, Adam sank back on the bed. For a man who’d spent most of his life overthinking absolutely everything, it was a shock to find he was now willing to take one step at a time. With no clue as to the direction he was travelling.
Chapter Thirteen
Four days before Christmas
Heaven help her, she was humming. Faith quickly checked there was no one outside her small office who could overhear. Thankfully Chloe hadn’t arrived yet, so it was just Faith, and her thoughts.
Last night had been even better than the night before, she thought with a rush of delight. Adam had been more at ease, more flirty. And the sex had been off the scale. A warm flush settled through her and Faith couldn’t form her mouth into any other position than a wide, inane grin. Adam Hunter was built like a Greek God and made love like a sex God. With a voracious appetite.
Following another hum of pleasure, she focused back on her marketing plan. The major areas were already covered; she had a snazzy website, ads on all the major travel sites, the hotel name in the Lake District tourist information books and leaflets. Now it was time to think more creatively. Maybe link up with some of the local businesses. Advertise her function room to firms who might be looking for off-site retreats.
She needed to drum up bookings from somewhere.
For the next few hours she worked steadily, only dimly aware of Chloe arriving, of her saying hello to Adam as he went off for his daily gym session.
‘Aunt Faith?’ Chloe’s voice startled her. ‘There’s a man here to see you. Think he’s that guy you used to go out with.’
Faith looked past Chloe and gasped in surprise. ‘Patrick. What are you doing here?’
The tall man with fair hair, a pleasant looking face and calm blue eyes smiled back at her. ‘Thought I’d see how you were doing.’
With a rush of affection she rose from her chair and went to hug him, his slim frame feeling oddly unfamiliar. It had only been two days but already her hands had become used to feeling wider shoulders, a broader chest.
‘So, this is it?’ His eyes darted round the lobby. ‘Very nice. Have you time to give me a tour?’
She thought of the unfinished letter she’d been drafting to local businesses. Then thought of all the times she’d let Patrick down. ‘Of course. As long as that’s okay with Chloe?’ Chloe gave the usual shoulder shrug, and Faith led Patrick away, towards the hall.
‘Got your family working for you then.’ Patrick nodded over to where Chloe was still watching them.
‘Only my niece.’ On an impulse, she asked him. ‘What do you think of her on the reception desk?’
He shrugged. ‘Your hotel, your business. I wouldn’t dream of putting my nose in it.’
Funny how two years ago that response would have pleased her, yet now it made her feel he wasn’t interested. It was such a stark contrast to Adam, who despite not really knowing her, had pushed his nose into her business several times since he’d first arrived. And each time it had been through concern for her.
As she showed him around they caught up on each other’s news. Patrick made all the right noises, said all the right things, but Faith was left feeling flat. There was no sizzle, no sparks. Not even any angst.
She’d experienced all three with Adam.
‘I was wondering,’ Patrick said as they walked back to the lobby. ‘Are you free for dinner tonight? I could take you away from this place for a few hours?’
‘What’s wrong with this place?’
He laughed, the noise sounding forced. ‘Nothing, of course. I just thought you might like a change.’
Stop being so touchy, she told herself. ‘I’m afraid until my deputy manager starts next year, I need to be here.’
‘So we can’t have dinner together?’
Her mind flashed to Adam, to the last three evenings they’d shared. Two of which had ended back at her place.
In days he’d be gone, though.
‘Perhaps next year,’ she said lightly, not quite sure what Patrick was really asking. Not sure how she felt either, other than wanting to enjoy Adam for as long as she could. ‘It’s been lovely to see you though,’ she added quickly, honestly. She’d meant what she’d said to Adam. Patrick was a good guy.
As she kissed Patrick’s clean-shaven cheek she was dimly aware of the front door opening.
‘Hi Adam.’
Faith jerked guiltily away from Patrick as Chloe greeted their one and only guest. Though why she felt guilty, she didn’t know. She’d only kissed Patrick on the cheek, for goodness sake. And she and Adam weren’t even a couple, not in the proper sense of the word. Yet as she glanced over at Adam she saw his confusion, his hurt. And a flash of something fierce and possessive in the smoky grey eyes staring back at her.
The particulars didn’t matter, she realised. She’d have felt the same hurt and confusion, the same jealous possession, if she’d seen Adam with another woman. ‘I … hello Adam.’ Her heart bumped madly in her chest. ‘Did you have a good work-out?’ she added, noticing his gym bag, his damp hair. The smell of his body spray which she knew, from the last few evenings, clung to his skin and did crazy things to her hormones.
Whatever thoughts he’d had when he’d first seen
her were now firmly masked. ‘Thanks, yes.’
Very aware of the way Patrick was watching them, Faith made some awkward introductions.
When she mentioned Patrick’s name, Adam’s jaw tightened but he said nothing, merely nodded in Patrick’s direction.
‘Adam’s our first guest,’ Faith murmured, finding the need to fill the gaping silence.
‘Oh, right. I guess that means he gets special attention.’
Patrick meant nothing by his remark but Faith wanted the ground to swallow her up. When she dared to look at Adam, a hint of amusement crept into his expression.
‘I can fully vouch for the service here.’ His eyes sought out hers, searing her with their intensity. ‘My every need has been catered for.’
A hot flush stung her cheeks and as he strode off towards his room, she flung a few mental daggers his way.
Once she’d ushered Patrick out of the door, Faith took in a deep breath.
‘Wow, what was all that about?’ Chloe asked.
She feigned innocence. ‘All what?’
‘All that stuff between you and Adam. My every need has been catered for.’ She mimicked Adam, puffing up her chest in a fairly accurate impression of male posturing.
‘I’m not sure.’
Chloe narrowed her eyes, staring at her. ‘Are you and Adam hooking up?’
Oh help. ‘Please, keep your voice down,’ she hissed.
‘Why? It’s not against the rules. You’re both single, right? Patrick seems like he’s forgotten he dumped you, but Adam’s way better than him, anyway.’
‘He is, huh?’ Faith gave up trying to be the sensible aunt and started to laugh. ‘Okay, okay. We can only discuss my love life if we talk about yours, too.’
Immediately the laughter drained from Chloe’s face. ‘I haven’t got one.’
Faith knew she was about to tread on eggshells but whatever was upsetting Chloe, she had a strong feeling it involved a boy. ‘You’re a bit young to have a boyfriend, but not too young to have a crush,’ she ventured cautiously. ‘When I was fifteen I fancied the boy I sat next to in maths. I can still remember him. Dreamy brown eyes, dark hair and pale skin. I thought he looked so romantic.’
Chloe snorted. ‘Sounds like a weirdo.’ She dipped her head and began to chew at one of her chipped nails. ‘Michael’s got blond hair and blue eyes. He’s going out with Alice. They were kissing at the Christmas party.’
A rush of understanding, of tenderness, welled inside Faith. ‘So that’s why you’re upset.’
Chloe shook her head. ‘No. I mean, sure I hate that he likes her instead of me, but it’s not just that. I …’ She trailed off, looking down at her boots.
Faith put an arm around her, hugging her close. ‘What, Chloe?’
‘I’m the only one without a boyfriend,’ she blurted, not looking at her. ‘Tamsin has Rory, Alice has Michael and I’ve got a big fat nobody.’
‘Oh Chloe, darling, your time will come.’
She wriggled away from Faith’s hold. ‘You don’t understand. They’re making fun of me, saying I’ll never get one.’ Chloe inhaled a deep, shuddering breath. ‘Boys don’t fancy me.’
Tears began to stream down her face and as she started to move further away, Faith clutched at her arm, bringing her back.
Moments later Chloe was gripping onto her, and sobbing into her arms.
Back in his room, Adam debated long and hard whether to hunt Faith down and confront her, or get in his car and drive miles away from her.
He hated feeling this way. Angry, jealous. Hurt. It wasn’t even as if she’d done anything wrong. There was no reason why she couldn’t see her ex, kiss him even.
Another burst of jealousy snaked through him. Damn it, this was supposed to be simple. Flirtation, fun, sex. Something to take his mind off the time of year. What had Faith said? To help them start next year with a spring in their steps.
Picking up his jacket, wallet and keys he stalked towards the door. He’d go for a hike. Have a pub lunch somewhere. Windermere wasn’t far and he hadn’t been there yet. Plus snow was forecast in a couple of days, so he should make the most of getting out while he could. A walk by the lake would calm him, help release some of this angst, this tension that was tying knots in his stomach.
As he walked by the reception desk though, his resolve crumbled. He couldn’t ignore the woman with her arms wrapped around the quietly sobbing red-haired teenager.
When he cleared his throat, both their heads snapped up. ‘Everything okay?’ He gave himself a mental slap round the face. ‘Let me rephrase. Anything I can do?’
Faith smiled sadly. ‘Not unless you can convince my beautiful niece that not all boys are blind and stupid. Only the ones she’s at school with.’
Chloe made a noise that sounded like part sob, part hiccup with a hint of a laugh.
‘Not all boys are blind,’ he confirmed. ‘As for stupid, I’m afraid we usually are. You girls are a lot smarter. Though you can be a lot bitchier, too,’ he added, his eyes on Chloe.
As she straightened up, Chloe gave him a glimmer of a smile before accepting a tissue from Faith. ‘I should have done what you said. Shut the Facebook account.’ Faith shot him a surprised look as Chloe wiped her eyes. ‘I tried to once, but then I was like, what about my other friends? How do I keep up with them? And I kept thinking maybe they’ll say some nice stuff soon. Stupid.’
He should go, he thought. Walk away, because he found it hard enough making normal conversation, never mind discussing stuff like feelings. Emotions. Yet there was something about the trusting way Chloe was looking at him, the brave way she’d opened up, that stopped him. ‘A few years ago I went through a tough time.’ He was aware of Faith’s look of shock at his admission. Of Chloe watching him carefully. ‘Somebody whose opinion was very important to me made me feel really bad about myself. I’m not going to say I have a magic cure, but that’s when I started exercising, doing weights.’ He glanced down at his hands, now bunched into fists, and consciously forced them to relax. ‘It helped me channel some of the anger I was feeling into something positive. The more I worked out, the more I began to like at least part of myself again.’
He met Chloe’s eyes, stunned when the girl with the crazy red hair, clunky black boots and teenage attitude gave him a smile that lit up her face. ‘Cool, will you show me?’ As if aware she’d lapsed into keen, she added her usual shrug. ‘Just some easy stuff. You know, with small weights. Nothing heavy. I don’t want to be big like you. Not that you don’t look sick, you know. For a guy.’ Her face grew slowly redder the more she talked.
He laughed softly. ‘Thanks, I think. I’d be happy to show you a few routines, just let me know when your aunt can spare you. We can use the pretty dumb-bells in the exercise room here.’ He flicked a glance towards Faith.
‘It would be nice to see them being used for something other than a dust magnet.’ Faith reached down to grasp her niece’s hand, giving it a quick, supportive squeeze. ‘What size feet are you?’
‘Six.’
‘Me too. Why don’t you borrow my trainers, and anything else you need, and have a session with Adam now? If that’s okay with him?’
Two pairs of eyes stared back at him and Adam nodded, wondering how he’d gone from a lake walk and a pub lunch, to showing a teenager some exercises.
Wondering too, why he actually preferred the thought of helping Chloe. He wasn’t going to kid himself he’d turned into a saint. Though he liked the girl, felt he even understood her a bit, if he was honest with himself, it was pleasing Faith that gave him the biggest buzz.
Chloe raced off to Faith’s quarters to change, and Faith placed her hand on his arm. A gentle touch, yet it scorched through his shirt.
‘Thank you.’
‘Thought it was about time your snazzy room was u
sed.’
She smiled, such warmth in her eyes he felt it seep all the way to his heart. ‘I appreciate it, but I wasn’t only thinking of your offer to help her with the exercises. I hadn’t realised you’d advised her about Facebook?’
He shrugged. ‘Just told her she didn’t have to read all that shit.’
Faith’s eyes remained on his, studying him, as if she was trying to understand him. ‘That stuff you said about feeling bad about yourself.’
‘Ah.’ He shuffled his feet, suddenly uncomfortable.
‘It’s okay, I’m not going to pry. Just know that if you want to talk about it, I’m here for you. Otherwise, what happened in the past can stay in the past.’
‘Speaking of things past.’ He willed himself to keep his tone mild. ‘What did Patrick want?’
She scrunched up her face. ‘You know what, I’m not absolutely sure. He asked me out to dinner.’
Something reached inside him, grabbed his heart and squeezed it tight. ‘Tonight?’
She shook her head. ‘I said I couldn’t. Maybe next year.’
When he wouldn’t be here. The answer didn’t please him a hell of a lot more than if it had been tonight, though he could hardly complain. He was the one who’d told her he wasn’t ready for another relationship.
What if he was, though? Would she be interested in meeting him halfway now and again? If he could somehow manage to put the last few shitty years behind him. And if she no longer had feelings for her ex. Was it possible they could give a cross-country relationship a try?
He felt the warmth of her hand on his face as she eased his head down to meet her eyes. ‘I didn’t want to have dinner with Patrick, Adam. I want to spend any spare moments I have with you, before you leave.’
The air left his lungs in a rush and he hauled her up against him, kissing her until they were both hot, panting and breathless. ‘Have dinner with me again tonight,’ he murmured against her lips. ‘Then let me show you how grateful I am that it’s me you chose to be with.’
A Little Christmas Faith Page 11
