‘It was the fucking least I could do. It killed me letting you walk away. I needed to be as close as possible to you and that seemed like the only fucking option I had.’ His hand began to gently run up and down my back as he caressed me and just like that, we were back.
‘I made a list on Christmas Eve, of all the things I needed to sort out in my life.’
‘Yeah?’
‘It was hard walking away from you, but I needed to find myself first, before I could take the time to work out what we were to each other. I phoned my mum that night, after years of having nothing to do with her. I forgave her for leaving me, because I knew I had to take that step first, before I had any chance of working out how I felt about you. To find you out there offering me solace meant the world.’
‘I need to sort this out with my sister, don’t I?’
‘I think so, the two of you need to make your peace.’
‘Thank you, Amy. You make me want more from myself.’
‘It’s what we do for each other, Brody.’
I cuddled further into him and watched the dying embers of the fire. He removed his arm from behind his head and wrapped both of his arms around me, holding me like he would never let me go.
‘You need to sleep, you have work at seven, don’t you?’
‘Mmmm, hmmm,’ I agreed as my eyelids finally closed.
I looked at the clock in my office, as I walked in for only the second time today. It was already gone eleven and I was desperate for a coffee. I was only four hours into my twelve-hour shift and fatigue was already washing over me. I kicked off my shoes as I walked behind my desk and let out a sigh of relief, as my bum found my seat.
‘What a bloody day.’ I spoke out into the empty room. I sank further into my chair and closed my eyes, trying to absorb the absolute bliss of the silence.
A knock at my door had me sitting back up almost immediately.
‘Come in,’ I replied as cheerfully as I could manage.
‘I’ve brought you a cup of coffee, Miss. Harper. I thought you might need it. It’s been a busy morning, hasn’t it?’ I heard Maria’s voice as she entered the room and then I saw her smiling face. She, unlike myself it seemed, was the ultimate professional.
‘Hasn’t it just, Maria. Thanks, that’s just what I needed.’ I looked at her as she placed the cup down on my desk.
‘Can I get you anything else?’ she offered.
‘No, thank you. The coffee is perfect.’ As if to show her exactly how perfect, I lifted the cup to my lips and sipped at the hot liquid. I watched as she left my office with a nod and pulled the door closed behind her. As I held the cup to my lips, I thought back to this morning. The worst thing about living where you also worked, was that someone was always bound to see you when you crept in thirty minutes before your next shift, wearing last night’s clothes.
As Brody pushed open the night door and strode in I followed him, praying that the reception area would be empty. To my complete relief, I couldn’t see or hear anyone. Brody, noticing the same, had turned on his heel and spun around to capture me in his arms.
His mouth immediately found its way to my neck.
‘How much are ya gonna miss me today, beautiful?’ He spoke to me in between biting at my exposed skin.
I let out a sigh and closed my eyes. He had been inside me only an hour previously and already my sore, tired body wanted more. ‘Too much,’ I whispered back, hanging on to his biceps tightly. ‘The Manor is very nearly booked to capacity from today, that means I’m going to be far too busy to have my head full of you.’ I smiled as I spoke to him.
His head lifted and his mouth spread into a lascivious smirk. ‘It’s not your head that I want full of me, Amy. But it’ll do til later.’
I looped my arms around his shoulders, in an attempt to say goodbye, before our luck run out. We’d talked on the drive here about how I would prefer that we didn’t shout it from the roof tops that we were an item, not just yet anyway. He didn’t see a problem with anyone knowing, but he had promised to keep his mouth shut for the time being.
Just as I was readying myself to say goodbye, he abruptly dipped me backwards. At the sudden change in position I let out a squeal and a giggle.
‘Ssshhhhh,’ he reprimanded and righted me instantly at my loud response.
‘Good morning, Miss. Harper.’ I heard the bright voice of Maria as I watched her in my peripheral view stand up from behind the long counter.
‘And just like that our secret is out,’ he whispered in my ear before he released me.
‘Good morning, Mr. Daniels,’ she continued.
Separating myself from Brody, I smiled my hello to her and with a flush of embarrassment taking over my face, I made my way to the main staircase.
I heard Brody behind me, chatting away to her like he hadn’t a care in the world that she’d just caught us. It reminded me how different our worlds were. He was used to people scrutinising his every movement and I hated being the centre of attention. But, I grasped, it didn’t faze me. I knew what we felt for each other was strong enough to get us both through.
‘I have some messages for you, Mr. Daniels. They arrived while you were away,’ I heard Maria say.
As I continued up the staircase, I thought back to last night and how it felt to sleep in his arms and a flurry of excitement overwhelmed me. I decided to take one last look at the man who had systematically taken over my life in six short weeks. He really was everything I had ever dreamt of and so very much more. I swept my eyes over him, observing him in secret from the curve in the staircase. Brody took the messages from her and after flicking through them all, I watched as his face contorted.
He placed the pieces of paper into his back pocket.
‘Thank you, Maria. If any other messages come for me, I’ll be at Lake View, and you can probably get me there.’
I watched as he walked away to personally oversee the home he was creating for us.
The day seemed to surprisingly drag. I had dealt with a few minor issues already, and I had made a note of all the things that it appeared some of the staff might need retraining on. I had comprehended very quickly, that it was one thing operating a five-star hotel when you only had half of the rooms full, but today we were nearly full and a few little things here and there had slipped. It was only to be expected as the staff were still finding their feet, but I was determined it would be teething problems only and that it wouldn’t become the normal.
The sound of a woman’s voice reached my ears through my half-opened doorway and my ears pricked up. I was just finishing up a call to a supplier, but found myself once again in awe of Maria’s professionalism.
‘I’m sorry, we just don’t have a room of that size available and we won’t have for the next six nights.’ I heard her begin to offer something else, but I couldn’t concentrate on what it was as my phone call equally needed my attention. I blocked my free ear with my finger, so all I could now hear was the voice on the phone. I replied in all the right places and finally ten minutes later I replaced the receiver. Now free of the call, I listened once again, focussing on finding Maria’s voice in the bustling reception area.
‘Thank you. There’s your ID back. Yes, of course we can do that for you. I’ll just call a porter and he’ll take your bags up for you.’ Her voice sounded a little flustered, but it appeared her exemplary customer service had yet again sorted out another possible problem.
I looked back down at my IPad and systematically went through the list of things the manager had wanted me to attend to on my shift. It was nearly completed and I felt a sense of pride that I still had over an hour to deal with the last few tasks.
My door being fully opened without being knocked on, drew my attention up from my desk to watch Maria quickly arriving through the gap.
‘Maria?’ I questioned with concern at her harassed looking expression.
‘I’m sorry to be rude, Miss. Harper, but I need to talk to you about something.’ She closed th
e door behind her and immediately gained all my attention.
‘Are you okay?’ I gently asked. ‘Would you like to take a seat?’ I could feel my forehead creasing with concern.
‘No, thank you. I don’t think it would be right. In fact, you may well tell me to mind my own business.’
‘I’m intrigued,’ I replied, ‘please carry on.’
‘I’m sorry, but as you know, I saw you with Mr. Daniels this morning.’ I watched as her fingers grabbed on to the back of the tub chair she was stood behind and I nodded at her.
‘Yes, you did,’ I agreed.
‘I know I’m speaking out of turn here, and I can only hope you’ll forgive me, but I believe that women should stand up for each other and have each other’s backs so to speak. My marriage broke up recently because my husband was having an affair. When I confronted the other woman, she swore blind that he had never mentioned he was married and I believed her.’
I leant back into my chair. I wasn’t sure where this conversation was going but I was convinced I wasn’t going to like the outcome. ‘I think you need to get to what it is you’re trying to say.’
‘An American lady has just tried to book into The Manor, when I explained to her that we hadn’t the room available, she told me that it wasn’t a problem as her name was Mrs Barbara Daniels and I could put her into Brody Daniels’ room.’
Married?
My ears were ringing with her words, they went around my head again as I stared at her in disbelief. My heart was pounding in my chest in panic as I forced myself to think her words through, because there just had to be an explanation.
‘Barbara?’ I questioned as my synapses started firing. ‘Didn’t she leave him a message before?’
‘Yes, several.’ Her voice was quieter as she answered me and I watched her look down to the floor. The room was uncomfortable, we didn’t know each other well enough to be having this sort of conversation.
‘Thank you, Maria,’ I forced out of my mouth. ‘Please close the door on your way out.’ She turned immediately and vacated the room, closing the door quietly behind her once again.
Every single variable, possibility and thought swirled around my head as I replayed her words. Although my heart refused to believe it, my head always came back to the same answer. With anger fuelling my actions, I pulled my phone out from my jacket pocket. My fingers shook as I typed out the letters.
You gave me this phone so we would no longer miscommunicate. So, I’ll say this loud and clear. Understand this, I will accept a lot of things, but I will never be the other woman.
IT SEEMS YOUR WIFE HAS JUST ARRIVED!
For a few seconds my finger hovered over the send button, until finally as my body began to shake with the pain erupting inside me, my finger connected, and it was gone. Then I switched my phone off, no longer wanting any link to him. Now all I had to do was make my escape. I wasn’t going to break down in here, I refused. Feeling more ill than I could ever remember, I completed my tasks for the day and emailed the general manager. I lied, like it seemed everyone else did around here. I explained that as I hadn’t taken my lunch break today and had an emergency dentist appointment to attend, I would be leaving early. It took me all of twenty-seven minutes to put my plan into action and I did it all from the cellular enclosure of my office.
I grabbed my coat from the stand and taking a deep breath I placed my hand on the ceramic handle of my door. The spring squeaked as it turned and the catch released, and summoning up all my courage I began to open the door.
‘AMY!’ Brody shouted out as he entered the building. I heard the shout echo around the large reception area.
My heart reacted immediately, pounding with familiarity and hurt.
‘Where is she?’ I knew he’d arrived at reception as his voice sounded nearer. ‘Where is Miss. Harper?’
Taking a deep breath, I pulled open my door and braced myself to face him. ‘I’m here, come in.’ It was the last thing I wanted to do. I’d planned on being gone before he arrived, but I was not washing my very dirty linen in public, no way. I stepped back inside and instinctively made my way behind my desk. Within seconds he was through the door and we were enclosed within the four walls.
‘Look at me,’ his voice demanded.
I looked up in my own time and stared him down with every ounce of fortitude I could find. ‘I’m looking.’
The sight in front of my eyes made the heart that I had just imprisoned, melt a little. He was wearing clothes that were covered in paint. His hair looked dusty and unkempt. Realisation hit me that he had been working on Lake View with his own hands. Our conversation about doing things with love rather than money, had not fallen on deaf ears. Finally, I plucked up the courage to look into his eyes. They were narrowing as he silently questioned me and his tic above his cheekbone began to flicker, with either uncertainty or anger.
‘No, you’re not looking, Amy. You’ve already run the fuck away,’ he accused as he lifted his square jaw and crossed his arms over his broad chest.
‘I’ve just found out you’re married, what the hell do you expect me to do?’ I tried to tear my eyes away from his, but he held them captive.
‘I’m not married, I’ve never been married. I’ll never be married. You need to hear that and absorb it. Didn’t you take in what I said last night? My parents’ marriage was one too fucking many for me to be part of.’
With my head shaking from side to side I carried on. ‘Then who is she? Who would book themselves into your room as Mrs. Daniels.’
‘Believe it or not, I don’t have fucking x-ray eyes,’ he sarcastically came back with, as his arms uncrossed and he pushed his hands into his jeans pockets, inhaling deeply. ‘Although, I’ve got an idea who it might be. Do you have a name?’ he questioned.
‘Mrs. Barbara Daniels.’
‘There isn’t a Mrs. Barbara Daniels, she doesn’t exist. I do have a sister called Mrs. Barbara Morello. So, come with me and let’s confront this situation head on.’ His voice was now calmer and his head tilted to one side as he dared me.
I shook my head indignantly.
I watched his eyebrows raise at me in question. ‘Listen to me, very carefully, Amy. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, it makes no fucking odds to me. We are not going around in fucking circles anymore. You’re not running away from this. You’re not running away from me or us.’
‘I’m not running. I don’t run anymore. I promised myself,’ I answered.
‘Then prove it.’
I stood my ground staring him down.
‘Enough,’ Brody growled and shaking his head at me, he propelled himself forward. It appeared that every bit of his self-restraint had snapped. With that one word and two large steps, Brody was around my side of the desk, wearing a face that looked thunderous. Instinctively I moved away, only to be grabbed by the hand and pulled back until my body firmly collided into his. His arms wrapped quickly around me. He had cleverly aligned our bodies so we were facing each other, with my arms pinned in between both of us.
‘DON’T…’ I began to shout out.
‘I know, don’t fucking touch you. That’s getting old don’t you think? And it’s also too fucking late, Amy.’ I could hear the anger in his voice.
Without any more conversation he picked me up and unceremoniously threw me over his shoulder. I punched him as hard as I could on his lower back, but he didn’t even flinch. I heard the squeak of my door being opened, then we were through and out the other side. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut.
‘Miss. Harper?’ I heard Maria question. ‘Are you okay?’
I couldn’t answer her. The busy reception area had suddenly fallen into an almost complete silence as we made our grand entrance. I couldn’t imagine what we looked like. I closed my eyes and stayed still as Brody once again climbed a set of stairs with me over his shoulder. As we turned the corner to go to the left, leaving behind our audience, I spoke again.
‘I can’t believe you just did that.
’ He didn’t reply at first, but kept on striding towards his room.
Then as we stopped outside of his room he spoke calmly. ‘Oh, you better believe it, I’ve had enough of all this shit.’
I heard the metal of his rings rap hard on the door. When he heard no movement from inside, he shouted out, ‘BARBARA!’
The door was pulled open and he marched us inside.
‘Finally, I’ve got your attention.’ I heard a female voice reply from behind me.
‘Yeah, you could say. What the fuck are you playing at?’ I felt the words rumble deep inside his chest before he spoke them.
I hit his back again, reminding him of where I still was. At last Brody pulled me back over his shoulder and placed my feet firmly on the ground. I refused to look up at him. He had placed me in a situation that I had no idea how to handle. I was majorly outside of my comfort zone. Embarrassed and angry, I turned towards Barbara.
The woman my eyes found, was blonde and willowy in stature. Her clothes were expensive and they made her look almost as perfectly put together as Winter. The only differences between the two of them was the anxiety that was plastered all over her beautifully made-up face and the way she constantly rubbed at her hands, with nerves. I felt for her, whoever she was. I continued to move my eyes up to study her face. My body sagged with relief the moment I looked at her eyes.
Instantly, I knew exactly who she was.
Tears of pent-up emotion spilt rapidly down my face. I felt Brody’s arms wrap around me tightly from behind and he pulled me back into him, bent his head down and kissed my neck as he breathed me in. As his mouth lifted away he started to speak.
‘Amy, I’d like to introduce you to…’
‘Your sister,’ I finished for him. ‘I’m sorry I ever doubted you.’ He squeezed me tighter in reply to my apology.
I watched as the woman in front of us grimaced. ‘Hi, Amy. I’m so sorry. I never meant to upset you.’
‘Hi,’ I managed to answer, as I wiped the tears on my face away with my hand.
Brody (Default Distraction Book 1) Page 27
