Freeing Alex Read Online Free Page B

the shade, no, forget
the shade, into the bloody freezer – I still scratch my head over how we made
Anna!
    As he reaches for his coffee he looks up. “What was that
with reception?” I think he’s been desperate to ask all morning.
    “Oh, nothing, I just overheard some inappropriate
conversation, anyone could have heard it.” I’m straight out with it, no use in
beating around the bush, telling him exactly what I’ve heard.
    “Oh.” He sounds shocked. “I’ll have a chat with them.” 
    “You should,” I suggest. “They need to keep their personal
chatter just that, personal.”
    Our initial meeting progresses well following the frosty
start. James asks if I noticed the building works at the rear of the hotel when
I arrived, which I did – it really can’t be missed, the massive orangery that’s
being built. He tells me that the plans were all in place prior to Maggie
becoming so ill that she had to move into the hospice and that she instructed
the contractors to start work before she backed away from everything. He tells
me that my “aunt” was conscious of the lack of leisure facilities at the hotel
and the work currently going on is for a small swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi
and steam room, and that it should be finished within the next week or two.
There are also eight rooms that are being redecorated, slightly different to
the rest of the suites here, which are all furnished with sumptuous antique and
reproduction antique furniture. The eight suites that are currently being
remodelled are to be neutral and modern, with clean lines and less of what
James terms as “clutter”.
    As I sit in front of this devastatingly handsome man, I
reassure him again that I have no intention of taking over from him, or doing anything with the hotel. I explain that I will not be stepping on any toes and that he
should carry on as normal. Yes, I’ll be visiting to see how things work and
spending some time here but, as the business has only just come into my
possession and I know nothing of the hotel industry, I may just shadow him. He
looks slightly concerned, but not overly. I think the main problem for James is
that I will prevent the daily shagging that I understand takes place.
    At the end of our meeting I’ve decided I like him, a lot,
and like those receptionists were saying, I would not turn him down if
propositioned – better still, he’s not taken. But he must be at least ten years
younger than me, it wouldn’t go anywhere, the thoughts and desires are just in
my head and anyway, he’d probably run a mile if he saw my hideous back.
     He walks me to my car, placing his palm in the small of my
back. Oh, that’s so nice . Part of me says that I should move away from
the closeness but the invasion of my personal space is not unwelcome, in fact,
his touch sends little shivers through me. Despite my years of celibacy I still
feel, still want to be touched, to be loved… In fact, it’s what I crave.
    We arrive at my car. “R8, nice,” he says, looking longingly
at the white convertible. “Is it new?”
    I run my hand over the soft top. “It certainly is. It’s the
only thing I’ve bought since I inherited. I had to buy a new car, my old one
died the moment we pulled up at Maggie’s house.” I laugh. He is so much taller
than me and I find myself looking up at him. He’s so close, so very close, I
can smell him – masculine, but fresh and clean. I sigh. I need to go. I need to
get away from him and quickly, but he seems hell bent on keeping me here.
    He smiles, laughing. God, that smile! “Really, you mean you
haven’t been shopping yet, girly shopping?”
    It’s clear that he has no idea of my background, where I’ve
come from and what I’m used to, because shopping has never been high on my
agenda, not shopping for me, anyway.
    “Just a few essentials. What I stand here in is what I
packed when I left my husband – sorry, ex.” I look down, not wanting to discuss
the past any