Page 45 of Enemies Under One Roof

He checked his watch, surprised how quickly the time had passed. A natural teacher, she’d been the perfect blend of hands-on and instruction, interspersed with an easy flowing conversation. He’d miss their chats. Her.

What? No. All the sex was addling his brain. They were having a good time in and out of bed, nothing more. When they left WillowGlen there’d be no regrets, no backward glances, no dramas. Just like all his previous relationships, which always had an end date. Always.

With a determination bordering on zealous, he quickly assessed the remaining number of profiteroles and calculated the timing based on what they’d already assembled. Then playfully flicking the tea towel he’d been instructed to keep over his shoulder at her thigh. ‘Before you pass out from hunger, I’m pleased to say we’re going to finish on time and within budget. Like all good builds.’

‘Hey!’ she said, with a face-splitting grin before flicking her own tea towel back at him.

‘Do all your hotels finish on time and within budget?’ she asked after a few minutes of companionable silence while they returned to the rhythm of her managing the toffee and him placing the profiteroles on the spire.

‘Depends on the location,’ he admitted. ‘I have a specialist team, who are extraordinary, but I also like to use local tradespeople and materials as much as possible. Sometimes there are variances, things that don’t go to plan. But overall, yes.’

‘Where’s your next hotel going to be, after Sardinia?’

He hesitated. ‘I’m not sure.’ He’d been strangely reluctant to even think about the next location, and not only because Ruby had asked for them to take a break. Another idea had been niggling at him.

‘I’ve been thinking…’ Did he want to share this with her? Yes, he did, because ultimately, he valued her input. ‘Of turning one of my existing hotels into a retreat for elderly carers, specifically those who wouldn’t have the funds to get away and have a break.’

‘Like we’d discussed for WillowGlen?’

‘Yeah, like that.’ It was one of the ideas they’d volleyed back and forth and had been high on their list, but the layout wouldn’t have suited without some major modifications, which would have presented other issues due to its heritage listing.

‘You could do that? Would do that?’

He nodded.

‘That’s brilliant.’ The approval and respect shining in her eyes hit him straight in the chest. He hadn’t done it for her, but still it made him feel ten feet tall.

‘Have you got a property in mind?’

‘There’s one in Cornwall, a former farm.’

‘I know the one you mean.’

She did? Although she’d never stayed there, or at any of his hotels. He didn’t keep tabs on guests who’d frequented them, but he knew she never had. Because he wouldn’t stand for her turning any of his properties into a backdrop for her publicity. That’s what he’d always told himself, because there’d be no other reason for him needing to know, as he wasn’t involved in the day-to-day running of any of his hotels.

He’d never set out to build one of the most exclusive boutique hotel chains in the world. The first one had been purely the challenge of restoring a property on the edge of demise, soon after he’d finished his architectural degree. After that success, he’d purposely chosen more complex properties each time. The accolades and awards they’d won along the way, although satisfying, had never been his driving force, nor the celebrities who’d frequented them. It had been about saving old buildings and seeing them transformed with a new purpose.

Once a hotel was built and ready to be operational, he moved on to the next, never wanting to meet nor mix with the guests, no matter how high-profile. But after being here for almost five weeks, he could admit that for the last couple of years he’d been getting restless in a way he couldn’t describe, no matter how challenging the build, how often he moved. Now, after working with Annie on WillowGlen’s remodelling into a retreat for grieving children, he could picture how his hotels could service those in need, and it seemed fitting she was the first person he’d discussed it with.

‘I’d have to scope it out when we finish up here, do a full assessment, but I think I can make it work.’

Like a clock running fast, the countdown to the end of their time together here sped up. He rubbed at his chest to extinguish the sudden ache. It was like he was losing another part of Ruby, even though he knew it was about Annie as well, despite refusing to admit it.

* * *

Annie stared at Ethan; she’d wanted to surprise him, but instead he’d surprised her.

‘That’s incredible! Ruby would be so proud of you,’ she said, feasting on the sight of him in jeans and a jumper, a tea towel over his shoulder.

‘Thanks, Annie.’ The way he said her name, like no one else, made her want to purr like Mr Tabitha.

She knew Ethan to be smart and kind, but she hadn’t expected he’d remodel one of his hotels to cater for their runner-up idea. They’d agonised over their top two choices, because as much as supporting children dealing with grief reflected how WillowGlen had helped them, caring for the elderly, especially those who were carers, reflected who Ruby was and how she’d always put herself last. They’d meticulously gone over what would suit the property and grounds best, and ultimately, they’d decided it was a better fit for children.

Now he was moving forward with their second idea anyway, making it a reality, and although she was both moved and grateful, another feeling, impossible to identify, snaked its way around her heart and squeezed hard, because she wouldn’t be involved. In ten days, she’d go back to being Ivy. To making movies and telling stories that didn’t resonate with her.

She clenched her hands into fists as dread spread to her tummy. It’s what she had to do. To go back to her chosen life, the only difference being she’d still have contact with Ethan because of WillowGlen and the self-funded charity they were in the process of setting up, that would be run by an experienced team. They would only have limited contact going forward, and never like this; it could never be like this again, for all the reasons that continued to torture her.

‘Annie!’