The lift doors opened, and she scurried to her room, wanting a bit of space to think.
‘Have a look in the wardrobe,’ he called to her before she closed the door, promising to be ready in half an hour.
Relieved to be alone, she stripped off and went to take a shower, welcoming the luxurious splash of hot water, the aromatic body wash filling her nostrils with a combination of essential oils designed to calm and relax. Still her heart was pounding, her mind so full of conflicting thoughts it felt like there was a wrestling match going on in her head.
She was desperate to tell someone, get advice on what to do for the best, but she was starting to wonder who she could trust. Fiona had definitely cooled towards her and could cause trouble if she wanted to by telling Matt she’d been out with James. Even Hailey was being a bit awkward with her, although it seemed she would do anything to oblige Matt. Is everyone playing their own little games with me? Suddenly her life was balanced on a knife edge, and she knew that one wrong move could tip her into disaster.
Chapter Twenty-Two
When she came out of the shower and opened the wardrobe, she found another beautiful dress, black this time, along with matching shoes. Tied to the hanger was a little evening bag. She looked inside and found a box containing a matching necklace and earrings. Costume jewellery, she told herself as she studied the sparkling stones, the colour of sapphires, set in a gold-coloured metal. The dress fitted, flattering her curves rather than making her feel chubby. James has quite an eye for clothes, she thought, but then she remembered he’d studied fashion design at university, and worked for a number of clothing manufacturers before he’d tired of the industry and decided he wanted to do something in the community that would also use his business skills.
She slipped her feet into the sparkly high heels and studied herself in the mirror, turning this way and that, amazed at the transformation a nice outfit could make. Aware that her half-hour must nearly be up, she dried her hair and applied a bit of make-up, just enough to add a touch of glamour to her face and hide the shadows beneath her eyes.
James knocked on the door as she was adding the last flicks of mascara to her lashes. ‘Nearly ready,’ she called, before slipping the evening bag over her shoulder and opening the door.
His eyes scanned her body, up and down and up again. He gave a low whistle. ‘Looking gorgeous, Sara.’ He grinned at her. ‘I knew that dress was just right for you the minute I saw it. Perfect. And I know I’ve put you in a difficult situation, asking you to come here with me, but does the dress help make up for it?’
A rush of emotion glued her lips together, the genuine look of appreciation on his face unexpected. She wasn’t used to compliments. Not any more. She’d been with Matt so long now she didn’t think he even noticed what she was wearing, let alone whether she looked good or not.
James gave a little bow and offered her his arm, and she took it, welcoming the extra support as she struggled to get the hang of walking in the high heels. But she felt good. She really did. And it was wonderful to be appreciated. Am I that shallow? she wondered as she stepped into the lift. When the doors closed, she was aware of the proximity of him, the delicious smell of his aftershave, the warmth of his body next to hers. She inched away, reminding herself that there were boundaries that must not be crossed, because that would surely undermine everything she had built. This was business. And somehow she had to move the conversation round to their deal, tell him that things had changed.
Her phone pinged as they were making their way to the dining room. James glanced at her, raised an eyebrow. They both knew who it would be without her even looking. He put a finger to his lips, and she remembered what he’d said about people being able to hear conversations.
It was indeed Matt, repeating his request for pictures of the girls, and she knew she couldn’t stall again. Her eyes scanned the dining room, which stretched down one side of the building, looking out over the gardens. High ceilings and bay windows made it feel light and airy, while screens and large potted plants had been used to break it up into more private areas. She spotted a group of four women, perhaps a bit older than her, but not much. If she used the right filter, he wouldn’t know. Maybe do a silly one with bunny ears or something. She made her way over to their table, James following.
‘Excuse me, ladies,’ she said in her best professional voice, with her brightest smile. ‘We’re doing an article about the hotel – trying to push the spa weekends – and I just wondered if you’d mind posing for a quick picture. We want to make it look natural.’ She held up her phone.
The women looked at each other and – with a few giggles – nodded their assent. Sara passed the phone to James, who rattled off some shots, then he handed it back and she took a couple of group selfies, the women laughing and playing along. Once she’d thanked them, she followed James to their table.
‘Look, I think you’re right about my phone.’ She glanced at the entrance, then back at James. ‘I’m just going to send these pictures and then I’ll leave my phone in the car. I’ll be ten minutes, okay?’
‘No problem.’ He gave her a reassuring smile. ‘Take as long as you need, then we can relax properly.’
She made her way back to the foyer, where she perched on one of the sofas while she chose a couple of pictures, applied filters and sent them. Then she followed James’s advice and tapped out messages to Matt, Fiona and Hailey, telling them it was a phone-free weekend and if they needed her to ring reception. Once that was done, she dashed out to her car and stashed her phone in the glove box, throwing it in there like it was about to spontaneously combust.
With her heart thumping, and feeling more than a little flustered, she made her way back inside, hoping that she had allayed Matt’s fears.
‘All done?’ James asked as she sat at their table.
She flashed him a smile and nodded, feeling the opposite of relaxed.
‘I hope you don’t mind – I ordered champagne to calm the nerves.’ The glass was fizzing gently in front of her, condensation beaded on the sides. No drink had ever looked more inviting. She took a grateful sip, then another, relishing the bubbles in her mouth, the sudden whoosh of well-being that swept her fears away. James beamed at her and topped her up.
‘Here’s to some time out,’ he said, a twinkle in his eyes as they chinked glasses.
‘Rest and relaxation,’ she replied, drinking the second glass as quickly as the first.
She started to enjoy the evening, her mind fuzzy with champagne, which hushed her worries until they were indistinct murmurings that were easy to ignore. James entertained her with anecdotes, and the food was delicious, but as the evening wore on, she felt increasingly tired, fighting to keep her eyes open.
‘I think it might be time to retire to bed.’ He laughed. ‘I’ve been talking you to sleep, I think.’ He stood, held out his arm. ‘Come on, let me help you.’
She forced herself to move, and took off her shoes to make it less of a struggle, giggling at the state she was in after a couple of drinks.
‘Sorry, I’m such a lightweight with alcohol,’ she slurred as they walked to the lift. ‘And it’s been a hell of a week.’