history.
And it was not—not—going to happen to her.
History was not going to repeat itself.
She was not going to lose her tea shop or let her dream slip away. With her contacts and experience, she had the technical ability to go right to the top. Now all she had to do was make it happen. No matter how scared she was.
She had worked so hard to get to this point, she could not afford to let her foolish pride get in the way.
Even if it meant asking for help now and then.
A rustle of activity across the room broke the hushed silence of the reception area and she looked up just as Sean turned away from the desk and saw her.
There must have been something about her that amused him, because she felt those blue eyes scan her entire body in a flash, from the toes of her practical red boots to the top of her head, before they slid down to her face. His gaze seemed to lock onto hers and stay there, unmoving, as though he was trying to decide about something.
Whatever it was, the corner of his mouth slid into a lazy smile which reached his eyes as they locked with hers and held them tight.
The heat of that smile warmed the air between them faster than the hot-air vent behind her legs.
The few hotel guests and staff milling around disappeared and all Dee could see was the handsome man in a suit and tie standing at the reception desk.
It was as though they were the only people in the room.
Dee had often wondered what it would feel like to be the star of the show and the centre of attention. To have people adore you and admire you because you are so very special.
Well, now she knew.
It felt...wonderful.
Instead of squirming away into a corner out of embarrassment, she stretched her head high and stared right back at Sean.
Her blood was thumping in her veins, filling every cell of her body with confidence and life.
And something else. Because, the longer he smiled at her, the more she recognized that tell-tale glint of animal attraction in his eyes. Attraction which had nothing to do with the suit and everything to do with the man wearing it.
Elemental. Raw. Alive.
A look that was flicking switches she had locked down into an off position ever since she’d found Josh in bed with a pretty blonde and decided to focus on her career plans and put herself first for once.
How did he do that? How did he make her want to flick her hair, run out to the nearest department store and buy the entire lingerie department and latest beauty products?
Was there an executive training course for that? Or did it come naturally?
One thing was for certain: this hotel was looking better by the minute.
* * *
Sean could not resist smiling as he crossed the floor to where Dee was sitting. She was sitting looking up at him with a look of total innocence and sweet charm. As though she had not planned her outfit today with one single purpose in mind: to knock any chance of sensible thought out of his brain.
A printed floral dress above grey leggings which seemed to have tiny hearts embroidered on them. And her hair? Short, cropped into a pixie style. Textured into a mass of tight brunette curls which any man within a thousand feet would want to run his fingers through and tousle up a bit.
But it was her eyes that captivated him.
Who was he kidding? Those pale-green eyes reached out, grabbed him by the man-parts and tugged him to her with a steel cable that just got tighter and tighter the closer he came.
After Sasha he had set his female-resistance setting on high. But there was something about Dee that was simply irresistible.
She looked like a bright spring flower against the monochrome hotel design scheme. And just as fragile. Slender and small. A greenhouse blossom which could be knocked over in the slightest cold breeze.
No way. This tiny girl was the one who had stopped him falling flat on his face last night. Then had beaten him up verbally.
‘Fragile’ was not how he would describe her.
Interesting was more like it. Intriguing. Enchanting.
Who was she? Apart from a tea fanatic?
‘Good morning, Miss Flynn.’ He smiled and stepped forward and held out his hand. ‘I am so sorry to have kept you waiting.’
‘Actually, I was early,’ she replied and her long slender fingers wrapped around his with a firm positive grip before sliding away. ‘Couldn’t wait to hear what you have lined up for me.’
Completely inappropriate images of what those fingers would feel like on other parts of his body flicked like a video show through Sean’s mind and he gave a low cough and took a tighter hold of his briefcase.
He pointed the flat of his right hand towards the office suite. ‘I have booked one of the breakout rooms. Shall we?’
‘Breakout rooms?’ Dee laughed as she got to her feet and flung her coat over one arm. ‘That sounds ominous. Is that where your hotel guests organize the escape committee?’
‘Just the conference delegates.’ Sean smiled. ‘And only when they have had enough of the speakers. Most of the business meetings we hold here need separate rooms where they can hold workshops and seminars away from the main group. It works well.’
‘Workshops,’ Dee repeated and followed him down a wide corridor fitted with an oatmeal carpet. ‘Right. I don’t think that I shall be needing any of those.’
‘Understood.’ Sean nodded and held open the white polymer door to the only small meeting room that was available for the next hour on a busy week day. ‘After you.’
Her reply was a quick nod as he stood back, waited for her to step inside, then turned and followed her in.
Only Dee could not have taken more than two steps into the room when she whirled around to face him so quickly that he had to lean back slightly to stop her from swinging her bag into his chest.
Her eyes were wild, flashing green and he could see her breathing fast and light, the pulse throbbing in her neck.
They were so close that he could have reached out and touched her face, or fastened up the top button on her cotton dress which was gaping open slightly as it stretched taut from her coat and bag, revealing that same creamy, clear skin that he had seen last night when she’d worn the one-strap jumper.
‘Is something wrong?’ Sean asked and looked over her shoulder at the perfectly orderly and clean meeting room with its cluster of tables and chairs.
Dee took one step closer and pressed both hands against the front of his shirt. He inhaled a heady mix of bakery sweetness and spice blended with a spicy floral perfume with a touch of musk which surprised him by being so girly. Sweet. Aromatic. Personal.
She smelt wonderful, but when she lifted her head to reply her gaze darted from side to side with alarm and there was just enough of a quiver in her voice for his every nerve to stand to attention.
‘There are no windows in this room. Not one. I can’t stay here. No way. No how. No discussion. Borderline claustrophobia. Had it for years. Nothing I can do.’
Then she shuddered and his hands automatically reached out and rested on her hips to steady her, hold her, warm her and sooth away whatever problem was causing her such clear distress.
‘Sean, I am really sorry, but I hate this hotel. Do you have another one? Because I have to get out of here. Right now.’
Tea, glorious