“I will wait in the kitchen or somewhere away from you or we will be going nowhere,” he said as he left her to pack.
She threw in several sets of underwear and a couple of sheer, sexy and rather flimsy nighties. She added jeans, t-shirts, a couple of dresses, trainers, a hoodie and shoes to the bag before throwing in her toiletries.
She took the bag through to where Jon was sitting in front of the TV. “I just need to jump in the shower and get changed...”
“No. You’ll be fine. Shower when we get there, I’ll even scrub your back,” he said salaciously. “And keep that suit on, I like it, especially the skirt.”
She shrugged, happy with his suggestions. “Then I am ready.”
He leapt up and with one hand picking up her bag, the other slipped around her waist, pulling her towards him where helowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently before releasing his grip on her and simply took her hand in his.
“Where are we going?”asked Steph impatiently.
“It’s a surprise,” he told her again. “I can promise you that your patience will be rewarded though if you stop asking me where we are going.” He did nothing to fight a broad and natural smile at her obvious excitement and impatience. A smile that made him look younger somehow, perhaps more carefree.
They had been driving for a couple of hours when Jon turned off the motorway and headed into the countryside of Oxfordshire and she smiled as she saw a ‘Welcome to The Cotswolds’ sign.
“Are we going to The Cotswolds?” Her excitement made her sound almost childlike.
“Oh you’ve spoilt it now.” His overexaggerated pout only served to make her laugh.
“Have you made plans for dinner?” she suddenly asked making him turn and view her curiously.
“I bring you away for the weekend and all you are interested in is dinner? Am I understanding this correctly?” His outraged tone was in contrast to his smile.
“Yes. I am bloody starving after someone plotted to poison me at lunch,” she teased him.
“I didn’t know you had weird seafood allergies,” he retorted.
“Not weird allergies, just allergies.”
“It’s a good job I haven’t booked us in at a seafood restaurant for dinner,” he said as he turned off the country lane and through a large set of ornate gates and headed along the winding drive.
As the building came into view Steph gasped, “Oh wow, this is nice, seriously nice.”
Jon laughed at her observation. “How very articulate Stephanie.”
She laughed in response as she stared at the huge country hotel, possibly a stately home she thought as the car came to a standstill.
“This looks very posh. I hope I don’t embarrass you,” said Steph half seriously.
“Never. And if you use the wrong fork at dinner I just won’t let you out of our room again,” he teased.
“Is this one of your hotels?” she asked as they got out of the car and Jon pulled their bags from the boot.
“No, this is a very exclusive, independent place. It’s a listed building with a very chequered past,” he told her raising his eyebrows making her laugh again as she reached across and attempted to take her bag from him.
“I think I can manage both bags, darling.” He tightened his grip on their bags in one hand, grabbed her hand with his free hand and led her towards the stone steps to the entrance of Stone House Manor and as he dropped back slightly as she ascended the steps she turned and laughed.
“Are you looking at my bottom, Mr Brooker?”
“Too right I am, darling,” he replied with a huge grin.
There was a rathertraditional looking doorman holding the door open as they reached the top of the stairs.
“Sir, madam,” he said as a younger man appeared to relieve Jon of their bags.
Steph was surprised at how intimate the reception area was and how modern, with light woods and white walls. Jontook her hand again and led her towards the concierge at the reception desk.
