He gave me a sideways look. ‘Has my son benefited from your listening skills?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘I caught a bit of a spark between you two the other day.’
I busied myself packing my things back into my bag. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m going to have to let the doctor know about your blood pressure.’
‘No offense, lass. But you’re a terrible liar.’
I ignored him. ‘It may be nothing, but they may want to bring you in to run some tests.’
‘I’m happy my son has you to confide in,’ he said, carrying on as if I hadn’t said anything. ‘He needs someone like you in his life. I haven’t seen him look at anyone the way he looked at you in a long time.’ He shook his head thoughtfully. ‘Maybe never.’
‘Your son is a very nice man,’ I told him. ‘But you’re reading something into nothing.’
‘So, youdon’tlike him?’
‘I… that’s wildly inappropriate for you to ask.’
‘That’s not a denial.’
‘It’s not anything. Have you been taking your pills every morning and night?’
‘You know you’re blushing, right?’
I sighed. ‘Mr. Sawyer.’
‘Gray.’
‘Gray. Can we please focus on the job at hand?’
He leaned back against his pillows and shrugged. ‘You’re the one who offered to lend me a sympathetic ear.’
‘Yes, to listen to any worries you might be having,notwild conjecture about my love life.’
‘My life has shrunk to these four walls,’ he complained. ‘I’m going out of my mind here.’
‘Is that why you were working last night?’
He sighed. ‘That, and the hotel won’t run itself.’
‘You have no one who can look after it while you’re on sick leave?’
‘I have a competent operations manager, sure. Stephen Mancroft. He’s a nice guy, been with me a long time. He’s holding down the fort at the moment, but there’s only so much he can do.’
‘He can’t step up and take on more of your role?’
‘I’m afraid not. We have very different jobs. As operations manager, he oversees the smooth, daily running of the hotel and liaises with the various departments. As owner and general manager, I have more of a broader, leadership role, dealing with long-term business strategy, revenue growth and all the financial decisions. Besides…’ he waved a hand ‘…he has no interest in my role. I asked him, once, to consider it, in case…’
‘In case what?’ I gently prompted.
‘In case something happened to me and Jonah refused to take on the role.’
He noticed my expression.
‘You know something,’ he said. ‘He’s talked to you about it, hasn’t he?’
‘It’s not my place to say anything.’
