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“I’m afraid not,” she says. “We’re not able to refund pre-paid stays.”

Oh god, that’s even worse. It’s already been paid for?

“What card was this charged to?” I ask, my voice a squeak.

She taps the mouse a couple of times. “Oh, there’s no card. It’s a voucher payment. Would you like Tom to take your things back to your room?”

I blink, completely perplexed. This makes no sense. And yet here I am, staying in The Hunt Hotel on somebody else’s dime.

“I… ah…” I take a deep breath. I have a tour booked at the Globe Theatre this morning. And this afternoon I’ll be watching the matinee of their Christmas production. I’ll call Jennifer after that, when she’s awake. Sort this out then.

In the meantime, if I have to pay her back for a second night, I will. And then I’ll throw an almighty tantrum in the center of the lobby so nobody gets charged even more for this idiocy.

“I guess I’ll leave my luggage here and come back later,” I say. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Have a lovely day.” She beams widely at me, then beckons at the person behind me to come up to the desk, just as Tom disappears into the elevator, along with my luggage.

Okay then. Either I stand here panicking, or I head out into London and explore the city I’ve dreamed of for years.

Choosing the latter, I button up my coat and loop my scarf around my neck then walk past the piano that stands silently in the center of the lobby as I head toward the door.

I may be completely confused, and possibly about to be bankrupt, but on the plus side, I might get to see the sexy pianist again.

And for some reason, that makes me smile, as the doorman holds the door open for me, and I walk out into the cold London air.

THEO

Caleb lets out a loud chuckle, shaking his head as his eyes meet mine. “So let me get this straight, you’ve comped her for two weeks in a room worth at least eight hundred quid a night?”

“A thousand, actually,” I tell him, wishing I’d never started this conversation. I only told him about it to get him off my back about missing drinks yesterday. I feel bad about that. Caleb and I went to school together – along with our friend Beck. It’s not often we get to see each other, thanks to our jobs. Caleb has taken over the plane charter company his father started up, and Beck works in finance and is a single dad to a little girl. Between us, time is short, so when we arrange a meet up we try to make it.

“So I assume you want to fuck her,” Caleb says. “I hope she’s worth it.”

“No, I don’t,” I lie. Even though the memory of her leaning on my piano last night still lingers. The way she looked so soft, the way she smelled of the hotel’s shampoo.

The way she watched my fingers move like she was trying to memorize them.

Maybe that’s why I didn’t correct her when she thought I was the hotel pianist. I liked that she wasn’t interested in me because I own a hotel. Or in my family and its history.

It’s been a long time since any woman saw anything other than the Hunt name.

“Of course you want her. It’s December. You’d have no problem selling that room every night of this month. And you’re letting her stay for free. Either you want to get in her knickers, or you’ve finally gone mad.”

“Maybe there’s a third reason,” I say mildly.

“And what would that be?”

“I nearly ran her over. She knocked her head on the ground. I’m just trying to keep an eye on her. If she collapses from a concussion I could end up being sued.”

“I’m no doctor, but if she was going to collapse, wouldn’t she have done it already?” Caleb says. “Or at least in the next twenty-four hours. You’ve booked her in for two weeks. That feels a little… excessive.” He’s still grinning. Like he knows he’s getting under my skin.

“I like to keep all bases covered,” I murmur, glancing at my watch. “Fuck, I have a meeting in twenty minutes.”

He shrugs, looking completely nonplused because he’s as constantly overbooked as I am. “No problem. I was just passing and wanted to say hi. Also, Beck and I are both still in London and free tomorrow night. Fancy grabbing a beer then instead?”

“Of course.” I put it in my diary, determined not to miss this one. It’s always good to spend time with them.

“Though if you have a better offer.” He lifts a brow. “Who am I to stand in the way of you and this blonde?”