Read Online Merlyn's Magic by Carole Mortimer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Carole Mortimer
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with Rand.
Her smile was coolly dismissive. 'As a matter of fact, I
am,' she nodded, her attention returning to the pool where several
adults and children were cavorting in the heated water oblivious to the
dismal weather outside.
'Could I offer you a cup of coffee while you wait?' the
man suggested, indicating the coffee pot and cups that stood on the
table beside them for anyone to help themselves to after their swim.
Several tables were placed about the pool's side, the padded chairs
around them covered in a restful green material that exactly
complimented the abundance of foliage about the room.
Her smile was frosty this time. 'No, thank you,' she bit
out with emphasis.
'Then perhaps I could—'
'No!'
'You must be new here today, I haven't seen you about
before,' he smiled pleasantly.
And she was sure he made a point of meeting all the women
young enough to find his looks and charm appealing. He had chosen the
wrong woman this time! 'Please,' she sighed her impatience, 'I'm
waiting for——'
'Ah good.' Anne hurried out to her, the design of the
royal-blue dress suiting her ample curves perfectly, the high heels on
her sandals giving her extra height. 'The two of you have already
introduced yourselves.' She beamed her pleasure.
'No, we—' The man Merlyn was rapidly suspecting
of being James Benton returned her gaze with the same dawning
realisation. 'Merlyn!' He grinned at her discomfort, holding out his
hand.
She limply returned his firm handshake, deciding that the
next stranger she met she would presume was the last person she had
suspected; she certainly hadn't even guessed that this was Anne's
husband James.
She grimaced—cringed, actually. 'I'm sorry if I
seemed rude to you just now—'
'You didn't.' He gave her an understanding smile, those
brown eyes twinkling merrily.
'What did you do?' Anne frowned her confusion as they all
sat down.
'What did
I
do,' her husband
corrected ruefully. 'I thought I was playing the concerned hotel
manager, and Merlyn thought I was trying to pick her up!'
Merlyn blushed as he put into words what she had already
realised, all of his friendliness a few moments ago made in an effort
to make her feel at home. 'It wasn't quite like that. We—'
Anne grinned at her discomfort too now, sharing a look of
intimacy with her husband. 'That makes a change, it's usually the
female guests who try to pick James up!'
Merlyn was well aware of the fact that not by a word or
deed had James given the impression he was trying to be more than
helpful, that she had just
assumed
— If
Elizabeth Taylor walked in here right now and told her she was Beth
Jones she would take her word for it! Her judgment was sadly off beam
lately.
'I really am sorry if I seemed rude to you,' she grimaced
at James.
'Hey, after a run in with Brandon you're entitled to feel
a bit jumpy,' he sympathised. 'And I'm not exactly dressed for the part of debonair hotel
manager,' he agreed wryly.
This man would look someone of authority no matter what he
did or didn't wear, possessing an animal grace that bespoke confidence
in himself and his abilities.
Merlyn complimented him on the design of the hotel,
avoiding the subject of Rand Carmichael and the night she had spent at
his house as his unwelcome guest.
If the truth were known she didn't feel all that well. Her
throat was sore, her nose felt ticklish and irritated, and her head
ached. But after the mess she had already made of her visit, she felt
the least she owed the Bentons was to be sociable now that she had
arrived, joining them for dinner in their private lodge a short
distance away from the hotel through the trees.
Just being with the other couple was enough to show Merlyn
how wrong her first impression of James as a flirt really was; the
married couple were obviously very much in love, constantly touching
with a warmth that bespoke intimacy, their expressions rapt as they
gazed into each other's eyes. After the cool respect her parents showed
for each
Her smile was coolly dismissive. 'As a matter of fact, I
am,' she nodded, her attention returning to the pool where several
adults and children were cavorting in the heated water oblivious to the
dismal weather outside.
'Could I offer you a cup of coffee while you wait?' the
man suggested, indicating the coffee pot and cups that stood on the
table beside them for anyone to help themselves to after their swim.
Several tables were placed about the pool's side, the padded chairs
around them covered in a restful green material that exactly
complimented the abundance of foliage about the room.
Her smile was frosty this time. 'No, thank you,' she bit
out with emphasis.
'Then perhaps I could—'
'No!'
'You must be new here today, I haven't seen you about
before,' he smiled pleasantly.
And she was sure he made a point of meeting all the women
young enough to find his looks and charm appealing. He had chosen the
wrong woman this time! 'Please,' she sighed her impatience, 'I'm
waiting for——'
'Ah good.' Anne hurried out to her, the design of the
royal-blue dress suiting her ample curves perfectly, the high heels on
her sandals giving her extra height. 'The two of you have already
introduced yourselves.' She beamed her pleasure.
'No, we—' The man Merlyn was rapidly suspecting
of being James Benton returned her gaze with the same dawning
realisation. 'Merlyn!' He grinned at her discomfort, holding out his
hand.
She limply returned his firm handshake, deciding that the
next stranger she met she would presume was the last person she had
suspected; she certainly hadn't even guessed that this was Anne's
husband James.
She grimaced—cringed, actually. 'I'm sorry if I
seemed rude to you just now—'
'You didn't.' He gave her an understanding smile, those
brown eyes twinkling merrily.
'What did you do?' Anne frowned her confusion as they all
sat down.
'What did
I
do,' her husband
corrected ruefully. 'I thought I was playing the concerned hotel
manager, and Merlyn thought I was trying to pick her up!'
Merlyn blushed as he put into words what she had already
realised, all of his friendliness a few moments ago made in an effort
to make her feel at home. 'It wasn't quite like that. We—'
Anne grinned at her discomfort too now, sharing a look of
intimacy with her husband. 'That makes a change, it's usually the
female guests who try to pick James up!'
Merlyn was well aware of the fact that not by a word or
deed had James given the impression he was trying to be more than
helpful, that she had just
assumed
— If
Elizabeth Taylor walked in here right now and told her she was Beth
Jones she would take her word for it! Her judgment was sadly off beam
lately.
'I really am sorry if I seemed rude to you,' she grimaced
at James.
'Hey, after a run in with Brandon you're entitled to feel
a bit jumpy,' he sympathised. 'And I'm not exactly dressed for the part of debonair hotel
manager,' he agreed wryly.
This man would look someone of authority no matter what he
did or didn't wear, possessing an animal grace that bespoke confidence
in himself and his abilities.
Merlyn complimented him on the design of the hotel,
avoiding the subject of Rand Carmichael and the night she had spent at
his house as his unwelcome guest.
If the truth were known she didn't feel all that well. Her
throat was sore, her nose felt ticklish and irritated, and her head
ached. But after the mess she had already made of her visit, she felt
the least she owed the Bentons was to be sociable now that she had
arrived, joining them for dinner in their private lodge a short
distance away from the hotel through the trees.
Just being with the other couple was enough to show Merlyn
how wrong her first impression of James as a flirt really was; the
married couple were obviously very much in love, constantly touching
with a warmth that bespoke intimacy, their expressions rapt as they
gazed into each other's eyes. After the cool respect her parents showed
for each
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