He's Captured My Heart (Captured Series Book 1) (3 page)

I stand for another few minutes just looking at what has been my home for the past couple of years. I’ve had a lot of fun here, and I am taking a lot of memories away with me, both good and bad. I am a great believer that you need the bad so you can better appreciate all that’s good in your life. So here’s hoping the next
chapter
in mine is just as good.

2

WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER;
the start of the next
chapter
of my life. The removal guys were bang on time and were very quick and efficient, so all my things will now be in storage until I find a new place. The estate agent has also been and gone. I am not as sad or upset as I thought I would be—maybe because Ethan stayed indoors, and I’ve not caught so much as a glimpse of him at the window, which is a good thing since he would probably only set off my tears.

No, instead I am excited and maybe a bit scared. I’m only twenty-three; my dad must really trust me to leave the day-to-day running of the hotel to me. I just hope all the staff accept me. There have been a few problems over the past few weeks. There are a select few who, I think, still see me as the wee girl that was always running about the hotel and grounds getting up to no good. But at least most
of the main team players support me, so that will be half the battle.

Today I am off duty so I can get settled into my room. I’m also meeting my friend Kirsty for lunch. With work and taking care of Lucy, I’ve not seen her in weeks. We’ve still spoken every day on the phone, but it’s not the same as seeing each other in person, so I’m looking forward to catching up.

The drive to the hotel doesn’t take as long as it usually seems to, but that’s mostly because the roads are still quiet with schools still off for a break. The sun is shining, I have the radio on, and I am singing along to Pitbull and Ke$ha’s “Timber.” I have a great feeling about today. It’s been ages since I felt this good. I don’t feel I have to worry about Ethan so much after our talk yesterday. I suppose I’ll still worry, but I am glad that he’s going to start trying a little harder.

The music is suddenly interrupted. Someone at the hotel is calling my mobile. “Miss Stewart? Sorry to bother you. It’s Sally here. I know it’s your day off, but we have a bit of a problem at reception.” Sally is a lovely girl, about the same age as me, with blond hair and blue eyes. She’s very pretty but also very shy. She’s only been working at the hotel for a few weeks now, but she is extremely efficient at her job. I’d like to think we could become friends.

“What’s wrong?”

“We have two guests who have arrived a day early.”

“Okay, but I don’t see why that’s a prob—”

Sally interrupts me before I finish speaking. “You don’t understand, Miss Stewart,” she says haltingly.

“For goodness sake, Sally, can you please just spit it out?” I say sharply. “Surely we have rooms for them. I know we weren’t fully booked.”

“No, we have
rooms
,” says Sally. “But these guests had originally booked two suites. We don’t have any suites available until tomorrow. I’ve offered them different rooms for tonight and said we’d happily move them tomorrow, but they’re really not happy.”

“Sally, I’ll be there in about ten minutes. Put them in the sitting room with tea and coffee, and I’ll sort it out when I get there. Try not to let it upset you. It will work out.” Sally does let things get to her. “Sally, what are the guests’ names?”

“It’s Mr. Mathews and Mr. Smith, your father’s guests,” she answers.

Dad’s guests. Well, that explains a lot. I wonder if it’s Dad who got the days wrong. I’ll phone him later if I have to; these two sound as if they could be trouble. God, I hope I don’t need to spend too much time with them. I’ll need to start thinking about excuses I can use to get away from them, at least today—my day off!

“Okay, I’ll see you shortly.”

So much for being able to get settled in today. I’m hoping that Dad’s guests don’t change my good mood. No, I won’t
let
them change my good mood. I
suppose it won’t be long until I find out. I’m now on hotel grounds. I just need to park my car.

I pull the car up to the entrance, turn off the engine, and step out, sighing as I look across the loch. The colours at this time of year are stunning, with the warm tones of autumn in the trees against the different shades of green hills in the background. And then there is the calm water in the foreground. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this view, which is still breath-taking, even on a wet, miserable day.

As my eyes drift along the loch, I find myself mesmerized by the peak of Ben Lomond. It has been a few years since I, myself climbed the peak. There is a tourist path that takes even the most inexperienced walkers up the peak on a gentle rise to the summit at 3,192 feet. At the hotel we try to encourage tourists to make the climb with an experienced walker because if the weather suddenly changes, that smiling, green hill can become treacherous with the wind and rain sweeping across the loch.

It’s incredible to think that we are less than an hour away from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow city centre. I know that’s why we have so many returning guests; they love this location and our stunning hotel. Who wouldn’t? It’s a great base to go roaming.

I turn to find Fraser, our doorman, coming down the stairs. Fraser has been at the hotel since I was in my early teens, and he hasn’t changed a bit in all the
years I’ve known him. He’s always had grey hair, blue eyes, a loving smile, and a great sense of humour. He reminds me of my grandfather. When Fraser finally decides to retire, I will miss him dearly.

“Ah, Miss Stewart. You’re looking lovely today, as you do every day,” he says, heading to the boot of my car.

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Fraser,” I say, smiling.

“Oh, Miss Stewart, I don’t think Liz would be happy with that. But if I were thirty or so years younger…” he says, laughing. “Let’s get your cases inside, and then I’ll take care of your car.”

I grab my bag and laptop from the front of car and then go to the boot and pick up a box that Fraser has placed at the side.

“I don’t think so, Miss,” he says, laughing at me. “Put that back down. I aim to stay in my boss’s good books, so the least I can do is take her things inside. I’ll get them taken up to your room.”

“I’m more than capable of carrying a few boxes and cases,” I say, “but to humour you, I’ll let you help me if you insist.”

“I do, Miss Stewart; I’m only doing my job. And anyway, you have a problem to sort out, so I’ll sort out your things,” Fraser says, removing the last of my bags and placing them on a trolley. “Poor Sally is a bit upset. I think the American gave her a really hard time. I could hear him shouting from out here.”

Its news to me that Alexander Mathews is American. Dad definitely didn’t mention that. I’m picturing a paunchy, boorish man in his forties or fifties, maybe with grey hair and extremely bossy. The idea of having to spend time sight-seeing with him over the next few days makes me feel sick. No wonder Ethan was laughing at me last night. I bet he was in on this; it’s just the type of thing he would have a good laugh at. I suppose I would do the same to him.

“Well, Fraser, I’ll just have to use some of my Libby Stewart charm then. And if that doesn’t work, we can send the American off to stay with my dad, seeing as he’s here to see him anyway. But I am sure we will sort out the problem. There’s always a solution; it’s just about finding the right one for both parties concerned. And once we have happy guests, Sally will be fine as well.”

“Not too sure your charm will work on this one. He seems a right grumpy so-and-so. But good luck.”

I walk up the stairs and head inside. I am still disappointed to see that the log fire in the reception is not burning away, because with our unseasonable good weather, there is not a need for it. Yet. I know it won’t be long. I love walking into this building when it’s on. The warmth hits you straight away, and the glow of the flames only brings home the warm and cosy feel to this reception.

Sally lifts her head from the front desk. Her expression says,
Thank god
I
don’t have to deal with this anymore
. The man standing to the side of the reception desk is talking on his mobile. I can tell from his accent that this is Mr. American. He’s not what I expected. He doesn’t look a day over thirty, and he’s quite dashing in an odd sort of way—very businesslike in his dark, sharp suit and highly polished shoes.

“M-m-miss Stewart,” Sally stutters.

“Good morning, Sally. How are you today?” I ask, smiling at her as I walk over to the desk.

“I was good, but I’m better now you’re here.”

Mr. American in his sharp suit stops talking into his phone and gives me a strange look. I know what he must be thinking. I
am
a bit underdressed today in my jeans and T-shirt and trainers, with my hair pulled back off my face. Not the first impression a guest should get of a hotel manager. I must remember not to call him Mr. American when I speak to him.

He does look pissed, so maybe Fraser was right that my charm won’t work this time.

I walk over to him and hold out my hand. “Good morning. Mr. Mathews, I presume? I’m Libby Stewart, the hotel manager,” I say, but before I know it, I find myself adding, “It’s my day off.” I shake his hand.

“Sorry, Miss…or is it Mrs. Stewart?” Mr. American says.

“Miss.”

“Well, Miss Stewart. I’m Mr. Smith, Mr. Mathew’s assistant, but please, you can call me Michael,” he says with a smile.

“Oh, okay. I do hope I can sort out this problem for you. We don’t like having unhappy guests. Where is Mr. Mathews?” I ask. “Perhaps he’d like to join us while we sort this out?”

“I am authorised to act on his behalf, Miss Stewart. That is a large part of my job,” says Michael, with a wide grin. “In any case, he’s gone off for a walk down towards the water. Hopefully we can sort this out before he comes back.” He smiles sincerely; he doesn’t seem grumpy at all.

I turn to Sally, who now has a smile back on her face. She is such a lovely girl. “Have you got all the room info up on the screen?” I ask her, walking behind the desk.

“Yes, see here,” she says, pointing to the screen. “I only have three double rooms available. All the loch-view suites are full today. The suites for both Mathews and Smith are due to be ready tomorrow at lunchtime. The guests in both those rooms have early morning flights and say that they will be checking out before breakfast.”

“What’s wrong with this suite?” I ask, seeing that there is, in fact, one empty suite.

Before Sally has a chance to answer, Michael speaks up. “Mr. Mathews insists on having a loch-view suite.” Michael seems like a reasonable man, same can’t be said of his boss.
Insists, indeed
.

“Oh, Miss Stewart, that’s your room. I haven’t booked it out on the system yet.”

I lift my head to see Fraser standing at the desk.

“Miss Stewart, your car is parked,” he says. “If I can just get the key for your room, we can get your things upstairs so you can move in properly.”

“Hold on a moment, Fraser.” Fraser looks at me, puzzled. “Michael, I can give Mr. Mathews a loch-view suite and a double room for you tonight and move you first thing in the morning,” I say. “If that would be acceptable, I’ll arrange to have housekeeping come in early to clean the suite you’ll be moving into tomorrow, so you can move in as early as possible. Do you think this would be acceptable? It’s the best solution as far as I can see.”

Fraser is shaking his head at me. I know he thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve always been told that the guests come first.

Michael takes his phone from his pocket and walks over to the entrance, so we can’t hear him. After a few minutes, he comes back to the desk. “Mr. Mathews accepts your proposal and thanks you,” he says with a smile.

“So, Miss Stewart, where would you like your things to go?” Fraser asks.

“Sally, please give Fraser the key for any free room. A bed is just somewhere to sleep at the end of a long day. Any one of these will do me.

“Room nine okay?” Sally asks.

“Perfect.” I turn to Michael. “If Mr. Mathews needs me for anything more, please contact Sally,
and have her page me. I’ll be in the hotel all day.” I say that more out of politeness than anything else. I’m in no hurry to meet the moody American. Tomorrow will be soon enough.

“Thank you again, Miss Stewart. Sorry to have troubled you on your day off. And I’m sure Mr. Mathews will be in touch.” I can hear the sarcasm in his voice.

“Please, Michael, its Libby,” I say.

Michael puts his hand out to shake my hand. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, I am sure we will be seeing much more of each other.”

He then heads outside, presumably to find his irascible employer. Sally is now happy again. Gone are her unhappy guests.

“Well, that was an interesting start to the day,” I say with a sigh, glad that my first problem of the Americans’ stay is sorted out—although from the sound of things, I can expect more. “Sally, could you let the heads of each department know that my father’s American guests have arrived a day early? I don’t want there to be more problems for them to complain about. Now, as it’s not even ten o’clock, and already I’m feeling a bit steamed, I think I’ll go have a workout in the gym. That is, as soon as we’ve got my stuff to my room.”

I turn to face Fraser. “And Fraser, before you say anything, yes, I
will
help take my things upstairs with you. Not because I think you need help but just so
you can be done quicker in case you have to see to Michael and Mr. Mathews.” I turn back to Sally. “My friend Kirsty is coming for lunch at one. I can be paged at any time today should you need me, but please, if you can avoid disturbing us at lunchtime, that would be great. I’ve not seen her in weeks.”

“You’re just like your grandfather,” Fraser says as we head up in the lift to my room. I know exactly what he means. I don’t bother unpacking anything, just grab my sports bag and iPod and then head to the gym.

I pass several members of staff on my way. They all very politely say, “Good morning, Miss Stewart,” and it’s got me thinking about the whole Miss Stewart thing. I would much rather be called Libby. I must speak to Karl about this today; I value his opinion.