Laura pulled into the employee car park and drove towards her parking space. However there was a range rover parked in it. She hit the brake and looked around. She saw no one and had no other option but to reverse out and take the lane to the overflow area as she was not going to park in someone else's space.

'Bloody typical my first day back.' Parking her battered old VW in a space she opened the door and got out putting her right foot straight into a puddle. 'Fucking hell what a start to my day.'

She headed out of the car park and walked up the lane. As she turned the corner towards the main house she stopped. As always she was stunned by the beauty of the building. Not everyone saw it, they would certainly think her crazy if they heard her talking to the building as she moved around it when alone. But she loved it.

She had been away a week so could see the foliage on the house growing out. Spring was in the air. The windows had been washed and with the sun glinting on them it made the house twinkle in the sunlight.

She stood gazing around completely unaware she was being watched.

Brian Jones turned back from the window and looked at the man seated in front of his desk. 'You are sure you want to play it like this? I'm pretty sure she and the staff will see through it. Maybe we should say who you are.'

Jake Harrison swung around in the chair to look at Brian. His brown eyes narrowed as he considered the question. 'Brian this is what I want it's my hotel now, they don't know me. Follow the script. Introduce me as the transition guy. They don't need to know who I am. I will keep out of the way. This is how I like to get to know my acquisitions and see if they are delivering.'

'Right, got it.' Brian sat down at his desk. Any minute now Laura would burst in. She had been away for half term and this bombshell was going to floor her no doubt about that. He looked across the desk at Jake. He also thought this man was trouble with a capital T. His female staff would get nothing done. He was charm personified and handsome to boot. He patted his thinning head of hair. Hmmmm very unfair he thought.

A tap at the door and in she walked. 'Brian some arsehole is in my parking space. I had to park in the overflow we need to sort the car-park out its full of pot holes.' She stopped talking and looked at the two men in the office. 'Oh, sorry, I didn't realise you had someone here.'

'Laura, come in dear. How was your week off?' Brian motioned for her to come in and sit down. As she stepped further into the room the man who had his back to her stood up. He turned to look at her as she walked towards the chair. He was tall very tall, wearing a navy suit. He was also drop dead gorgeous with a mass of wavy brown hair and eyes the colour of chocolate. He put his hand out to greet her. 'Laura I am Jake Harrison nice to meet you. Brian has told me a lot about you.'

She shook his hand, it was firm and as she pulled away she felt a jolt run through her. She looked up at him, he was so unruffled from his perfectly coiffed hair, down to his perfectly polished shoes. She pushed her mousey bob off her face. He didn't take his eyes off her and she looked away feeling unsettled. She felt herself blush and stumbled to sit in the chair next to him. Pulling her coat off she looked at Brian.

'Laura some great news the hotel has been purchased by the Kinkade Group and Jake is here to ensure the transition goes smoothly.'

'What, what do you mean?'

'May I?' Jake Harrison looked at Brian and turned towards Laura in his seat. 'Mrs Jones.'

'Miss.'

'Sorry?'

'My name is Miss Jones but call me Laura.' He nodded 'Well Laura, its nothing to get worried over. My firm have bought the hotel. I am the guy they send out to make sure no mishaps as its handed over.' Laura looked down at her hands sitting in her lap and thought back to this morning.

She had actually felt happy for the first time in a long time. They had moved into the house last week and Chris had been there every evening for dinner. Charlie had gone off to school this morning with no problem and she had thought to herself I've cracked it. House, boyfriend and Charlie going to school. What did the hotel being sold mean? And should she be worried?

She looked up realising he was still talking and she had missed most of it. He was staring at her intently. She nodded as he finished up. Nothing to be worried about, life would carry on as normal etc. She stood up as he finished. 'Mr Harrison this all sounds lovely. But, I have a big wedding on Saturday and should check in with the team to get an update.'

He nodded and also stood up, putting out his hand to shake hers. She lowered her eyes as she shook his hand again but could feel his eyes boring into her. 'It all sounds lovely like I said. But, Mr Harrison, if you will excuse me I really must start my day.' She went to pick up her bag and stumbled again. He caught her as she tripped and for a moment she was against his chest she couldn't breathe if she did she inhaled his aftershave and having already got a whiff of it she thought it best not to breathe in anymore as it was too delicious and her head was spinning. She needed to get out of here quick. She pushed him away from her and bent down to retrieve her coat from the floor. Get out, get out her brain was shouting at her. She moved as quickly as she could and had her hand on the door handle.

He called her. She turned around and he was staring at her 'Its Jake, Laura we are going to be seeing a lot of each other no need to address me formally ok.' He winked at her aware of the effect he had just had on her.

'Lovely, yes, ok.' Laura walked out of the office and found the nearest chair to sit on. Her hands were shaking and as she put one up to her cheek she could feel the heat and knew she was bright red. 'Oh fucking lovely you bloody idiot.'

'Laura?' She looked up from her slumped position on the chair. 'Oh hello Jules you ok?' The woman in front of her looked down 'well yes I am fine, the question is are you? And why are you swearing?'

'Don't ask. Look walk with me to my office and update me on the Carmichael wedding.' She stood up looking over her shoulder at the closed door of Brian's office. For the next couple of hours Laura caught up on her emails, went through the wedding files and got up to date with new events.

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Jake looked at the closed door. She was different to what he had thought she would be like. He didn't see her being a problem. It was probably going to be much easier than he had first thought. He smiled to himself as he sat back in the chair. 'Right Brian, lets take a look at the financials.'

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Brian called the entire staff to the banquet hall at 11.30 and advised them the hotel had been sold, no worries over jobs etc. Then Jake stepped forward and delivered a word perfect speech on his role as the transition person. He looked around the room as he finished up saying he hoped to get time to meet everyone and see them working. He had heard good things. He again reiterated no job losses and people were not to worry. Laura stood at the back of the room watching him. He was suave for sure and looked every inch the young executive. Jules came and stood next to her. 'Wonder how old he is? You met him this morning what did you think of him? No wedding ring thats a good sign eh?' Laura turned to look at her friend and colleague. Jules had been married for fifteen years and had two kids what on earth did she need to know that information?

'I really don't know anything Jules. I met him briefly he seems okay I guess. But, what do I know.' Jules smiled at her 'Oh Laura.'

'What?' Laura shook her head. 'Got the hots for the new guy hun?' Jules started laughing and as she did so Jake looked across at the two of them. Making eye contact with Laura he didn't stop talking as he stared at her. She dropped her eyes his stare was too intense. Why was he looking like that at her? What had she done today to deserve this? The speeches finished and she almost ran out of the room much to Jule's amusement who made her way forward to introduce herself to him.

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She was halfway through her afternoon meetings when he walked in. He didn't even knock just opened the door of the conference room. It went silent as her staff and the catering company for the wedding stopped talking. He waved his hand 'Carry on, don't mind me.'

Laura looked down at her notes. Her mind now blank she looked up at the room. Everyone was staring at her waiting for her to run through the timeline for Saturdays event. 'Right okay let me review this one moment.' She could see her hands shaking and was trying to get herself together to carry on talking. She looked to her right and Jake was pulling out the empty chair next to her. He raised an eyebrow as he sat down and gave a very mischievous smile. She looked up and began talking her voice shaking as she started. Oh this was a disaster. She looked across at Jules who could not stifle the giggle at seeing Laura so out of sorts.

Jules jumped in and told everyone to refer to page five of the plan and began running through the timeline. Laura looked across at her gratefully and shook her head mystified as to what was happening to her.

Jake had been sat back but as the room was focused on Jules he took the opportunity to sit forward and whisper in Laura's ear 'Miss Jones, are we going to have a problem every time I am in the same room as you?' He was so close to her she could feel his breath on her skin and she felt goosebumps on her arms as she moved back and turned towards him. 'Are you playing with me Mr Harrison? Trying to embarrass me in front of my team?'

He looked thoughtfully at her and shook his head. 'I don't play games Laura business is too serious for that.' She looked down at her hands now in her lap and clutched together to control the shaking. This was ridiculous she barely knew him, she had a boyfriend. She must be tired, maybe she was sick. She put her hand to her forehead and her cheeks. Well, she was hot but she didn't think it was a fever.

She looked up at him. Her bottom lip trembled as she went to speak. 'That's good to know now if you will excuse me.' She jumped up from her chair and said to the room. 'I need to make a call, Jules will finish up and I will touch base with you all during the week.'

She left the room hurriedly and headed back to her office. Closing the door she leaned against it trying to catch her breath and calm herself. Her hands were shaking, her heart was beating so loud and fast. There was no sense to this. What on earth was going on she had never had this happen to her before.

She sat down at her desk and laid her head back in her chair. Jules walked in a few minutes later. 'Care to tell me what was going on in there?" Laura looked across at her despondently 'What do you mean?'

'Well, I thought he was going to throw you across the table and have it away with you. The tension is hot between the two of you.'

Laura shook her head. 'I doubt he thinks about me like that he is playing with my head for some reason. Do you think he wants my job? Oh I cant lose this job I just bought the house and Charlie school fee's will be due soon.' She sat with her head in her hands. 'What the hell has happened to me today? Is this a dream a bad one?'

Jules started laughing 'well I think he is dreamy our Mr Harrison but I don't think this is a dream kiddo.'

'You need to get yourself under control if he is looking to make cuts you are going to make it easy for him. You know this hotel and this job like the back of your hand. Don't let some posh tottie come in and disrupt your flow. Get your bloody head in gear Laura.'

'Brilliant, yes wise words as always Jules. Whats the time? Shit I need to go out front, meet Ellie and Charlie. She was going to swing by on her way home from school with him.'

Laura jumped up and pulled the door open careering into a wall of navy suit. Two arms came up and gripped her, steadying her. 'Well, bumping into me again Laura, you are making a habit of this. He laughed and looked down at her.' She pulled back smoothing her dress and pushing her hair back off her face. 'Well, once again thank you Mr Harrison, Jake. She pushed past him 'Excuse me I need to be somewhere.'

She walked away from him and he stood looking after her. He could tell the effect he was having on her he was used to it. Women were like this around him. His mother said that he got away with everything all his life because of his big brown eyes and soppy smile. She had said that about both of them. He felt his heart pull as he thought of his brother. Older by three years but they were chalk and cheese. When Will got expelled from his fifth school at fourteen his parents had hired a tutor and he had been home schooled from then on. Jake meanwhile studied hard at school and went onto university. Then moved into the family business taking over as his father's ill health stopped him from running the Kinkade Group.

He heard a noise and saw someone coming out of the office he had been walking into. It was Jules head of housekeeping. 'Well, Mr Harrison it's not often I see Laura speechless but you have managed to do it twice today.' She looked at him she was tall and wearing heels so was almost eye level as she spoke to him. Her words kind but with meaning 'She might seem ditsy today but she is not, she has been through a lot. Be good if you can remember that' He nodded leaning against the wall.

'Where was she going in a hurry?' 'Oh she was off to see her nephew he lives with her and it was his first.'

'Day at school.' Jules watched him go. Bloody men. She looked over her shoulder at him striding in the opposite direction as she made her way back to her office.

He went in the direction Laura had walked. He walked quickly he wanted to run. Charlie was here. He couldn't breath. He walked towards the main hall where the reception was. Laura was kneeling down talking to a small boy. She pulled off his school hat and ruffled his hair. Jake stopped unable to move. He could hear her talking to him and he was giggling.

The boy looked over at him and stopped giggling. Laura looked in Jake's direction. She stood up as Charlie leaned into her shy as Jake approached them. He couldn't help himself he had to speak to him.

'Laura?' She looked down at the head of Charlie. Oh boy this guy was just everywhere. 'Jake this is my nephew Charlie. Charlie say hello to Mr Harrison.' Charlie looked up at Jake and Jake could not take his eyes off him. He leaned down and put his hand out. 'How do you do Charlie.' The boy stuck his hand out and shook Jakes hand enthusiastically. 'Hello I went to school today, I have to wear a hat.'

'Well, it's a very nice hat and you look very smart. Excuse me, will you. Nice to meet you Charlie.'

Jake walked past them and headed out of the hotel. He kept walking taking in big gulps of air. Reaching his car he got in and closed the door. Leaning back in the seat he pulled his phone out of his pocket. His hands were shaking as he hit speed dial. The phone was answered on the first ring. 'It's him.' On the other end of the phone his Mother began to cry. 'Mum it's really him we found him. We found Will's son.