CHAPTER FOUR
Through her battling thoughts and emotions, Mey-Rin felt a twinge of guilt.
"Sorry," she called over. "It's lovely. I was just having a grumpy moment."
"No problem," he said, barely glancing back at her. "Is it something you need?"
Yes - a loyal husband, she thought wretchedly.
"Nothing you should be bothered about," she admitted.
"Don't be afraid to speak up otherwise," he replied, wiping down the granite. "I'm full of surprises."
"Shoulder to cry on…?" she murmured to herself, through a mouthful of calamari.
"Did you say something?"
"The food's amazing," she said aloud. "You're really good."
"So I'm told," he replied, and smiled when she caught his eye.
But it was reassuring. Mey-Rin congratulated herself on steering the unwieldy ship of their conversation back into safer waters, and opted not to risk pushing it any further.
XxX
Sebastian dawdled over the cleaning and tidying, scouring the grill with unnecessary thoroughness, giving her as much chance to spontaneously open up about her situation as he could. Most women would be an open book, handed the opportunity - leaking anything they considered to be of interest, or wanted to offload.
Not this one, apparently. She must have been a trustworthy P.A, with the ability to stay this closed. He was beginning to see the appeal that would have for someone like Lao.
But her ongoing reticence just frustrated Sebastian. There were things he wanted to know. Such as why Lao would ditch his wife after the wedding, leaving her to honeymoon by herself. Not telling her that the private resort had been cancelled. And why had he even gone as far as to get married? Excuse me, Mrs. Lao, would you mind peeing on this little white stick…?
"Did you say something?" Mey-Rin asked.
"Oh, was I mumbling?" He hoped that last one wasn't out loud. Here he was, expecting her to do the talking! "Sorry, force of habit. Usually there's no-one around to listen."
XxX
"Didn't they teach you that staff should be seen and not heard?" she remarked dryly.
"And preferably not seen either, unless their services are required," he replied. "I'll fetch your things from the lodge. Would you like me to unpack for you as well?"
"Er…" Mey-Rin had a moment's horror at the thought of this strange single man rifling through her honeymoon lingerie and nightwear. Or control-tummy swimsuits. "Not yet. In case I decide to switch rooms."
"Good thinking, Mrs. Lao."
He saw straight through that excuse, she guessed, noticing the slight smirk as he departed. Let him be nosy. It's the only thrill he'll get.
XxX
Sebastian did hesitate before leaving the two larger suitcases in the dressing-room of the master suite. Why two, accompanied by two matching vanity cases?
A glance at the monograms confirmed things, and a peek inside one of the smaller ones at the masculine toiletries. One set of luggage was Lao's. So perhaps the honeymoon wasn't as fully cancelled as the message suggested. Sebastian supposed it could have been typed in a hurry. Especially if he really did have other business in Venice to attend to.
Deciding to take the most professional stance, he went to the study to send an official reply to the absent spouse:
Mrs. Lao has arrived safely on schedule with your luggage, and is settling in. Let us know your expected arrival date. We look forward to having you join us at Lucky.
Sincerely,
Sebastian
Resort Manager
He thought a moment, then changed it to Resort Manager (locum). Made it sound more formal, incorporating a bit of Latin. And a staff shake-up on site would explain any missed communication or crossed wires, since the booking and supposed cancellation.
It would be preferable to be warned in advance if Lao was actually thinking of showing up. He'd be the one to kick up a real fuss about wanting a full staff on site.
On the other hand…
Sebastian noted the fresh stack of Angela-ammo in the email inbox, only to select and delete them again.
If Mrs. Lao turned out to be anything like her, then it was no wonder Lao was keeping his distance.
XxX
Mey-Rin was still furiously analysing herself. Rushing over to look at the vegetable knife incident! She was genuinely a responsible First-Aider - but all she could recall confirming in her mind was that he had no wedding ring on, not even a tan mark where one might have been previously. It was the first thing she looked at. She hadn't even thought about the cut in detail, let alone given more than cursory glance at the state of the tomatoes.
Why was any part of her brain interested in that information? It wasn't as if it was something she tried to establish about the men she met through work - single, married, gay, straight, it was of no concern to her. Most of her attention was focused on dealing with the women she met, and assessing the likelihood they presented of further interruptions to Lao's already full schedule.
For the first time, she wondered whether any men in the past might have been attempting to flirt with her, while she kept an eye firmly on who might be flirting with the boss - and later, flirting with the boss who became her fiancé…
"You can surf the web and send emails here," Sebastian informed her, indicating the table-top screen as he returned to find her still silently grazing on calamari rings and olives. "There's a laptop in the master suite, and a phone in nearly every room, should you want to call anyone. Can I get you anything more to drink?"
"That spritzer was nice," Mey-Rin sighed. "But I should probably have a mineral water, please."
"Of course, Mrs. Lao," said Sebastian, heading for the bar. "And have you left room for dessert? I believe a strawberry and rhubarb Pavlova was on the original menu… I made sure everything was in stock once you arrived, should anything tempt you."
Mey-Rin looked down at herself.
"I may have to notify my spare dessert tummy," she replied wryly.
"No rush," he grinned. "I'm not planning on going anywhere."
So completely unlike Lao.
"Have you ever been married?" she blurted out suddenly, on an impulse to learn more about her enigmatic host.
"No," he replied, and his expression became a little distant. "I… haven't yet found the right woman."
"No-one has succeeded in persuading you that they are, you mean?" she suggested, with an uneasy smile. "Perhaps you're too picky."
"Perhaps," he conceded, and his expression was unreadable. "One or two may have tried." He glanced at her, and she could tell he was assessing her in turn. "How did you meet Mr Lao, may I ask?"
"I was working as a celebrity lifestyle magazine stylist, and we were invited to his friend Ran-Mao's house to do an article on her and her husband - her husband at the time…" Mey-Rin sipped her water to try and steady her voice. "Lao was there to supply some of his latest haute couture fashions to use in the shoot, and we got talking about the dresses, and he mentioned he was looking for a new office assistant - he basically headhunted me from the magazine. We ended up working very closely together, and here I am…"
"Here you are, indeed," Sebastian echoed, thoughtfully.
Of course. He would make a point of noting that she had arrived alone.
Annoyed at his bluntness, she supposed it was possible that the occasional housekeeper might have set their sights on this aloof and arrogant butler with his smug sense of humour. Who else was he likely to run into for a romantic liaison, working in the middle of nowhere?
A sudden blush sprang to her cheeks, as it occurred to Mey-Rin that most likely what he encountered here were bored lady holidaymakers, looking for a little alternative entertainment…
"Are you all right?" he asked, interrupting her hot and inappropriate visions of 'fully-inclusive accommodation.'
"Er, yes…" she bluffed. "I just felt a little strange for a second…"
To her surprise, he strode over and took her hand, feeling gently for her pulse.
"Fast," he remarked, critically. "And you are too warm. Perhaps I should take your temperature?"
She stared hypnotised at his cool capable hands enfolded around her own, amazed that he couldn't hear the pounding of her heart right now, let alone feel it.
Why did she just have to have been imagining what he might get up to with the female guests, given half a chance? Was this the start of one of those scenarios?
Was his apparent concern for her wellbeing the beginning of an attempt at seduction?
"I think you need to lie down," he said, in a low voice.
Mey-Rin gulped, and to her alarm, all of her muscles were weakening at the thought.
"I might just try out my room," she murmured.
He offered his other hand to help her to her feet, and the early evening stars above the sea on the horizon tilted dizzily as she accepted.
Gosh, she thought. Lao never has this effect on me…
Their eyes locked, strawberry and rhubarb Pavlova completely forgotten.