Page 21 of Husband for the Holidays

RATHERTHANEATdinner on the plane, Konstantin said they’d eat at the hotel, but it was already midnight, local time, when they landed.

“We’re staying at Le Negresco?” Eloise blinked at the hundred-year-old icon of a building.

“Problem? I’ve never stayed in Nice, but my staff knows to get me the best,” Konstantin said.

“They have. I’ve dined here with Mom. I doubt the kitchen will still be open, though.”

“It’s all arranged,” Konstantin assured her.

It was. The concierge met them curbside with a bellman who took their luggage. As they were escorted to their room, they were treated to a brief history of the building, which had been designed to bring artists and royalty to the French Riviera. It was filled with authentic period furniture and an abundance of fine art.

The concierge then showed them into a sea-view suite decorated in shades of rose pink and sage green. The bed had an ornate headboard of brass and quilted silk. Sheer drapes framed the doors to the balcony and a sitting area held mahogany furniture upholstered in striped silk. A welcome basket of fruit and chocolate sat on the coffee table. An ice bucket held a bottle of wine.

“Room service will be up shortly with the meal that your assistant requested,” the concierge informed them with an obsequious smile.

“My room is through here?” Konstantin opened a door.

Eloise stepped forward to see through it, but it was only a bathroom.

They both looked for another door, but there was only the one from the hall, where the bellman was setting both of their bags.

“Pardon?” the concierge asked.

“Où est l’autre chambre?” Eloise tried in French.

“Ah.” Understanding and apology flickered across the man’s face. “There has been a misunderstanding. We were told two adults, not two rooms. At this time of year, we are fully booked. Tomorrow, perhaps, we could accommodate you in one of our larger suites. This is all we have for the moment.”

“I thought this only happened to pregnant women on Christmas Eve,” Eloise said out the side of her mouth.

Konstantin shot her a look of disbelief, then grimaced. “I didn’t make clear to my assistant that I was no longer traveling with Gemma.”

Lovely. He would have been perfectly happy to share a room with Ms. Tall, Blonde and Buxom, but not with her.

A quiet knock announced the arrival of the room service trolley.

“It’s fine. We’ll manage for tonight.” Konstantin impatiently waved everyone from the room.

Once they were alone, he shrugged out of his jacket and threw it over the arm of the settee, letting out an exhale of frustration.

“It’s late to call my mother, but I could try her?” Eloise offered.

“No. I don’t want you going there alone. We managed to share a room last night without assault charges. I’m sure we can do it again tonight.”

“I’ll sleep on the sofa.” Even though it was a relic with ornate wooden arms and—were these cushions actually stuffed with horsehair? She poked at one, thinking it had about as much give as a saddle.

“We can share the bed. You’re so small I won’t even notice you’re there.”

“Don’t—” She clacked her teeth shut.

“Don’t what?”

She crossed her arms, defensive, but always frustrated by this.

“I know I’m small, all right? People dismiss me as a childall the time. Mom does it.” She waved her hand in exasperation. “Ilias was a big strong man so he was someone she could lean on, but I’m her little doll who she wants to dress up and gossip with and marry off so I’ll have my own big strong man to protect me. I’m actually a grown-up, okay? I’d appreciate it if you’d treated me like one.”

If he had been a panther, his tail would have twitched as he took in her outburst.

Her stomach knotted. She had an overwhelming sense that she’d made a horrible mistake in declaring herself an adult.

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