Page 20 of A Winter Wish

The back of Lexie’s neck pricked with sweat as she hitched her rucksack farther up her back, walking the last few feet from the bus stop to the snazzy boutique hotel she’d be staying in. It was warmer than she was used to at this time of year—a balmy fifty-five degrees—and the long-sleeved T-shirt, big jumper, and winter coat were too much for the sunny day, despite the cool breeze whisking the smell of the ocean toward her. She couldn’t see the beach from here, but she could hear the cawing of seagulls nearby.

She headed past the bright blue hotel sign, under the domed entrance, and into the lobby area. It was the type of place Lexie loved to stay—proudly independent—and it had a distinctly modern feel, classy and tastefully understated. Sleek wooden flooring, lighting that managed to be neither too bright nor too dim, and stairs to her left that led to a bar area, complete with big white pillars, plush armchairs, and high stools at the backlit bar. It had been a while since she’d stayed in a hotel this fancy, and it made her feel out of place in her travel clothes, like she should be wearing something other than leggings and trainers. Plus, even though it hadn’t been a long flight, she still had that travel-tired feeling after taking a bus to the train station, the train to Zurich, waiting around in the airport, then jumping on a plane before finishing the whole thing with two more buses. She wanted a shower and a toothbrush, stat.

She headed for the reception desk, which had an orchid on one corner of it. The woman sitting there was very chic—the type to be able to pull off a blue blazer and a neckerchief. She had flawless skin, peach lipstick, and neat eyeliner, her hair looped into some fancy knot on the back of her head. It made Lexie feel even more unkempt as she dumped her rucksack at her feet, ran a hand through her curls.

“Bonjour, mademoiselle. Puis-je vous aider?”

“Oui, bonjour. Je…” She bit her lip, her limited French completely deserting her. She tried again, telling herself, the way she always did, that she must get better at languages. “Je m’appelle Lexie Peterson. Je, er…”

The woman smiled brightly at her. “Ah, oui, you are with the R&L Travel, yes?”

Lexie nodded, pathetically relieved. “Yes.”

“I remember you are coming today. The others arrived yesterday.” She started tapping at her keyboard with perfectly manicured nails. “You are in room 202, and I think—ah, oui, here he is.” The woman gestured behind Lexie’s shoulder, and Lexie turned to see an older man with salt-and-pepper hair walking toward her, wearing smart trousers, a shirt, and an expensive-looking jacket—along with a broad grin.

He held out a hand as he approached. Lexie couldn’t help but notice his black shoes were very, very shiny. “You must be Lexie. You look just like your father, just like him.”

Lexie shook the hand he was offering, and he gripped hard before letting go. “I’m Mike. Ange told me to expect you and she was spot-on with the timing as always. Delighted to meet you, truly, delighted. Heard so much about you, of course. You’ve given Lexie her key, Simone?”

The receptionist—Simone, apparently—fumbled behind the desk, then held out a key card to Lexie. “Voici.”

He winked at her. “You’re an angel.” He checked the time on his gold watch. “Now, Lexie, I’m heading off with our group of clients in a tick. We’re going for a look around the basilica—not strictly about the lemons, I know, but the building is a sort of lemony yellow so we’re leaning into that—and then we’re going to have lunch at a delightful spot. It’s reserved just for us: we work with them every year and their tarte au citron is to die for—honestly, never tasted anything like it. You’ll want to freshen up, I’m sure…” He gave her a quick glance up and down and Lexie felt sure he was taking in every inch of her frazzled appearance. “But you’ll join us for lunch, yes? Ange said to give you the full tour experience, and I fully intend to make you our guest of honor while you’re here.”

Lexie couldn’t think of much to say to that other than “Oh, right. Thank you.” She worked up a smile. “And yes, lunch sounds good. Great, actually.” She’d eaten nothing all day apart from a disappointing croissant on the plane. “But how will I know where to find you? Do you have the name of the restaurant, or…?”

“Not to worry, Lexie, not to worry. I’ll leave Theo at the hotel. He’ll wait for you and can bring you over whenever you’re ready.”

Lexie realized she was staring at him in a way that might seem rude, and she tried to twist her expression into something more appropriate. “I’m sorry, did you say—?”

“Ah and here’s the man himself!” Mike boomed, loud enough to make Lexie jump. She looked around, dread coiling in her stomach, to see Theo coming around the side of reception, where the arrows indicated there was an elevator. Theo jerked to a stop, staring back at her. And it was clear, from the slow frown that crossed his face, that he hadn’t known she’d be here. He managed to school his expression as he tore his gaze away from her.

“They’re waiting outside, Mike.”

“Marvelous. You know Lexie, of course, don’t you?”

“I do. Although I didn’t realize she’d be joining us.” He gave her a look then, like it might be her fault—like she’d somehow deceived him.

“No,” she said shortly. “I didn’t know you’d be here either.”

“Really?” Mike said, his graying eyebrows pulled together as he looked between them. “Not like Ange to forget to bring everyone up to speed. And I thought you knew there was a reason there were two of us out here, Theo.” Mike’s tone somehow managed to be both mild and condescending at the same time, but he bustled on before Theo could comment. “No matter, you’re both here now. Theo, I’ve told Lexie you’ll wait with her and show her to the restaurant. That’s not a problem, is it?”

“I don’t need—” Lexie began, but Theo interrupted her.

“No, it’s not a problem.”

And Lexie could hardly force the issue, could she? She wondered why Theo was taking orders from Mike—shouldn’t Theo, and she, come to think of it—rank above him?

“Excellent. Well, I best be off. See you at lunch!”

For a brief moment, after Mike left the lobby, Theo and Lexie just stared at each other. Why—why did he have to look all…put together like that, with his dark, windswept hair, wearing a coat that seemed to highlight his shoulders. She hated that he looked attractive, hated that she realized he looked attractive, when he was the last person she wanted to see right now. It tipped the balance in his favor, when her hair was sticking up all over the place and she could feel where the sweat had grown cold on the back of her neck.

“So,” Lexie said. “You’re here.”

He looped his thumbs through the belt loops of his jeans. “Looks like.”

She swore under her breath at the sarcastic tone as she bent to pick up her rucksack.

“So nice to see you too,” he said, voice all faux-sweet.