His Perfect Partner. Laura Martin

immediately. From the talk at the meeting this morning, Jean-Luc wanted everything to proceed as swiftly as possible. The Grange was to open by the end of summer, and that meant a lot of work—both for the planners and building contractors, as well as for herself, if everything was going to be ready on time.

      Rachel thought about recruitment—that was going to be high on the list of priorities. People were the mainstay of any organisation and she needed to make sure they got the best that were available. And what about the look of the place? She paused, turning to glance across at the imposing exterior of her home. Country house, yes, but not too country house, not too predictable. The Grange needed to have its own style, something people would remember long after they had left.

      The daffodils were at their best, crisp and cheerful, great swathes of them as far as the eye could see. Rachel inhaled a steadying breath. She was going too fast. It had only been a day since Jean-Luc had dropped this bombshell on her, and here she was, planning and organising things already.

      A lone blackbird warbled tunefully in a branch overhead. Rachel looked up and watched him sing, glad of the momentary diversion. Turning the Grange into a hotel was a good idea. She could admit that now she was over the initial shock. It was just Jean-Luc’s involvement that was so difficult to handle. She needed to focus on her own professional expertise to prevent herself from dwelling on the personal minefield which undoubtedly lay ahead, to concentrate on what she was good at, on what she loved doing—that was the best way.

      She had to be strong. OK, so as soon as she’d set eyes on him it had been as if the clock hadn’t moved a second. She felt…Rachel slowly shook her head. She felt just the same attraction for him as she had ever done, purely physical attraction, of course—she didn’t like him any more, certainly didn’t love him the way she once had, she told herself firmly—but this…thrill she felt whenever she set eyes on him, that was bad enough.