Redeemed By Her Innocence. Bella Frances

tied it at his waist.

      ‘Suit yourself,’ he said.

      She looked up. Further along the hallway, noise bubbled out as a door opened. After-parties were probably taking place all over the hotel and she was too prudish to step over the threshold of his room?

      ‘I hope you understand,’ she said, taking another step back from the doorway. ‘I want to talk about my business—that’s all.’

      He almost laughed out loud but when her face didn’t break into a smile, he realised she was completely serious. How about that? She’d secured a meeting with him, but only on her terms. And those terms were...refreshing.

      ‘Well, that’s fine by me—but I won’t be around for much longer if you still want that five minutes.’

      ‘Maybe I could come by tomorrow morning before you leave?’

      That would be a no, he thought.

      With his flight scheduled for ten thirty, he’d be out of here an hour earlier, and the thought of cramming anything else into his head right now was not appealing at all.

      But she looked so young, so full of hope. Like a flower opening its petals at the first burst of sunshine. He didn’t really want to crush her, did he?

      He nodded.

      ‘OK. Come for breakfast. Nine.’

      The sweet joy that spread across her face was beautiful, like a child’s, and it was amazing how good that made him feel—for a second.

      ‘Thank you so much. I promise not to waste your time.’

      ‘We’ll see,’ he said.

      But as he put his hand on the door and began to close it, his phone lit up. Mark. More bad news.