Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
F ollowing the craft fair at the community centre, Anna’s day ended with her being physically tired but mentally alert. She tried calling her sister, thinking a natter with Carla would help, but she got no answer.
Going to bed would no doubt entail staring at the ceiling for hours on end, and she couldn’t face that.
Instead, she grabbed her coat and headed for the hotel.
It would be a first if she didn’t find someone there to chat to.
She could prop up the bar for an hour and then go to bed when there was a better chance that she might actually sleep.
On the front desk, she was greeted by Tom, the general manager. As a fairly recent addition to the team, he was the member of staff Anna knew the least.
“Hello,” he said in an overly cheerful tone, which suggested he didn’t recognise her and assumed she was a guest.
“Hi,” she replied. “I take it my brother isn’t here?”
“Oh.” Recognition hit his features. “No, he isn’t.”
“I don’t suppose Carla’s here?”
“I haven’t seen her today.”
“Ivy?” she asked hopefully .
He nodded. “Working on the bar.”
“Perfect. Thanks.” She walked through the lounge and into the restaurant, where a few tables were occupied. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, sliding onto a bar stool opposite Ivy. “I had a weird day and I can’t get hold of Carla.”
Ivy pushed a wayward strand of red hair behind her ear. “I love being a backup sister.”
“Sorry!” Anna grimaced. “That was rude. I didn’t even say hi or ask how you are.”
“I was being genuine,” Ivy said brightly. “I do like being your backup sister. Also, I’m bored to tears. Please tell me about your weird day.” She turned to get a bottle of wine from the fridge and raised a questioning eyebrow before pouring Anna a glass.
“I met Warren’s parents,” she said eventually, twirling the glass on the mat.
“Really?” Ivy’s eyes lit up. “What are they like?”
“Posh.”
“No way!”
“They are. I swear. His mum’s okay. His dad’s not particularly likeable. They’re nothing like Warren.”
“Where did you meet them? I knew they were visiting this weekend, but I got the impression we wouldn’t get to meet them.”
“I went for dinner with them,” Anna said, then tilted her head. “There’s a chance they think I’m Warren’s girlfriend.”
“What?” Ivy’s eyes looked as though they might pop out of her head. “Keep talking, please!”
“It’s a long story,” she said, then did her best to explain as succinctly as possible.
“So you’re pretending to be a couple,” Ivy stated ten minutes later, her eyes sparkling with delight. “And you’re going to a Christmas ball together. I feel as though I know where this is heading. Except–” She cut herself off and shook her head.
“What?” Anna asked.
“Nothing. I just can’t really imagine you and Warren together.”
“We’re not together. It’s all pretend.”
“Until it’s not,” Ivy said. “Is Carla okay with you pretending to date Warren?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
“Because she flirts with him like crazy. I wondered if she has a thing for him.”
Anna twisted her lips. “I’ve wondered the same, but she suggested I take Warren to the party.”
“She must be fine with it, then.” Ivy turned her head as the door behind her burst open and Warren stalked in. “Speak of the devil,” she muttered under her breath before saying hello to him.
He didn’t seem to register Ivy’s greeting as his gaze swept over the dining room. Anna smiled, waiting for him to catch her eye, but he didn’t look in her direction.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ivy asked.
“Nothing.” He frowned deeply. “Why?”
“Because you’re not supposed to be working. Why are you here?”
His eyebrows knitted together. “Thought I’d see what kind of mess they’re making of things in the kitchen.”
“Everything’s fine,” Ivy told him, but he was already striding to the kitchen. She rolled her eyes. “Just when I thought it was going to be a boring, uneventful shift.”
The kitchen door had only just swung shut behind Warren when a crash of broken crockery erupted from the kitchen.
“That’s not good,” Ivy mumbled and rushed away.