Masters & Lovers Box Set One

"Sally, you got a minute?"

"Sure Mr Summerford, so long as it's only a minute." She waves back at the sea of activity in the kitchen. "I've got seventy covers to get out in the next hour or so." She turns from her counter, dips into a roiling pot with what is apparently an asbestos finger, sucking at some kind of liquid. She nods to a young lad in a white apron, "That's fine, Billy. Now poach the fish in the stock. Six minutes. No more." Then she turns her attention to me. "Yes, only a minute. Um, somewhere quiet if you don't mind."

She puckers brows but follows me to the outer corridor. "Is something wrong?"

"Um, not sure.... Look, this is kind of embarrassing, but I received a report that James had been.... er.... bothering you.... Is there any truth to that?"

Her face clears. "James? Mr Alexanders, you mean? No, not at all. He's a perfect gentleman. And he was such a lot of help the other day in the kitchen." "Really? My brother thought...."

Her face clouds over. "Your brother? Is he the one that came in looking for him? The one with a face like he'd sucked a wasp?"

"Er.... that does sound like Ben, yes."

"What your brother saw...." she snaps, ".... was Mr Alexanders and I exchanging recipes. I wanted to know how to make that paella he does. It's nothing like what the version they teach you at the cookery schools and it's very good. I was thinking of adding it to the menu. He...."

I hold up defensive palms. "Okay, I've got it. I'll tell Ben to calm down."

Lips tight, she aims a forefinger at me. "You do that. And you can tell Mr Alexanders 'Thank you' from me. We were short-staffed for your 'Grand Opening', and I don't know how I'd have managed if he'd not waded in to help to the way he did."

*****

Richard

"Perhaps we should have phoned ahead...." Elizabeth paces the reception area. ".... rather than just turning up out of the blue. Perhaps they're busy?"

"Michael made it very clear he's perfectly happy for us to turn up anytime we would like to. Given that I have invested quite a large sum into this operation, I don't think it's unreasonable that I occasionally drop in unannounced. And since you're the shareholder, that includes you too."

She fiddles with her jewellery, fingering a green teardrop that hangs gracefully over the valley between her breasts. "It feels a bit like spying."

"My Love, they are our friends. I gave Charlotte away at her wedding. You were the bridesmaid. They won't mind us calling by...."

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And as the words leave my mouth, we all but walk into Michael. Or more accurately, Elizabeth almost walks into him as he enters from the rear of the hotel. His hair is wet, he's wearing a towel around his waist, sandals on his feet and no more. Certainly, Elizabeth sees as much of him as everyday decency allows....

Swimming...?

As the two all but collide, Michael almost leaps back, eyes wide with surprise, hands pulled back, his face flushing. "Whoa....! Hello, Beth, Richard. Lovely to see you."

His reaction is way over the top....

The reaction of a man attracted to another man's wife?

Then recovering himself, he takes on that charming smile that is apparently etched into his personality, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek in perfectly polite and friendly fashion.

Her breath hitches. I see the reaction of my wife to that kiss, chaste as it is....

.... and so does he.....

He backs off again. "I'll, um, be back in a minute. Just bear with me." As he vanishes upstairs, all but at a run, there are points of colour on Elizabeth's cheeks.

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Seconds later, James and Charlotte appear, also from the rear, chatting casually. She wears a robe but James, like Michael, is only wearing a towel at the waist. Both faces light up. "Ah, Richard, Beth. I didn't know we were expecting you." James steps toward me, offering his hand. He shakes then turns to give Elizabeth a brief kiss on the cheek. And noticeably, he is completely unembarrassed by it.

The reaction of a man not attracted to someone else's wife....

"You weren't...." I say ".... but we were out for an early morning drive and thought we'd see how it's going. Elizabeth has some more interested leads for Michael." I tap the side of my nose. "He might want to call them and turn on the charm." James sucks at his cheeks. "I'm sure he can handle that."

Michael reappears down the stairs in jeans and tee-shirt. Elizabeth's eyes follow him down....

.... and Charlotte's gaze follows hers....

"So...." he says, his voice bright, ".... is this a social call or is there something I can do for you?"

"I thought it was time to visit," I reply. "See how my investment is doing...."

"Of course. Let me show you round. Bookings are coming in nicely."