of the inn. Once inside, he placed a hand on her arm, effectively bringing her to a halt.
“ Snooping again?” he asked insinuatingly. “You just can’t stop yourself, can you?”
Sabrina’s face darkened , and for a moment she looked pretty enough to draw an appreciative glance from her companion. “It’s my job to check on the rooms of our guests.”
“ So it was duty and not curiosity. I suppose this is one duty you wouldn’t consider delegating to someone else.”
As she realized his meaning, S abrina paled alarmingly. His dislike of her was even stronger than she imagined. When she answered, her voice was unnaturally subdued. “Casey would think it strange if I did, but if you insist, I’ll tell her that you don’t want me in your room.”
Meredith was again ashamed of himself. It wasn’t like him to behave this way, but something about Sabrina brought out the worst in him. “That won’t be necessary - I’m not that unreasonable.”
She wished he would go; any minute now she was going to start crying. “Is that all you wanted to say? I need to get started.”
“ Yes, I know. Afternoon tea – a delightful custom Juliet will no doubt enjoy. I need a room for her; is Casey around?”
Sabrina digested this piece of news with a glance in his direction which was fielded with a mocking smile. Biting her lip, she went behind the desk and opened the leather bound book.
“ I can take care of it for you. Room 4, which is the room to the left of you, is only available for tonight. The only other option is Room 7 which is along the back of the house on the upper floor.”
“I t appears it will have to be Room 7,” he drawled in a soft voice.
Sabrina turned to get the key and when she again met his eyes, the mocking look was very pronounced. “Was there anything else? I really must get going.”
He took the key from her. “I don’t suppose the guests will complain if tea is not served at four on the dot. If any of the rooms closer to me come available, would you let me know?”
Sabrina nodded and watched the door shut behind him. Slowly closing the reservation book, she made her way into the kitchen mentally comparing the tone of voice he used with Juliet with the cold one reserved especially for her. As she remembered his scathing remarks, the tears that had been held in check streamed down her face.
With a shuddering sigh, she wiped her face with the back of her hands. She couldn’t lose her self-control every time Meredith said something unpleasant to her. If she was to survive this ordeal, she had to learn to treat his remarks with indifference. For pride’s sake alone, she must not let him see how easily he could hurt her. Small though it was, this was the only measure of comfort she had left.
Sabrina had herself well under control by the time Casey joined her in the kitchen. “You’re back early. I didn’t expect you until later.”
Casey tossed her purse on the counter. “John and I had a disagreement.”
Sabrina listened to th e vehement tones, and couldn’t suppress a grin. “So does this mean the end for John? Has he gone past the point of no return?”
Casey tried to look affronted, but couldn’t manage it long enough to fool her sister. “You think I’m ridiculous, don’t you?”
“I think you’re looking for perfection , and no man is capable of that. Since you’re back, would you slice the cake?” She waved a hand toward the plate on the counter. “I’ll get the sugar and cream bowls filled.”
Casey pulled on an apron, sliced the cake into attractive ovals, and took the tray into the dining room. She returned almost immediately. “So our writer returns with a girlfriend. I guess he’s not looking for solitude after all.”
Sabrina continued to pour boiling water into an oversized teapot. She couldn’t afford to get second degree burns because her heart was breaking. “Nor does he appear to be in a hurry to work on his book,” she added dryly.
“Maybe
“ Snooping again?” he asked insinuatingly. “You just can’t stop yourself, can you?”
Sabrina’s face darkened , and for a moment she looked pretty enough to draw an appreciative glance from her companion. “It’s my job to check on the rooms of our guests.”
“ So it was duty and not curiosity. I suppose this is one duty you wouldn’t consider delegating to someone else.”
As she realized his meaning, S abrina paled alarmingly. His dislike of her was even stronger than she imagined. When she answered, her voice was unnaturally subdued. “Casey would think it strange if I did, but if you insist, I’ll tell her that you don’t want me in your room.”
Meredith was again ashamed of himself. It wasn’t like him to behave this way, but something about Sabrina brought out the worst in him. “That won’t be necessary - I’m not that unreasonable.”
She wished he would go; any minute now she was going to start crying. “Is that all you wanted to say? I need to get started.”
“ Yes, I know. Afternoon tea – a delightful custom Juliet will no doubt enjoy. I need a room for her; is Casey around?”
Sabrina digested this piece of news with a glance in his direction which was fielded with a mocking smile. Biting her lip, she went behind the desk and opened the leather bound book.
“ I can take care of it for you. Room 4, which is the room to the left of you, is only available for tonight. The only other option is Room 7 which is along the back of the house on the upper floor.”
“I t appears it will have to be Room 7,” he drawled in a soft voice.
Sabrina turned to get the key and when she again met his eyes, the mocking look was very pronounced. “Was there anything else? I really must get going.”
He took the key from her. “I don’t suppose the guests will complain if tea is not served at four on the dot. If any of the rooms closer to me come available, would you let me know?”
Sabrina nodded and watched the door shut behind him. Slowly closing the reservation book, she made her way into the kitchen mentally comparing the tone of voice he used with Juliet with the cold one reserved especially for her. As she remembered his scathing remarks, the tears that had been held in check streamed down her face.
With a shuddering sigh, she wiped her face with the back of her hands. She couldn’t lose her self-control every time Meredith said something unpleasant to her. If she was to survive this ordeal, she had to learn to treat his remarks with indifference. For pride’s sake alone, she must not let him see how easily he could hurt her. Small though it was, this was the only measure of comfort she had left.
Sabrina had herself well under control by the time Casey joined her in the kitchen. “You’re back early. I didn’t expect you until later.”
Casey tossed her purse on the counter. “John and I had a disagreement.”
Sabrina listened to th e vehement tones, and couldn’t suppress a grin. “So does this mean the end for John? Has he gone past the point of no return?”
Casey tried to look affronted, but couldn’t manage it long enough to fool her sister. “You think I’m ridiculous, don’t you?”
“I think you’re looking for perfection , and no man is capable of that. Since you’re back, would you slice the cake?” She waved a hand toward the plate on the counter. “I’ll get the sugar and cream bowls filled.”
Casey pulled on an apron, sliced the cake into attractive ovals, and took the tray into the dining room. She returned almost immediately. “So our writer returns with a girlfriend. I guess he’s not looking for solitude after all.”
Sabrina continued to pour boiling water into an oversized teapot. She couldn’t afford to get second degree burns because her heart was breaking. “Nor does he appear to be in a hurry to work on his book,” she added dryly.
“Maybe
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