Free Secrets of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson Page A

guests over for the wedding. It’ll be a little awkward I think. Scott’s parents are coming and I think I’m going to feel in the way.”
    “So you’re not using the time off to see your parents?”
    “No, my parents live in Thailand and they aren’t really into Christmas, never have been.” She grimaced, thinking about one unhappy childhood Christmas in particular. She’d spent it wishing her family could be like everybody else’s – longing for a Christmas tree or stocking fillers at the end of her bed instead of a lecture on the immorality of consumerism and being told to give her Christmas money to charity. She’d only been eight!
    If I ever have children I’m going to spoil them rotten.
    She blinked hard.
    “What about you? Where are your family based?”
    “They live just outside Geneva, a little town called Coppet. I’ve no siblings, I’m an only child.”
    “Oh, me too! So, you’re going to theirs for Christmas day?”
    Fleetingly she thought of her own parents and wished she had someone waiting for her for Christmas lunch.
    “No,” he replied abruptly, his jaw tensing and the darkness she’d seen earlier reappearing to shadow his features.
    She reached under the table to stroke his leg, saying nothing. Gratifyingly he relaxed his rigid posture.
    “Would you like to hang out for Christmas? I know somewhere I think you’d love. It would be fun to have some company and such a shame not to use your time off to see a bit of Switzerland. What with Scott only employing Brits and catering to the UK market you’re not really experiencing Swiss culture.”
    Fun, yes. Nothing heavy. Hanging out was nice and casual.
    “I’d like to do that, thanks.” She smiled, relaxing. “Am I allowed to know where we’re going?”
    “I think I’ll keep it as a surprise,” he shifted in his chair. “And tickling my leg isn’t going to persuade me.”
    She laughed and withdrew her hand. “Looks like I need to spend some time finding your ticklish spot.”
    “Or we could play Truth or Dare again.”
    Truth – I like you. Dare – I dare myself to spend time with you without getting in too deep. Forfeit? Hmm, I’d be very happy to give up my bunk-bed and exchange it for your king size bed.
    Very happy indeed.
    Hanging out wasn’t the same as going out. Everyone knew that. And if she ended it after the wedding it needn’t turn into anything serious. She had to believe that because what Zac was offering her was far too tempting to turn down…

CHAPTER FIVE
    Flora just about managed not to drool as she followed Zac into the plush entrance of the Mirador Kempinski. Soothing classical music played in the background and a delicious scent of jasmine permeated the air. Uniformed staff beamed at them as though they were the most important people on the planet.
    She’d thought he was taking her to some kind of remote log cabin or something authentic, not to a five star spa hotel. She wandered over to the plate glass wall that ran the length of the lobby to look at the view while Zac talked to the staff.
    “Wow,” she exclaimed, taking in the magnificent view down across Lac Léman to Evian and the French Alps. The mountains sparkled ice white with fresh snowfall, contrasting with the vivid blue of the sky. Down below the lake shimmered and danced in the sunlight, dotted with tiny boats with billowing sails.
    It was possibly the best view she’d ever seen in her life.
    “I thought you’d like the view here. It’s quite something, isn’t it?” Zac turned towards her, smiling at her reaction.
    “We’ve upgraded you to the Presidential suite sir.” The front of house man handed Zac a form to sign. “If you’d both like to come with me? Don’t worry about your bags, Mademoiselle, they will be brought to the room and if you give us your car key we’ll make sure it’s parked for you.”
    Flora’s eyebrows shot up when she saw the suite. She tried to bite back her reaction – it wasn’t cool to act too