Free Trouble on Her Doorstep by Nina Harrington Page B

saw it coming and cut it off.
    ‘Human error caused the double booking at Richmond Square, so we are going to have to convince Dee that our systems can handle it.’
    Sean looked up at Prakash who had pressed a finger to his lips as though he was finding the fact that his boss and his pal from catering college were on first-name terms very amusing.
    ‘I checked the system this morning, Prakash, and we had a cancellation which might fit the bill. Why don’t I leave you to look after Dee and sort out the details while I take care of some other business? I’ll be just over here if you need me.’
    * * *
    Sean looked up from the reception desk as Dee’s laughter echoed out across the marble foyer. She was strolling out of the main conference room with her arm looped around Prakash’s elbow.
    Right now Prakash seemed to be doing a fine job of charming their latest client and keeping her entertained.
    Strange that every time he looked up Dee just happened to glance in his direction and then instantly turn away. With just enough of a blush on the back of her neck to tell him she was only too aware that they were sharing the same breathing space.
    Sean paused. For a moment there he thought... Yes, he was right. They were chatting away in what sounded like Hindi.
    Of course. She had grown up in India. Nevertheless, it was still impressive.
    Dee Flynn was certainly an unusual girl. In more ways than one.
    He had made a mistake when he’d walked into the cake shop last night and taken her for a baker or shop assistant.
    This girl was a self-employed tea entrepreneur who was organizing what sounded like a very impressive festival on her own.
    That took some doing.
    She couldn’t be a lot older than his half-sister Annika, who had grown into a lovely and talented photo-journalist. But when it came to organisation? Not one of her strengths, and Annika was happy to admit that, even to him.
    Even their father had been impressed with how the shy little blonde girl had blossomed into a lovely teenager and confident, beautiful woman with straight As, and a first-class honours degree from a famous university under her belt.
    It was an education designed to open doors. And it had.
    He loved Annika and was the first to admit that she had achieved her success by working as hard as he had to make it happen. Yet he did wonder sometimes how things would have turned out for them all if their father had not been there to pay for the private education, with a solid back-up plan and financial edge to give them the support they needed.
    Things might have been different for all of them if his father had not insisted that all of his children should grow up together: same school, same house most weekends and holidays.
    Three children with three different mothers living in the same house had not always been easy—especially for his stepmother—and they had fought and bickered and had vicious pillow fights just like any other children. But Tom Beresford had forged them into a family and he had done it through love and making sure that each one of them knew that he would always be there for them. The one constant in each of the children’s lives.
    For that, he was prepared to forgive his dad’s womanising ways. Rob never stopped teasing him that his little brother was letting the side down by staying faithful to every one of the lovely women who had agreed to put up with a light and fun relationship with him while it lasted.
    Sean Beresford did not do long-term commitment. He had seen first-hand the fallout from that kind of life when you were working twenty-four-seven, and he was determined to learn from his father’s mistakes.
    But to succeed on your own? With parents who worked overseas? That took a different skill set.
    Dee was definitely a one-off.
    Suddenly aware that he had been totally focused on Prakash and Dee, Sean bent his head over the conference-centre booking system and one thing was only too obvious: Prakash was not going to be very