Free Cherry Blossoms by Patricia Keyson Page B

morning. The renovation of the old chalets is starting next week and the planning application has gone in for those pine cabins we’re going to build in the wood. The builder wants to start on the roadway in July as he’s sure we’ll get permission for the cabins. Oh, yes, and the contractor is going to start work improving the bank for the moorings of visiting boats. I think that’s everything for now, but we must think about the brochure for next year. We need to start sending them out soon. I thought we’d take some photos of the river, try and catch its mood at different times of the day. Then in the coming year we can catch the seasons ready for the next year’s brochure. We need pictures of people fishing, boating and cycling.”
    As she talked he watched her hair bobbing round her face and the way she frowned a little when she was thinking. He wanted to smooth away the frown lines with his fingers and kiss her lips to take her mind away from the hotel and back to him.
    “ Oliver!”
    “ Sorry, I . . .”
    “ You weren’t listening to a word I said. I just asked you a question. If you’re not going to take any notice of me I might as well give up.” She flung her notepad on the desk.
    “ I’m sorry, I was preoccupied. I was thinking. Isn’t it good about Mrs Talbot and how she seems to be off your back at last?”
    “ Mmm, all down to your cream tea. If I’d known the way to her heart was through food I’d have tried it months ago. All I had to do was offer her a ginger nut and she’d have left Jay and me alone.” Cherry giggled. “I can’t thank you enough. It’s such a relief to know I won’t lose Jay. If I can ever help you out . . .”
    “ There is one thing.” Oliver made his way round the desk and took her hand.
    The door burst open and Darius came crashing in. “Ah, there you are, Oliver, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
    “ Ever heard of knocking?” Oliver asked crossly as he stood up straight and fiddled with his tie. “Well? What do you want?” He wandered back to his chair opposite Cherry and sat down.
    “ A drink would be a good start.” Darius poured himself a glass of whisky from the decanter which stood on a cabinet near the window. “Drink anyone?”
    “ I think I’d better go. Leave you two alone.”
    “ No,” Oliver said brusquely, “you stay here. It’s your office too. I’m not having you turned out because my little brother’s got himself into yet another mess. At least I imagine that’s what’s happened as he appears to need some Dutch courage. It will be money or woman trouble. What is it Darius? Go on, break the bad news. We’ve work to do. We were working when you came in.”
    “ If that’s what you call work, I’ll give it a go.” Darius winked at Cherry who smiled back.
    “ Everything’s such a joke to you isn’t it? Do you think I got where I am today by lying in bed all morning and playing for the rest of the day.”
    Darius smiled wry ly. “No, you got where you are today through your inheritance.”
    Oliver recoiled.
    Darius contin ued, but was speaking to Cherry. “Our father made sure Oliver’s mother was all right by letting her have the hotel as part of their divorce settlement. I can see that was fair enough. But then, as Oliver well knows, the rest of Dad’s empire crumbled. It wasn’t a good time for him and when he died Mum and I were left with practically nothing.”
    Oliver felt shamefaced. “I’m sorry, Darius, it’s just that you don’t seem to be making an effort. I want to help. I’ve given you a chance to work with me here, but you’re hardly accepting the challenge.” Oliver didn’t know what else to say. Although Darius’s attitude annoyed him, he still felt affection for the younger man.
    “ That’s because I want to do something for myself, not be given hand-outs by my big brother. You must be able to see that. You wouldn’t want that either, we’re similar to each other in some ways although