Free Change by Keeley Smith Page A

along the corridor. They found
their room, Tabitha went one door up and everyone followed, finding
their rooms quickly.
    “ Once we are
organised, what do you want to do?” Cora asked everyone.
    “ Let’s unpack
and meet in your room,” Tabitha suggested.
    Jack nodded
and opened the door to their room.
    Their room was
one of the biggest rooms he’d ever seen. The bed sat next to the
door to their left, so it faced a floor to ceiling window. The
infusion of colours was different here. Instead of the green, ruby
and beige that seemed to flow throughout the hotel, they had a dark
and light blue combined with the creams and beige.
    The bedspread
was completely white, but it complimented the runner along the
bottom of the bed which was splashed with the necessary tones of
blues to keep the theme constant. Curved around the huge window, on
a higher level to the bed, was a seating area. The seats were also
a mixture of dark and light blue. Hanging from the big window were
thick, creamy curtains. How did the staff
here manage to keep everything clean? But
then again, they wouldn’t let any old riff raff in, especially if
it cost an arm and a leg to stay here.
    Cora dropped
her suitcase and wandered over to the window. Jack followed her,
standing on the platform, and was greeted with a terrific view. The
castle sat prominently on its volcanic hill. They overlooked a very
pretty garden area. The trees glistened with dew; even in the
midday sun, it wasn’t yet warm enough to lift it. He stepped back
and studied the room, making his way to the bathroom. He stopped,
shocked for a moment before laughing.
    “ What’re you
laughing at?” Cora asked as she stepped alongside him.
    He didn’t need
to tell her. Her eyes widened as she glimpsed the picture, and then
she laughed. The sound caressed his heart. He realised now how much
he’d missed it.
    The picture
was of a man in very skimpy shorts, which didn't leave much to the
imagination. He was holding a woman’s legs in the position of a V
as she balanced her body on her hands. She was also wearing very
little. Lord knows why a picture like this was in a bathroom, maybe
a little light entertainment when you used the toilet?
    “ So, I have to
pee whilst looking at that. That's great,” Jack said as he grinned
at Cora.
    “ Yeah, you
love scantily clad women,” she teased.
    “ Only you.”
His eyes flashed with an intensity that sent heat to her face. “We
should unpack before everyone starts piling in and taking over.” He
hefted both suitcases onto the bed and got to work helping Cora
unpack.
    An elaborate
knock at the door made Cora jump. He gritted his teeth, hating that
she was still nervous. What he wouldn't give to take that away from
her. She’d become better with time, but she wasn’t the kick ass
woman he knew her to be. He was going to make sure she got back
there. “It’s open,” Jack called.
    The door
opened as they put the last of the clothes away. He turned and
faced Alastair and a younger man he didn’t know. He moved in front
of Cora.
    “ Awrite, wee
laddie, we be needin’ the rest of the coven.”
    Without saying
a word, Cora pulled her mobile out of her pocket. Jack remained
standing in front of her, livid that the two Scots had just walked
into their room without any notice.
    “ Tab, everyone
is needed in our room, now.” Cora clicked off and still didn’t say
a word to the two Scots standing in front of them.
    The man next
to Alastair was a lot younger than his fellow Scot. His short brown
hair was home to various shades of blonde that were streaked
through it. Jack judged they were the same height. The man’s build
was a little better because Jack had lost a little weight. Jack
could soon get that back. The man’s steel blue eyes latched on to
him, and a quirk of his lips followed.
    Tabitha
marched into the room first, her stride purposefully long and hard
hitting. How had Tabitha known the two
Scots were in here? Jack thought. It