Good Deed Bad Deed, Marcia Morgan [summer beach reads TXT] 📗

done.” He waited to get a read on her response to his feigned forgetfulness. She just sat there, looking at him with a neutral expression and waiting for the rest of it. “I didn’t have the hotel’s number, so I decided to stop here and hoped you’d either be here, or I’d wait in the lobby and watch for you. I’m glad you were here.”

“Well, obviously I’m not happy that you’re leaving sooner than you had planned. I’ll have trouble putting off my editor for another week or so and continuing to ask him to cover expenses.” Ana got up and started to pace in front of the bed, then said, “But you still haven’t asked for the favor. Is to forget about the interview what you’re asking?”

“No worries about the interview, or your editor. That’s why I wanted to catch you. My proposition is that you come with me to my parents’ house. They love company. You’ll like them, I promise.” His expression was expectant.

“I couldn’t just ‘show up’ and put them on the spot. I would be too uncomfortable.”

“I promise you wouldn’t. I used to bring a buddy with me sometimes. They are always very gracious. Besides, the interview isn’t the only reason I asked you. Even on the drive over here my shoulder started to hurt. It’s really in no condition for such a long drive. If you come with me, you can help with the driving. That way, everybody wins!”

“Are you kidding? I’ve never driven in England. I’ll kill us both!” she said, covering her face and shaking her head back and forth. “Why can’t we just take a train?”

“We’ll need a car while we’re there, and besides, everyone has a first time.” Ana shot him a look he couldn’t quite decipher. Continuing to plead his case he said, “So don’t worry, you’ll have me guiding you. I’ll tell you which lane you should be in, how fast to go… you know … the basics. I promise to be patient.” She searched Ben’s face for a clue to his sincerity. He paused a moment before declaring, “If I’m not afraid, you shouldn’t be either.”

The period of silence continued, and Ben could almost see the wheels turning as Ana paced around the room, her expression a bit serious. Finally she spoke. “I guess that if I want to get my assignment done, I don’t have much choice,” she said, then added, “But you have to suffer through getting us out of the city. There’s no way I’m driving in London.”

Ben could tell by her tone that she was not looking forward to having another unexpected challenge foisted upon her by the man she just wanted to interview and be done with it. And as yet he hadn’t told her that she would be driving a powerful sports car. “So, are we on?” Ben asked, breaking into the most charming smile he could muster.

Ana sighed and slumped her shoulders before answering. “You have me in a corner, Mr. McKinnon. I guess I’m going sightseeing in the country.” She paused, obviously thinking of what should come next. “Now tell me, what kind of clothes are appropriate for being a guest at a country house?”

CHAPTER FIVE

Ben went down to the lobby while Ana busied herself making a few quick choices from her Spartan assortment of clothing. She had always prided herself on packing light, and lacking the drama and aftermath of an attempted kidnapping, most of her previous assignments had been completed in short order. As she piled things into her bag, she thought about what kind of impression she would make in general, appropriate clothing or not. Granted, the opinions of Ben’s family would be out of her control, but driving on the wrong side of the road and arriving in one piece was of greater concern. She slipped into her one pair of jeans and the black tee she had been talked into while sightseeing at the Tower of London. Some might have called it tacky, but she liked the bright colors in the screen-printed crown imbedded with fake jewels. The bold design spoke to her, some sort of message about the monarchy. Whether it was good or bad remained an unknown. Best-case scenario, Ben’s parents would see it as her homage to the queen, rather than an insult. She grabbed her own leather jacket out of the small closet then pulled the room’s door shut as she wheeled the suitcase out into the hall.

An older couple was waiting in front of the elevator and stepped in quickly when the doors opened. Ana hurried down the hall and called after them, “Hold the elevator, please. I’m in a terrible hurry.” The man managed to keep the doors open with his arm and nodded to her as she entered. The woman held her umbrella close to her body and stepped closer to her husband. She looked Ana up and down before turning away, nose in the air. Uppity cow, Ana thought.

The elevator stopped at the lobby, and before the doors had opened completely, she spotted Ben. He quickly subdued his laughter when he saw the tee shirt, causing her a moment of doubt that bordered on embarrassment. “Well, I thought the trip would be shorter than it’s turned out, and what little I brought was for business.” Continuing an unnecessary explanation regarding her wardrobe, Ana said, “The shirt is just a souvenir. Besides my raincoat and what I was wearing when we met, I’d only thrown in a pair of jeans, a jacket and a couple of sweaters. But I thought a sweater might be too hot for the drive. I run hot when I’m nervous,” she said, rambling on in defense her choice.

“It suits you. I like it. On you it’s more whimsical than tourist-y.”

“Nice recovery. I really have no illusions about its tastefulness. I just liked the colors. And when you only have one tee, black is better for spills. This is a lot