A Perfect Paris Christmas - Mandy Baggot Page 0,125

about having the cleanest contemporary lines or the most expensive champagne on the menu, it is about the individual. People. People are what matter.’

‘Ethan… I don’t know what to say. I—’

‘Say you will help me,’ he asked her. ‘Because this… this is what you are naturally good at. Amazingly good at.’

He watched Keeley’s eyes move from his and his gaze moved too, looking around at the room he had entirely made over today in a style she had brought him to. A style that said ‘home’. A style that he hoped had ‘comfortable’ written all the way through it.

‘This is beautiful,’ Keeley breathed. ‘It really is.’

Ethan could see the sheer wonder in her eyes now and it was bringing out every internal reaction he owned. He wanted to please her. He wanted to make her smile so he could indulge in looking at the cutest of dimples that appeared on her face when she did.

‘But it could be better,’ he said quickly, wanting still to elaborate. ‘With your help it could be so much more, I know it.’ He put a hand to his chest then. ‘I feel it.’

‘You want me to help you re-model this hotel?’ Keeley asked him as if only now realising what he had meant.

‘Not just this hotel,’ Ethan said. ‘All of them.’ He tried to temper his enthusiasm just a little. It was a big ask, he knew. But he had never wanted anyone’s answer to be yes so much.

‘I—’ Keeley began.

‘Don’t say no,’ Ethan said, his words jumping in. ‘Please, take your time before you give me an answer but please, do not say no. Not yet.’

‘Ethan, I don’t know what to say.’

‘Do not say anything,’ he pleaded. He knew she was not here for very long, but he also knew he wanted that to change. He hadn’t completely thought through the logistics of it, but there was only a tunnel separating them and hopefully no tight border restrictions in their future. It could be done, couldn’t it? ‘Maybe only tell me now… that you like the beginnings of what I have done. Tell me that you do not think my new vision is completely off the mark.’

‘Ethan, it’s completely perfect, it really really is. And, no one has ever… listened to me and… done something like this. I mean, in my job I would provide detailed ideas and swatches of fabrics and mood boards but…’

‘Your words gave me a mood board all on their own,’ Ethan told her.

‘It reminds me of Christmas at my Grandma Joan’s but with… much better decorations and none of the awful liqueur chocolates,’ Keeley said. ‘Or one of those beautiful log cabin hideaways you could be tucked away in when it’s snowing outside on the mountain.’

She sounded so enthralled and her expression was telling him everything else he needed to know. Except he didn’t really need Keeley to tell him he had got this right. He’d known he had succeeded because when he had stood back and admired for himself before they had met up tonight, he had felt it was right. And that feeling, that utter joyous, riotous feeling was still very much running through him now.

He held her hands again, joining them together as the fire crackled and popped and the festive music sang of cold winter nights and starlit skies. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on. But what attracted him even more was the fact she was just as stunning on the inside.

‘Keeley,’ he breathed, his face moving towards hers.

‘Ethan,’ she answered, her lips dwelling a little on his name.

He was going to kiss her now and he wanted to carry on kissing her for the longest time…

‘Woof!’

Before Ethan could connect their lips, a brown wiry four-legged creature bounded into the snug and began leaping up at Keeley.

‘Oh! Bo-Bo!’ Keeley exclaimed, trying to pet the dog but also looking like she was trying to stop his claws grazing her legs.

‘Down Bo-Bo!’ Ethan ordered. He looked to the door, a little unhappy that their moment had been interrupted. But then he saw Jeanne. He swallowed and instantly his mood lightened. She was finally wearing one of the tops he had bought her and some jeans that actually fitted her frame. Completing the picture of alteration was the fact that her long dark hair was down and brushed and it was not covered by a hat.

‘Jeanne,’ Keeley breathed. ‘I… didn’t realise you were here.’ Bo-Bo started turning happy circles, his loud