Chapter One

Ellie jumped as a horn blasted out behind her. Drat, the lights had turned green. As she took off the handbrake and slid into gear the horn blared again. Talk about impatient.

She pulled away, shooting a quick glance in the mirror at the car behind. A sleek silver Mercedes with a dark haired suited guy at the wheel. That figured. Some arrogant, aggressive businessman off to an important meeting no doubt, annoyed at losing a nanosecond because Ellie had been so busy worrying about her mum she hadn’t noticed the lights change.

Mum would be okay. She had to be. Ellie couldn’t lose her as well. The pain of her dad’s death two years ago was still pretty raw.

Ellie bit her lip as she recalled the phone call from Mandy just as she was about to leave for work that morning. She’d known as soon as she’d seen Mandy’s number flash up that something was wrong. Mandy was the receptionist at Gwel Teg, the small family hotel that had been Ellie’s home until she’d moved to the Midlands a few years ago, wanting more than the sleepy seaside town of Port Medden offered.

And to get away from Lee and Zoe’s betrayal.

“Mandy, is Mum okay?” she’d stammered anxiously.

“Now I don’t want you to worry dear …”

Ellie felt the colour drain from her face as she listened to Mandy tell her that her mum had been rushed into Truro hospital early that morning with a bad bout of pleurisy.

“Is she very ill? I’ll drive down straight away.” Ellie threw back the duvet and was out of bed in a shot.

“You mustn’t worry, she’ll be fine. You know how tough your mum is,” Mandy sounded reassuring. “Don’t get rushing, lovey. I don’t want you haring down the motorway and having an accident.”

“Do you have the phone number of the hospital? What ward is Mum in?”

Ellie grabbed a pen and scribbled the number down on the back of her hand, said goodbye to Mandy then telephoned the hospital.

“Mrs Truman is as comfortable as can be expected,” the nurse on the other end of the phone told her.

Which could mean just about anything. So Ellie had immediately packed a case, phoned up work and explained she needed to take a couple of days off – luckily, she was due to take her two weeks holiday on Monday - then set off for the long drive to Cornwall.

She should have visited more often, she reprimanded herself. Mum had sounded so tired the last few times she’d spoken to her, although she insisted she was fine. That’s why Ellie had planned to drive down to Cornwall tomorrow evening, straight after work, to spend her holiday helping out at Gwel Teg.

I should have realised it was too much for Mum. I should have gone back to live with her when Dad died.

She was here at last. Turning into the hospital car park, she looked for an empty space. Damn, there was only one place left and it was going to take some very careful reversing to get in to it. She gritted her teeth and manoeuvred very slowly.

It took three attempts but she finally squeezed into the narrow parking bay. She glanced over her shoulder half expecting to see Merc Guy watching in amusement but thankfully no one was around.

A few minutes later she was rushing into the hospital ward.

“Mrs Truman’s very poorly at the moment so don’t be too shocked how she looks,” the nurse on duty said when Ellie introduced herself. “She should pick up in a day or two though. We’re lucky we caught her in time.”

Ellie was shocked to see how pale and thin her mum was. She barely recognised the drained, gaunt face with dark shadows under sunken eyes, framed by short wispy dark hair streaked with grey – very unusual for her mum who reached for the bottle of hair colour at any sign of grey. Her cotton pyjamas hung loosely on her, emphasising her slender frame. She seemed so frail and fragile. And much weaker and older than she’d looked at Christmas, when Ellie had last seen her. That was six months ago, she scolded herself. She should have made the effort to come down more. After all, she was an only child and all the family Mum had left now.

“Hello, love.” Sue Truman smiled weakly. “You shouldn’t have rushed down to see me. You were coming down tomorrow evening, anyway.”

“I wanted to make sure you were all right,” Ellie said softly, sitting down besides the bed and gently squeezing her mum’s hand. “Mandy’s call gave me quite a scare.”

“I told her not to bother you,” Sue said. A harsh bout of coughing overcome her and she struggled to sit up. Ellie helped her, reaching over to plump up the pillows behind her mum’s back for support. “That’s a bad cough, Mum.”

Sue waved her hand dismissively. “I’m fine, dear,” she croaked, between coughs.” I’ll be out of here in no time.”

She didn’t look fine, Ellie thought worriedly. “You stay as long as you need, Mum. Just concentrate on getting better. I’ll look after the hotel,” she promised.

“Nonsense, dear. It’s your holiday…” Sue protested feebly.

“I’ve come down to look after you,” Ellie told her firmly. “And that’s what I’m going to do.”

She should never have left Mum to cope alone, Ellie thought as she headed off for Port Medden. She should have moved back in and helped.

The sun was out in force now so she was glad of her sunglasses to dull the glare. She wound down her window, loving the feel of the soft wind blowing through her hair as she drove along the winding country lanes, her foot hovering over the brake, ready to stop if something shot around the corner. The hedges were a riot of tiny purple and blue flowers, the air filled with birdsong. She felt her heart lift as the narrow lanes gave way to open fields scattered with grazing cows and frolicking sheep until finally she could see the sun dancing on the ocean in the distance.

You offered to move back in, Mum didn’t want you to, she reminded herself.

When Dad had died, Ellie had tried to persuade Mum to sell up and move to the Midlands, where she could keep an eye on her. But Sue had steadfastly refused. She loved Gwel Teg, it was her life, and kept her busy. “I don’t want to sit in a little bungalow twiddling my thumbs all day,” she said firmly. “Your dad and I spent some happy years here and I intend to keep the place up and running.”

Ellie’s offer to move in with her had also been stubbornly refused. “I’m not that old and doddering that I need my daughter to look after me!” Sue had retorted.

So, knowing that her mum loved the hotel, and thinking that maybe it was good for her to have a purpose in life – and to be honest not really wanting to live in the remote Cornish town again - Ellie had returned to her flat in the Midlands. She’d phoned her mum regularly and visited as much as she could - but not often enough by the look of things.

The insistent honking of a horn jolted her to the present. Drat, she’d been so preoccupied with her worries about Mum that she’d turned into Gwel Teg’s car park without noticing the car coming out. She frowned. It was that silver Merc again. The guy behind the wheel was impatiently gesturing her to move back, she held up her hand in apology and reversed to let him out. He threw her a cutting glance as he passed then shot off. Charming! I hope he isn’t staying at the hotel. An awkward customer was the last thing she needed.

“Ellie, lovey!” Mandy came around the front of the desk and gave Ellie a warm hug wrapped in her trademark Sexy Lady perfume. “Have you been to see your mum? How is she?”

Mandy had worked at the hotel so long she was more of a friend than an employee. With her bleached blonde hair, red lipstick and flamboyant clothes she was often taken for a bit of an airhead but she was a big-hearted woman who would help anyone.

“Recovering well the nurse said. But Mandy, she looks so weak, so tired.”

“Oh lovey. The hotel’s too much for her. I’ve been trying to get her to rest up a bit, but you know your mum, stubborn as a mule.” Mandy’s heavily mascaraed eyes were full of concern. “I help her a much as I can but…”

Ellie nodded. “I know. I should have come down more often. I could have helped at weekends.”

Mandy wagged a finger at her. “Now don’t you start guilt-tripping yourself. You’ve got work and your own life, you can’t make a trip from the Midlands every weekend.” She stepped back and cast her eyes over Ellie’s face. “You look tired. It’s been a long journey for you. Why don’t you go and freshen up and have something to eat? I can hold the fort here a bit longer.”

A freshen up and cup of coffee was exactly what she needed. “Thanks, Mandy. When’s Susie due to take over?”

“Susie left a couple of months ago, lovey. Me and your mum manage the reception between us now.”

That surprised her. Mum had always hired two receptionists and helped out herself when necessary. Why hadn’t she replaced Susie?

And that meant Mandy had been looking after reception since she’d phoned this morning so must have already completed her shift. “Then it’s time you went home. Give me half an hour and I’ll take over from you,” she promised.

“Take your time, there’s no rush,” Mandy replied but Ellie was already wheeling her suitcase over to the door that led to the private quarters.

The previous owners had converted the left wing of the hotel into an apartment for their personal use, so that’s where Ellie and her parents lived. It was bright, airy and spacious. There was a dining kitchen, lounge and two bedrooms, one of them an ensuite, a bathroom and an attic room with an ensuite - which Ellie had fallen in love with as soon as she’d seen it and immediately claimed as hers. She’d adored the sloping roof, the white shutters on the window, and best of all the view over the rooftops to the beach.

The name Gwel Teg – Cornish for ‘beautiful view’ - suited the hotel. The view from the back was breath-taking, stretching over the cobbled streets of the quaint former fishing town right down to the beach and harbour. Situated about halfway up the hill, with a side-view over to the shops and main beach, on a clear day like today the hotel had far-reaching views over the ocean. How Ellie used to love to sit on the seat her dad had made her under the window and watch the big ships on the horizon, trying to guess what country they were heading for, and dreaming of sailing off to see the world herself one day. Ellie’s room was just as she left it when she’d moved out six years ago. Mum cleaned it, of course, and put fresh bedding on every time Ellie came to stay but the contents remained untouched. The soft toys from Ellie’s childhood sat on a shelf across the far wall, her shell collection still cluttered the windowsill and her dreamcatcher fluttered at the window. The only things she’d taken with her were her clothes and laptop. Gradually she’d started to leave a basic collection of clothes, jeans, tee shirts, summer dresses, jumpers and underwear in the wardrobe for emergency supplies if she came down and stayed longer than she intended.

She walked over to the window and looked out over the rooftops at the harbour, flanked on one side by huge cliffs where a smattering of whitewashed houses nestled. A couple of colourful boats were moored next to the jetty, swaying slightly on the rippling sea. Alongside it was the soft golden sands of the town beach, popular with holidaymakers and tourists who just wanted a quick paddle, or half hour in the sun. Opening the window, she leaned out and inhaled the salty sea air. It was good to be home. She loved Cornwall. Always had from the moment they had moved down here when she was six years old. She probably would never have left if it hadn’t been for Lee. Lee and Zoe. The two people she had been closest to, trusted. Her two best friends. So she’d thought.

She shrugged. That was years ago. History. She’d moved on since then made a new life for herself. One that she enjoyed.

She showered, changed into a cool lemon cotton dress, tied her long, chestnut brown hair off her face, replaced her prescription sunglasses with contact lenses then went down to the kitchen to make herself a much needed coffee and sandwich. Exactly half an hour later she joined Mandy at the reception desk, taking her unfinished coffee with her. “Thanks for holding the fort, Mandy. I owe you one. Come in a bit later in the morning to make up for the extra time you’ve worked.”

The older woman shook her head. “I will not. You need all the help you can get while Sue’s ill. I’ll be in for the first shift.” She pointed to the notebook. “I’ve left you a couple of messages and the bookings are all up to date but phone me if you need me. Anytime.”

“Thank you. I will. Now go home!” Ellie told her firmly.

Mandy grabbed her bag. “I’m out of here. It’s all yours.”

Ellie placed her coffee on the shelf, away from the computer, and sat on the comfy red swivel chair. She selected the admin file and entered the password - knowing that Mum always kept to the same one because she was scared of forgetting it - anxious to check the books and find out how the hotel was doing. She’d already clocked that the curtains and cushion covers in the foyer looked faded and the windows needed a clean. Not at all like her mum who always prided herself on keeping Gwel Teg immaculate. That, and the reduction in staff was triggering alarm bells in Ellie’s mind.

“Excuse me.”

The man’s voice made her jolt. Ellie tore her eyes away from the figures on the computer screen and looked up, straight into a pair of deep grey eyes set in a ruggedly handsome face topped by chocolate-brown hair. Very nice. It took her a few seconds to realise that it was Merc Guy, now wearing a black tee shirt and jeans, and to notice the angry set of his jaw and the frown lines in the middle of his thick eyebrows. He was staying here then. Great. An unhappy customer was all she needed. She just hoped he didn’t recognise her from this afternoon when he was blasting his horn at her. Thank goodness she’d been wearing sunglasses.

She fixed a pleasant smile on her face. “Can I help you?”

“The shower isn’t working in my room and I have an important business meeting in less than an hour,” he informed her curtly. “So will you either arrange for it to be fixed immediately or provide me with the use of a shower in another room?”

Great. Problems already.

“Did you hear what I said? I haven’t time to waste. I have an important meeting to go to.”

The man’s abrupt tone annoyed her but she kept calm. “Of course, Mr...er...” she glanced at the hotel register for the man`s name.

“Mitchell.” He supplied. “Reece Mitchell. I arrived earlier today. And I’m in a hurry.”

Yes, I got that. A quick glance at the register told her that Reece Mitchell was in Room 12. Luckily the room next to him was empty and there was a connecting door between the rooms. Problem solved.

“I do apologise, Mr Mitchell. I’ll get it sorted for you today. Meanwhile, please use the shower in the room next to you. It’s vacant at the moment and you can access it through a connecting door.” She reached for the key and handed it to him. “I’m very sorry for the inconvenience. Would you mind popping the key back on your way out?”

He didn’t look too pleased. “Well, I guess it will have to do. I must say this hotel isn’t what I’d expected. I’m surprised you do any business at all.” He almost snatched the key out of her hand.

She swallowed the angry retort that sprung to her mouth reminding herself of Mum’s mantra that the customer was always right. And if they weren’t you didn’t tell them so. She watched, fuming, as Reece Mitchell stormed off.

What an arrogant man!