"That's not the way it is at all!" she spluttered finally.
But it seemed his mind was already made up. "I think that's exactly the way it is. I would have thought after the past week we've spent together, you would have seen how I operate and had a little more respect for me than that, but you obviously think I'm wasting everybody's time. Well, don't worry, I shan't waste any more of yours. I may not even bother to waste any of Senhor Silva's!"
He yanked the door open but before he could stalk through it, Laura had grabbed it from him and slammed it shut again. She stood in front of it, her arms folded across her chest. No way was she having this row in public.
"You've got it all wrong," she told him. "You have no right to make assumptions about me or my actions. And don't you dare presume to read my mind!" Even as she said it, she thanked the stars that wasn't possible. "I didn't say anything to Maria because I know how much she worries about the business, but she doesn't deal with it. Paulo does. I already told you that. Why involve her in something she can't do anything about? You said yourself you didn't need to speak to her. That you'd wait to speak to Paulo."
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "That's true, but I was talking in terms of full-on business discussions. I had no idea you didn't care enough to even mention it to the family in passing!"
"I've just told you why I didn't. Besides, you didn't bother to tell me whether you were still playing the mystery shopper." When he continued to glare at her, she unfolded her arms and banged her fist against the door in pure frustration. "This has nothing to do with what I think about you or your wretched company!"
"Are you going to let me out of here or shall I move you bodily aside?" was his only response.
Her anger spent, Laura moved. "You're in the wrong, Daniel," she told him quietly as he reached for the door. "And if you had any decency, you'd admit it instead of being such an arrogant know-all."
His answer was a slam of the door that made the windows rattle.
She waited several minutes for him to get well out of the way before going to her room. No one could make her lose her temper as quickly as he could. How could she even contemplate being in love with him when he thought so little of her that he could form such a quick opinion, and a low one at that? He'd been pretty good at that his first week here, but Laura had thought once they'd become friends, she'd put a stop to all that. It seemed he was always going to put his business first and be bad-tempered about it.
Well, he was leaving tomorrow and then she wouldn't have to worry what he thought about her, would she?
Back in her room, she changed and got ready to go back up to reception. All her energy had been sapped by the negative anger she felt. She couldn't even be bothered to fix up her hair, but brushed the thick chestnut waves to hang loosely over her shoulders instead.
****
Daniel appeared in the doorway as Laura was showing a final guest the best route to take back to the airport. The sight of his tall figure, handsome in a soft sweater and dark jeans, took her breath away despite her lingering fury with him, and she stammered her way through the rest of the directions in a haze. Daniel moved out of the way as the guest thanked her and left, then came in, closing the door behind him.
"Do you have a secret admirer?" He pointed to a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers on her desk.
Laura shook her head, trying not to interpret his expression the way she wanted to, not daring to believe it might be one of jealousy.
"No. Not secret, anyway. They're thank-you gifts from guests who are leaving tomorrow," she told him curtly.
"I'm surprised Paulo doesn't try to persuade you to work here full time," he said gently. "You seem to be popular with the guests."
"With most of them, yes."
Daniel nodded. "You are with me, too. It's just that I've been too busy or tired, or maybe too stupid, to notice it half the time. This trip . . . I had a lot of work to get through. I'd only just got back from my last trip and I was still tired from that. I hadn't expected the owners to be away . . . and I didn't expect or want any distractions." He shrugged. "A whole list of excuses, I know, but they've all added up to make me say things I shouldn't have. Things I'm sorry for. I am sorry, Laura."
He smiled apologetically, and her heart melted. It seemed he'd listened to her rant after all, and now he was making an effort to eat humble pie, although she doubted he'd had much practice in the past.
"You have jumped to some pretty outrageous conclusions about me," she grumbled half-heartedly.
Daniel raised a quizzical eyebrow. "And you haven't about me? You assumed I was ruthless and heartless in business. You thought I was out to seduce a teenage girl." When Laura looked sheepish, he said quietly, "And you're such a lovely distraction. Will you come out with me tonight?"
"Yes," she answered simply. How could she not? It would be bittersweet to spend the evening with him, knowing he was leaving tomorrow and most likely she would never see him again, but it would be worse if they parted on angry or awkward terms. At least this way she might have some pleasant memories to see her through the first few miserable weeks back home while she got over him. And get over him she would.
Forcing a smile on her face, she picked up her
