Chapter 1

He was tall and distinguished, though something about his expression told Eric this was a man with hidden depths. Perhaps it was the way his crystal blue eyes sparkled in the light of the hotel lobby, or the beguiling combination of silver hair and tanned skin. Or, even more intriguing, the way he sat in the chair by the reception counter as though waiting for someone, and how even those at the counter seemed not to notice him.

But he had noticed Eric.

Eric had arrived in the lobby by way of the great staircase, which occupied a generous amount of the available space. As he’d descended the carpeted stairs, he’d done a sweep of the lobby, scanning for familiar faces, of which there were none, but the young man on reception. Then, as his foot touched the floor at the base of the stairs, his eyes had fallen upon the distinguished-looking man, sitting in the chair.

He stopped where he stood, conspicuously drinking in this vision of masculinity before him, noticing in great detail every aspect of the man’s physical appearance. He was rendered momentarily stunned. He could no longer remember why he was in the lobby, nor did he care. Then, when he realised people were staring at him, just as he was staring at the man, he moved to the opposite side of the lobby and took a chair. He picked up a magazine and started flicking through it, unconcerned it contained nothing but young brides in ivory silk and the like.

After some few seconds had passed, he looked up, directing his attention to the man in the chair. That was when their eyes met.

The man smiled at him, his teeth perfect and the skin at the edge of his eyes wrinkling. A suave, sexy smile. Eric returned the greeting, prompting the man to rise from his chair and join him.

“Hello,” he said, his voice deep and masculine, just as Eric would have expected. “Is this seat taken?”

Eric didn’t bother to look where the man was gesturing. “No.”

“My name’s Jock,” said the man, extending his hand.

“Eric.”

They shook and Eric relaxed back into his chair.

“Are you a guest here?” asked Jock.

“Yes. And you?”

“I am. Don’t you just love sitting here people-watching? Tucked away. Unobtrusive. It’s amazing the things you see.”

“Like what, for example?”

“Why, there was a woman here a moment ago. Not a very pleasant person. She was giving the guy on reception quite a telling off about something. I wasn’t really listening. But while she was doing that, her two boys were taking turns grabbing handfuls of complimentary mints. What they couldn’t shove into their mouths, they pocketed.

“A while before that, two men with briefcases checked in. Nothing unusual about that, I thought. Probably here on a business trip. But it was interesting to see one squeeze the other one’s buttock when he thought no one was looking.”

“You must have a lot of those stories,” said Eric.

A young woman walked past, holding the hand of a little girl of about seven. The girl looked at Eric and pointed. She said something indistinguishable and her mother glanced in his direction before they hurried away. Thinking it was because he was still holding the August edition of Modern Bride, he tossed the magazine onto the coffee table.

“Perhaps we could go somewhere quieter,” suggested Jock. “Sorry, that sounded…”

Eric shook his head. “No, it didn’t sound…Where did you have in mind?”

“We could go for a walk. Find somewhere to have a coffee. Or, I have coffee in my room. Plus a fully-stocked mini bar, if it isn’t too early.” He glanced at the clock behind the reception desk and grinned. “Probably a bit early.”

Eric’s heart did a somersault. “Your room is closer.”

“My room it is then,” said Jock, standing.

Eric followed him to the lift, which arrived seconds after Jock had pressed the button for the fourth floor.

“The fourth floor?” said Eric. “You’re right below me.”

“You’re on the fifth floor?” asked Jock. “I thought they’d…after the…”

Just as the door was about to close, Eric noticed a middle-aged man marching purposefully towards them. He pressed the DOORS OPEN button and waited for him.

“Thanks a lot,” said the man, addressing his comment to Jock, which Eric thought a little rude, considering it had been his finger on the button. “They always seem to be closing on you, don’t they?”

Jock agreed. “It does seem that way.”

The doors closed and the men fell silent. Momentarily.

“Strange how people don’t talk in the lift, isn’t it?”

Jock smiled at the man. “I guess people feel it’s intimate enough, being in such a small, confined space with complete strangers.”

The man nodded. “You could have something there.”

The bell pinged for the third floor and the doors slid open.