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"No. And even if you were, I couldn't care less." Carter looked at me seriously. "I love you, Isabella Abbott."
I swallowed. "I love you too," I whispered.
And then Carter did exactly what I had secretly wished for during our first encounter a few weeks ago.
He simply kissed me right in the middle of the street.
Chapter 34 ~ Isabella and Carter ~
One year later
Isabella
I carefully adjusted the flowers in the arrangement on the counter.
"You always have such beautiful decorations, Ms. Abbott. And a green thumb that's second to none." The guest who spoke these words was just coming down the stairs and handed me his key. "I've already told my wife that she needs to come here with me sometime so she can see how wonderfully green and blooming everything is here."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Michaels," I replied with a smile. "Of course, we would be delighted to welcome your wife here as well."
"I always sayIsabella'sis simply the best place in New York. Even on business trips, I feel at home here."
"We're very glad to hear that, Mr. Michaels," I replied and carefully stored the key in one of the small compartments behind the reception. There weren't many, as we only had ten rooms. Ten exclusive, beautifully designed rooms that felt like home.
"About a year ago, I stayed once at that hotel on Crosby Street. Five stars. But they don't live up to their reputation at all. Unfriendly staff. An owner who doesn't invest." Mr. Michaels shook his head in disbelief.
Crosby Street. I thought of my former colleagues, my former boss Emmett Kershaw, and wasn't surprised that no one felt comfortable in his hotel. It made it all the more pleasant to welcome these guests here atIsabella'snow.
"Until next time then," Mr. Michaels said goodbye and headed for the door.
Isabella'shadn't been around for very long, yet it already felt like an eternity to me. My dream had finally come true. With Carter's support, I had bought a small townhouse and transformed it into a very special boutique hotel, where my guests received personal attention and had an unforgettable stay in New York. By now, we welcomed not only tourists but also business travelers.
"Isabella's green thumb," Hayley giggled from the next room. "If Mr. Michaels knew what it was like just a year ago... Every plant entrusted to you would die after a few days."
"So what? It's about what you learn, not what you already know." I laughed, turned around and looked from the door behind the reception into the adjacent room. Hayley had been with me from the start as my employee atIsabella's. She was currently creating the room schedule for next week.
"True." She furrowed her brow. "Next week we're fully booked again. And the week after that too. We should expand."
"No thanks," I declined with a laugh. "I'm glad the renovation is finally over. It really kept me busy and tested my nerves."
"Daaaaaaa....", came a sound. I hurried to the baby rocker next to Hayley. In it lay William. My son. My chubby-cheeked, cuddly, dearest son. I looked at him proudly.
"Daaaaa...." William blew a few little bubbles into the air.
I picked him up in my arms. "Yes, you're right, you should be part of what's happening here and not just lie in your rocker. Come to your Mommy." I tickledWilliam's little tummy and was rewarded with more bubbles and a delighted gurgle. I tenderly kissed my son on the cheek and inhaled his wonderful baby scent.
"Getting this little house was really a stroke of luck." Hayley looked around in her office.
"Absolutely," I confirmed. With a mischievous giggle, I added: "And the fact that we snatched it from under Owen's nose, who wanted to open one of those smoky arcades here, was somehow the icing on the cake. Seeing him when the realtor gave us the go-ahead ... Simply divine."
"What became of Owen?" Hayley asked.
"No idea." I shrugged. "We're not in touch anymore. As far as I know, he left New York and now lives somewhere in the countryside in Nebraska. They probably have more use for arcades there. And even if not: Nobody knows him there, so he'll have to earn his bad reputation from scratch." I made a face. The whole thing with Owen was so far in the past that I sometimes wondered if he had ever really existed.
"I'm just going to pop over to the small hardware store." Hayley stood up. "All the guests have checked out, so you'll be fine on your own for fifteen minutes, right?"
"Of course I'll be fine." I sent a questioning look in Hayley's direction. "Why do you need to go over there? Do we need something? Is something broken?"
Hayley waved it off. "Just a light bulb in Room 9 that urgently needs replacing. We don't have anything suitable left in the back storage."