Page 11 of The Hidden Daughter (The Lost Daughters #7)

Daniel grinned. ‘Tell me about it. I feel like I’ve barely slept this past year, especially now that we’re almost at the end.’

‘Is it more nerve-racking coming up with the initial design, or imagining people walking through the completed project?’

‘Definitely the latter. My anxiety starts to rise from the day construction starts,’ he said, as they began to walk again. ‘You?’

‘The menu creation is when I’m at my happiest, but watching someone eat my food is by far the scariest part of my job,’ she said.

‘I mean, I’m always confident with my flavours, and I’m much more so now than I was earlier in my career, but there’s always that moment of hoping others can understand what I’ve tried to create. ’

‘Who would have thought that a chef and an architect would have so much in common?’

Daniel caught her eye, and she couldn’t help but smile. He certainly wasn’t wrong. Over the next thirty minutes, they toured the first few floors of the hotel, and by the time they came back down in the lift to the lobby, she’d gone from impressed to absolutely in awe of his design.

‘You deserve every accolade,’ she said as they strolled slowly across the polished tiles to the door. ‘It’s absolutely stunning. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a hotel like it.’

Harrison held open the door for her, his expression telling her that he most definitely wasn’t comfortable with the praise. ‘Thank you. I’m relieved you like it.’

‘You don’t know of the closest place to get a coffee, do you?’ Charlotte asked, glancing back at him before stepping through. ‘It’s been a long day already, and I think I’ll have to break my rule of not drinking caffeine in the afternoon.’

‘It just so happens I do,’ he said. ‘Come with me, I’ll take you there.’

‘I don’t want to be an imposition, you could just point me—’

‘Not a chance. I have back-to-back meetings all afternoon, and trust me when I say I could use the fresh air and the caffeine.’

They walked down the street, sunshine making it seem warmer than it was, until they reached a small café that hadn’t been there the last time Charlotte was in the city.

And after they’d ordered, they stood near the counter and waited, making small talk, until their names were called.

Charlotte almost wished they hadn’t ordered takeout cups so they could have stretched out their time together longer.

‘Well, I’d better head back to the hotel,’ Harrison said, turning to her as they stood on the footpath, ready to go their separate ways.

‘But it was a lovely surprise meeting you today, Charlotte. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I hope you take the job.

Daniel’s right, I have a feeling you’d be perfect for it. ’

‘Did he plan this? For you to show me around, impress me with the hotel, and then convince me to say yes to him? I’m starting to feel like this was a set-up.’

‘I promise you, it wasn’t planned, but if it helped to get you across the line…’

He smiled and took a sip of his coffee, and she suddenly had an idea.

‘Harrison, may I cook for you?’ Charlotte asked. ‘If I’m going to seriously consider this offer, I need someone who’s not my grandmother to taste my new recipes and provide honest feedback before I make my decision on Friday. I want to work in the kitchen first.’

‘I don’t know if I’m qualified to—’

‘You’re the type of clientele who’ll be staying here, not to mention you’re the visionary for this entire hotel. You’re the perfect test subject.’

Harrison’s eyes met hers, and she suddenly wasn’t sure whether she was asking him from a professional connection, or because she just didn’t want their time together to end. Not that she’d ever admit to the latter.

‘What do you say?’

‘Well, when you put it like that…’ He laughed. ‘Yes. Daniel would kill me if I said no, and I’m also incredibly curious to see what you have planned.’

Charlotte grinned. ‘See you at the hotel kitchen tomorrow then? Early evening? Pending Daniel’s approval to use the space, of course.’

‘I’ll be there.’ He went to turn, one hand casually pushed into his jeans pocket, before looking back at her. ‘It was really nice to meet you, Charlotte.’

His smile made her heart flutter a little, but before she had time to respond, he was walking away and she was left standing in the street, staring up at the incredible hotel he’d designed and wondering what she’d been thinking, offering to cook for him.

Just admit you wanted to see him again.

She took a sip of coffee and lifted her face to the sun, feeling happier and more content than she had in a long time. Perhaps coming home wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

Perhaps this is where I’m supposed to be; I was just too stubborn to see what was right in front of me.

Or maybe it was something different. Maybe she was simply ready to show her home city what she’d learnt, to give back to the place that had still been her home even when she’d tried to pretend that it wasn’t.

And even though she had no intention of telling Daniel until she’d had time to think about it, Charlotte already knew the decision she was going to make.