By midday, I'd managed to strip all the beds and redress them. However, the pile of washing had grown to the size of Mount Everest and I still had to clean and hoover each room before the guests returned at teatime. How Joanna did this with a pair of toddlers at her feet I'd never know. What scared me more was that when she had her days off, Dad did all this on his own.

"Need some help?"

I spun around to see Luke smiling at me and glancing at the massive heap of sheets and pillowcases in the middle of the corridor.

"Why do I get the feeling you're enjoying this?" I said, smirking at him with my hands on my hips.

"I have no idea," he replied, smirking back. "You know there is a system to this."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Please do share."

"You do each room completely, one at a time. Otherwise this way, you're going into each room two or three times, once to do the beds, once to do the cleaning, once to hoover. And every room is in a mess. At least if you do it room by room, if the guests come back to a room you've not done yet, you can ask them to wait or give them the option to skip your services. This way, you've currently got thirty guests that can't go in their room."

Dawning realisation set in then and I felt like such an idiot. My cheeks heated up to a thousand degrees. "Why didn't I think of that?"

He grinned. "Because you're just following what made sense to you. There's nothing wrong in that."

"I've done bits and pieces before but never the whole hotel. Usually I'd follow Dad or Joanna around and they'd tell me what to do whilst they did something else."

"Well, now you're in charge. What would you like me to do?"

I hesitated. "You're being serious, aren't you? About helping me?"

He frowned. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I...I don't know. Um, would you mind taking this mound of washing downstairs please? Can you put a load on as well?" I suddenly realised then he may not be able to work a washing machine. "If you can't figure it out, I'll come down in a few minutes."

He tipped his head back and laughed. "Caitlyn, I can work a washing machine."

My cheeks now pulsing with heat, I giggled to ease my embarrassment. "Sorry."

"It's fine. I'll be back in two minutes and I'll follow you from room to room with the hoover whilst you clean. Or vice versa, whatever suits you best."

"Really? I'm sure Dad doesn't pay you to help me fix my screw ups."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I won't charge him for this, that wouldn't be fair."

My jaw dropped. "You're going to do this for free?"

"Of course. You need help."

I didn't know what to say other than, "Thank you so much."

"It's my pleasure," he said, scooping up an armful of sheets and heading downstairs.

Luke followed me from room to room, as he promised, hoovering intently as I polished the surfaces and cleaned the bathrooms. He even hoovered the corridors.

By the time I finished the last room on the top floor, I'd turned into nothing short of a sweaty sticky mess. I checked the time—four-thirty. How had I lost nearly five hours of my life? No wonder Joanna had no meat on her, doing this every day plus running around after her two girls. She had more of a workout than a gym session.

"Fancy a drink?" Luke said, putting the hoover away in the cupboard.

Each floor had its own cleaning closet which made life easier than hauling things up and down stairs.

I picked at my damp t shirt and said, "Think I need to change before I go anywhere."

He chuckled. "I meant a cold drink downstairs."

I covered my face with my hands and laughed. "Sorry, I don't know why I thought otherwise."

"Don't apologise. It's good to know you're open to the idea if I did ask," he replied, giving me a cheeky wink.

My heart stilled. A fresh bout of sweat broke out all over me. What? "I...I..."

"I'm messing with you, Caitlyn," he said, laughing. "Come on."

Feeling like an absolute fool, and my heart racing like a herd of galloping horses, I followed the hunky handyman downstairs to the kitchen. Sophie had set out a jug of orange squash filled with ice cubes on the kitchen table and a small selection of sandwiches.

"Ohhhh, Sophie, you absolute gem," I said, collapsing onto a chair and grabbing a cheese and coleslaw sandwich.

Luke went into the utility room and took the washing from the machine, put it in the tumble dryer, then put on the next load of washing. I found myself quite impressed with how domesticated he seemed.

"You didn't stop for lunch," Sophie said. "Tut tut."

I widened my eyes. "You mean Joanna has time to stop for lunch?"

Sophie grinned. "When she does things the right way," she said, giving Luke a wink as he came back into the kitchen.

They both laughed leaving me beetroot red. "I suppose you've told Dad as well?"

Luke shook his head. "He's been out doing the weekly supplies trip all day so you can have that pleasure yourself."

"Not sure I'd call it a pleasure," I muttered, pouring myself a glass of ice-cold squash.

They both chuckled as I munched on my sandwich.

"So how was last night?" Sophie said, sitting down next to Luke. "I forgot to ask this morning."

Luke gave me a curious glance. "Last night?"

"She had a hot date," Sophie said, nudging Luke's side. Wiggling her eyebrows, she said, "With England's most eligible bachelor. After you of course."

Luke chuckled. "Of course. So who is this tasty bachelor?"

I blushed. "Marcus Davenport."

Something in Luke's entire demeanour changed. The fun light air about him instantly switched to a dark cloud. His sparkling brown eyes glazed over with a distasteful glare.

"Marcus Davenport?" he said, his voice deep and commanding.

I nodded, quickly looking at Sophie who gave her shoulders a quick shrug. At least it wasn't just me who had noticed it.

"How did that happen? I thought he was away."

I tentatively replayed yesterday's situation to him, wondering what exactly the problem could be between the two men. "Is there a problem between you?"

Luke snorted. "We don't get along. I think he's a pompous, arrogant, fickle monster and he thinks I'm a worthless, rude, good for nothing."

My mouth fell wide open. "Monster? That's a pretty harsh word."

"Everyone has secrets, Caitlyn. Even the most noble of people, and they often have the dirtiest."

The atmosphere had taken an ominous turn and I suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. I finished my drink and said, "I need to take a shower and get ready for tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes," I said. "I'm going out."

"With him again?" Luke said, staring at me.

"Well, yeah."

"Can I ask why?"

I found his question odd but entertained him anyway. "He was a real gent last night, I like him, and I'd like to get to know him more."

Luke pressed his lips together and then let out a big sigh. "Just be careful, Caitlyn, please."

"Of course," I said, giving him a smile. I quickly looked over at Sophie and said, "Thanks for the drink and the sandwiches."

She smiled in return, an awkward silence settling in the room. I took that as my exit to leave and quickly escaped.

In the safety of my luxurious gold and cream bathroom, I ran myself a bubble bath, looking forward to sinking into the deep tub. Dad had purchased one longer, deeper, and wider than normal and I couldn't wait to try it out. I'd had a quick shower yesterday, the square cubicle absolutely humongous and the shower head absolutely perfect for pattern and pressure. Luke had done an amazing job with this place.

As the water rose and the bubbles became higher, I stripped off and jumped in, the water silky smooth after all the Radox I'd poured in. I realised then that I hadn't actually complimented him on his work. Maybe that would help his mood tomorrow.

I relaxed back as the hot water covered me up to my neck and sighed in contentment. Part of me wondered what Marcus would have in store for us tonight. No matter how much I tried though, I couldn't shake Luke's words from my thoughts.

Everyone has secrets, Caitlyn. Even the most noble of people, and they often have the dirtiest.