Wilder, Lauren - Her Heart's Desire [Highcroft Saga 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lauren Wilder

  Marisa took a deep breath and stood up. She walked to the window and gazed out. After a moment, she turned around and smiled for the first time in a week.

  ‘I’m going to do it. I’m applying for the job. I could go to England. I can do that. I would forget about that dirty cheater in no time.’

  ‘Yay, that’s the spirit!’ Melanie cheered. ‘Now, let’s have a drink and write the application letter.’

  After several glasses of red wine, Marisa read the final draft of her application letter and asked Melanie to check it.

  ‘Yep, that’s good, really good. Professional, but friendly, and it has a really good tone.’

  ‘Okay, here it goes.’ Marisa hit the send tab.

  ‘Oh, my God, Marisa, you could be in England this time next month!’ Melanie shrieked.

  ‘I know...’ Marisa bit her lip, feeling overwhelmed but excited.

  * * * *

  Marisa was amazed to receive an email the next day, calling her to an interview in the Plaza hotel to meet her potential boss, a transatlantic businessman and a Lord nonetheless.

  ‘He is an aristocrat; I can’t believe it. Lord James St. John, what a mouthful!’ Marisa read the letter out to her enthralled sister.

  ‘Wow, that’s amazing, a real Lord,’ said Melanie, looking wide-eyed.

  ‘Oh, God, I have to get ready; they want me there at four o’clock today.’ Marisa ran to her room and rummaged in the wardrobe.

  ‘Did you get all my clothes from Mike’s? Where did you put my blue suit?’ she asked Melanie.

  ‘Should be in there, hon. I hung everything up.’ Melanie came to help her. ‘Here it is.’ She pulled out the elegant skirt suit..

  ‘Great, I’ll go and shower. I’ve got an hour to get ready. I‘ll have to leave by three, don‘t want to rush and be a sweaty beast by the time I arrive.’ She paused. ‘Oh, to hell with it, I‘ll take a cab. The subway’s no way to arrive in Fifth Avenue.’

  Melanie clapped her hands and giggled. ‘I’m going to Google him. I want to see a picture of him, probably a grumpy old dude.’ She dashed to the lounge.

  Marisa showered and dressed. Looking at her reflection in the full-length mirror, she smoothed her skirt down and adjusted her jacket. She felt really nervous.

  ‘Do my tits look too big in this?’ she asked.

  Melanie looked away from the computer and rolled her eyes.

  ‘Don’t say tits in the interview, honey, please.’

  ‘Doh, of course I won’t! Did you find anything exciting?’

  ‘There’s no photo of him, but Jesus, Highcroft house is amazing! It says here it has twenty-five bedrooms. That’s not a house, it’s a freaking hotel,’ Melanie said.

  ‘Ooh, let me see.’ Marisa leaned over her sister’s shoulder, staring at the screen, wide-eyed. She was overwhelmed by the sight of the beautiful Georgian mansion set in sprawling, manicured grounds.

  ‘Oh, my God, it’s huge.’

  ‘It’s fabulous, I hope you get the job, I would love to come and visit you there! As long as you don’t have to clean the place, I’m not helping you do that.’

  ‘Don’t be insane; I won’t have to clean it. No, there will probably be cleaners, maids and cooks, a housekeeper, maybe even a butler.’

  ‘A butler?—No way!’

  ‘Yes, they all have butlers in big grand houses.’ Marisa giggled as she surveyed her appearance in the full-length mirror.

  ‘Will I do?’ she asked.

  ‘Oh, yes, you will do very well, Miss,’ Melanie said in a posh English accent.

  ‘Go get ’em, kid.’

  * * * *

  Marisa entered the grand lobby of the Plaza hotel and checked in at reception. The concierge directed her to the Oak Bar and told her to wait. She walked into the opulent grandeur of the vast Edwardian Art Deco room, gazing at the giant murals of central park covering the walls.

  She sat down at a table with vibrant views overlooking Central Park and waited nervously. Marisa felt uncomfortable and out of place. She was a country girl born and bred in Texas. She was used to hanging out in fancy New York bars, and she had worked in some of the plushest corporate offices in Manhattan but had never been inside anything like the Plaza before.

  Oh, well, if I get the job, I’ll have to get used to surroundings like these, she thought.

  She composed herself, anxious to make the best impression possible. She really wanted this; she needed the fresh start, the challenge. She needed to forget Mike.

  ‘Marisa Lowell?’ A severe-looking woman Marisa guessed to be in her early forties arrived at her table.

  ‘Yes, I’m Marisa, hello.’

  She stood and took a step towards the formally dressed woman, her hand outstretched, and the woman grasped it, shaking it firmly. Marisa flinched, surprised by its coldness.

  ‘I’m Mrs. Reed, Lord St. John’s housekeeper and governess to his children. Please follow me.’ Marisa followed the woman towards the elevators.

  They ascended to the ninth floor in silence. Marisa followed Mrs. Reed along the luxurious hallway towards a large door at the far end.

  ‘Lord St. John’s Suite,’ Mrs. Reed said as she knocked on the door lightly before opening it.

  A strikingly handsome, dark-haired man stood from behind the desk as they entered. He was at least six-foot-two, his legs long and strong in beige chinos. He wore a smart, blue check shirt, gold cufflinks glinted at his wrists. His tie was silk, a beautiful shade of royal navy, and it matched his eyes perfectly. His startling deep blue eyes, fringed with heavy dark lashes, the most amazing eyes she had ever seen in her life. Wow!

  Marisa was stunned; she hadn’t even considered he would be young and handsome.

  He smiled, and it nearly finished her off. He was so sexy it made her tremble. His teeth were pearly white and perfect. He was hot, he was masculine perfection.

  She sucked her breath in as he strode towards her and thrust out his hand to greet her.

  ‘Hello, Miss Lowell, I’m James St. John, very pleased to meet you,’ he said, fixing her with his eyes. Marisa stared into them. She felt as though she were falling, such was the powerful effect he was having on her.

  He flashed her a heart-stopping, sexy grin as he took her hand and shook it. His skin was soft and his grasp strong and firm. Everything about the man was gorgeous.

  Marisa felt herself blushing furiously, her cheeks hot. His voice caressed her ears, so deep and masculine, and that English accent, wow. ‘Oh, my,’ Marisa murmured.

  ‘Excuse me?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh, nothing,’ Marisa quickly said. ‘I mean, I’m very pleased to meet you. Thanks for seeing me today. I love England.’

  Marisa cringed. Did she really just say that? Mrs. Reed snorted. James St. John frowned at her then smiled again at Marisa.

  ‘Please take a seat, Miss Lowell.’ He gestured towards the elegant mahogany and silk chair opposite the desk.

  Marisa was unnerved by Mrs. Reed’s rudeness. She couldn’t believe the woman actually snorted at her.

  ‘What I mean, Lord St. John, is I applied for the job because I have the necessary qualifications, of course; I am also looking for a challenge, and I would love the opportunity to work in England.’

  ‘That’s good to know, Miss Lowell. I am looking for someone adaptable, keen to muck in, and happy to live in England for much of the year,’ he said.

  ‘Oh, yes. I would be very happy to live in England. I am a team player and happy to help out wherever necessary, but I, er… don’t clean.’

  ‘You won’t be required to clean, Miss Lowell. We have a full staff at the house,’ Lord St. James said gently.

  Mrs. Reed rolled her eyes and tutted.

  ‘Oh, yes, of course,’ Marisa said, looking down at the floor.

  ‘I have looked over your references, and I was very impressed. You spent two years at First National Bank of Manhattan?’

  ‘Yes, a year in derivatives as a float and more recently as PA to the private
equities team.’ She finished her pitch and looked at him expectantly, trying not to stare.

  He smiled at her again, and she wished he would stop it. He was just too damn good-looking.

  ‘Very good, Miss Lowell, I am looking for someone with experience in the financial sector. I split my time between the estate office and a small office in the city of London. You will sometimes be required to work from there; I may also require you to hold the fort when I am otherwise disposed. Would that be challenging enough for you?’

  ‘Yes, I am very happy to work on my own and would be confident to act on your behalf when necessary, Lord St. John.’ Marisa replied confidently, looking at his mouth to avoid his mesmerizing eyes. Jeez, he’s got a beautiful mouth, she thought.

  ‘Fantastic. I’m sure you’ll do just fine. As for Highcroft estate, Mrs. Reed here will fill you in on everything you need to know.’

  ‘Okay, that’s—er, great.’ Her head was spinning. Was he offering her the job, just like that?’

  ‘Very good, welcome onboard,’ he said, rising from the desk. He offered his hand again, signalling the end of his interview.

  ‘Oh, er, when would you want me to start?’ Marisa said, shaking his hand. God, it’s so soft, she thought.

  ‘As soon as you can get away, Miss Lowell. I leave for London in the morning. If you accept the post, and I very much hope that you do, you will follow as soon as possible. Mrs. Reed will fill you in on the incidentals, salary, and all that.’

  He nodded to Mrs. Reed and strode confidently out of the room, answering his mobile as he went.

  Marisa was aghast. This was the weirdest job interview she had ever had. Just like that, the job’s hers? She sat down, trying to digest it all.

  Mrs. Reed cleared her throat. ‘Now then, Miss Lowell, a few things you ought to know before you take the post. Firstly, there is no Lady St. John. Lord St. John is divorced. We don’t talk about that, and we do not behave in a familiar manner towards the master.’ She stared at Marisa and paused. ‘Is that clear to you, Miss Lowell?’

  Marisa practically choked on the implication. ‘Yes, that’s very clear, Mrs. Reed.’

  ‘Good, the master entertains no nonsense, especially at Highcroft. When he is in residence, he demands absolute discretion and peace and quiet. You will be expected to maintain his private office and arrange any formal dinners and travel for Lord St. John and his immediate family. The children are looked after by me, and you will not be required to assist with their care.’

  ‘Oh, the children live with Lord, er, Mr. St. John...er, the Master?’ Marisa said, stumbling over her words, trying to find the right ones to meet Mrs. Reed’s approval.

  ‘The children split their time between school, Highcroft, and their mother’s home in London. They are boarding during term time, and when at Highcroft, they are my concern. You will not be required to be involved with the children whatsoever.’

  Mrs. Reed pushed the contract towards her.

  ‘Here, read this. If it’s satisfactory, sign it and I will proceed with your travel and visa arrangements.’

  Marisa looked it over quickly and upon seeing the salary on offer, gulped and signed it before the offer could be retracted.

  ‘Very well, Miss Lowell, welcome to the St. John Company,’ she said, offering her hand. ‘I will notify you when your paperwork is completed at the embassy. Please fill in all the forms and leave them for my attention at reception.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Marisa said, shaking Mrs. Reed’s hand.

  She handed Marisa an envelope bulging with forms.

  ‘That’s all for now, Miss Lowell. Please await my call and be ready to travel within the week.’

  Mrs. Reed turned to her laptop and began tapping away. Marisa felt well and truly dismissed.

  She returned to the Oak Bar, wondering how much a cosmopolitan would cost. Too scared to ask, she completed the paperwork quickly and handed it in at reception. She crossed over and wandered towards Fifth Avenue’s subway in a daze.

  Her head was spinning with questions she forgot to ask, especially the one that niggled at her the most. What happened to the last PA and why the immediate urgency to find another one?

  * * * *

  As her departure date approached, Marisa kept busy tying up loose ends. She emailed her resignation letter to First National’s human resources department, apologizing for the short notice, citing personal reasons for her decision not to return to work. She told them she would pick her stuff up at a later date.

  Shelly had promised to pack her desk up and store her things safely in the office. She couldn’t face going back to get them herself in case she saw Adrianne.

  ‘Did Adrianne ring again?’ she asked her sister.

  ‘Yeah, I told her she was wasting her time. She’s got some nerve even ringing here.’

  ‘Oh, well, I won’t have to see her again. At least Mike seems to have got the message at last.’

  ‘Yup, that dog is well gone. I can’t believe you gave two years of your life to him.’

  ‘Okay, okay, let’s not go over that again, Mel,’ Marisa said, cutting her sister short.

  ‘Sure, sorry, hon. Onwards and upwards.’

  ‘Well, off to the airport in the morning. You all packed?’ Melanie asked.

  ‘Yes, all ready. God, I’m so nervous. I’m really going to miss you.’ Marisa hugged her sister tightly.

  ‘Now, you enjoy it, let me know all about that sexy new boss, and don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine,’ Melanie said, kissing her sister’s cheek.

  ‘Sure, I’ll be back all the time. You’ll hardly notice I’ve gone.’

  * * * *

  Melanie drove her to JFK airport the next day. Marisa chewed on her lip all the way, the way she did when she was unsure about something. Melanie glanced at her and frowned.

  ‘I hope you’re not thinking about backing out, you look terrified.’

  ‘No, of course not! I am nervous though, it’s a big deal. What if he doesn’t like me? What if I don’t like it there?’

  ‘Then you come home, simple,’ Melanie said as she stared ahead.

  ‘Sure, I can always come back home.’ Marisa sighed and gazed out of the window as the Hudson disappeared out of sight.

  They arrived in plenty of time, and Melanie walked with her to the check-in desk. She took hold of her sister’s hands and held them firmly.

  ‘Now you listen to me. You are absolutely doing the right thing. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It came along at exactly the right time. You need a change, time to heal and forget you-know-who.’

  ‘I know, I know, you’re right. I‘m going to be just fine, don‘t worry. I‘ll ring you tomorrow.’

  Marisa picked up her hand luggage and kissed her sister’s cheek. She fiddled with her boarding pass, trying not to cry.

  ‘Later, sis.’ She managed a smile. She walked briskly towards the departures gate, pausing to look back and wave one last time. She saw Melanie wipe away a tear and had an impulse to turn back. No, she thought. Don’t be weak. This is an amazing opportunity.

  She boarded her flight and settled into her seat. She closed her eyes and thought about the future. She couldn’t get James St. John’s handsome face out of her mind, and it worried her. Why couldn’t he have been a nerd? It would make things so much easier. She was very attracted to him, but she knew the last thing she needed was to be lusting after her boss.

  Chapter Two

  Marisa stood outside Heathrow airport, shivering. She pulled her coat tightly around her, eyes searching for the driver Mrs. Reed had promised would meet her. She waited twenty minutes then went back inside, unable to bear the cold any longer.

  She rang Mrs. Reed, who told her very curtly to go back outside and wait. Marisa hung up, feeling exasperated. No way was she going to go back out there, it was arctic! She decided to stay inside and watch the entrance through the glass doors. She bent down to put her phone back in her bag.

  ‘Hello, Miss Lowell,’
a deep voice boomed.

  Marisa looked up, astonished to see Lord St. John walking towards her.

  ‘Hello. I didn’t expect you to pick me up.’ Marisa flattened her hair and cursed her decision not to put her makeup on after landing.

  ‘That’s quite all right, Miss Lowell. I am en route from the office in London. It made perfect sense to pick you up on the way. Here, let me take your bag. I’ll stick it in the boot. It’s a bit chilly today, I’m afraid. You look frozen. Let’s get you home.’

  Marisa handed him her case and felt her heartbeat quicken as his hand brushed hers. He held the car door open for her, and she got in, sinking into the sumptuous, soft leather of the luxury car.

  As they drove along, she glanced at him. He was by far the most handsome man she had ever seen. He caught her eye, and she felt her cheeks burning. She looked away quickly, so he wouldn’t see her blushing.

  As they drove to Highcroft house, his deep, syrupy voice caressed her ears, making her want to listen to him forever.

  ‘I hope you enjoy your time at Highcroft, Miss Lowell.’

  ‘I’m sure I will, Lord St. John. I’m excited to see it. I looked on the Internet at the website. It was very impressive.’

  ‘Oh, good, I’m so glad you liked it,’ he said, smiling at her and making her heartbeat quicken again.

  ‘Here we are then, Highcroft, just up ahead,’ he announced as they turned off a leafy country lane and drove through majestic wrought iron gates.

  They drove along a sweeping gravel drive, lined with towering elms. In the distance stood Highcroft Manor. Marisa stared in awe as the elegant country manor house loomed into view.

  It was huge, with towering sash windows that gleamed in the winter sunlight. The front door was the size of a small house, set back from wide steps flanked by grand columns. Marisa had only ever seen anything like it in the movies or historical books.

  ‘Home sweet home,’ he said as the car came to a halt. James leapt out and opened the car door for her.

  She stepped out and looked up just as Mrs. Reed appeared in the arched doorway. The stone of the grand building was gray and cold and Marisa thought Mrs. Reed matched it perfectly, almost blending in.