Dead Gorgeous Read Online Free PDF Page A

she letting Mr Snog-Me-Until-I’m-Breathless out of her sight
until she had his name, age, mobile phone number and star sign.
    ‘D’you work here then?’ the man asked dubiously.
    ‘My family runs this hotel,’ Rainbow informed him, with false modesty. This was one of those rare occasions when she actually volunteered the information.
    ‘And those are your room rates?’ He pointed to the sign behind her.
    Rainbow nodded. What did he expect to find under a huge sign with the heading ROOM RATES? Secondhand car prices?
    ‘We’re Mr and Mrs Stanley and this is our son, Andrew. We booked a room a fortnight ago. Does the family room come with a double and a single bed or three singles?’
    Rainbow stopped listening after she’d heard the hunk’s name. ‘Hi, Andrew.’ She turned on what she hoped was a casual yet friendly smile. Not too forward, but not too
reluctant. Not too eager, yet not too formal. A genuine smile from the eyes. With just a hint of mystery and a dash of promise.
    ‘Hi. Good to meet you. What’s your name?’ Andrew asked. And his voice was deep and flowed like honey. Wow! Gorgeous all over.
    And then Rainbow realized what he’d asked her. Her heart sank. ‘My name? My name is . . . er . . . Raye . . . All my friends call me Raye. You can call me Raye too if you
like.’
    ‘Excuse me, but d’you think we could book in some time before the end of the century?’ his mum cut in.
    Rainbow glared at her. How rude! ‘Could you fill in this registration form, please?’ She handed Mrs Stanley the form with a painted-on smile, then turned back to Mr Tall, Dark and
Drool-Slobber Handsome. ‘Will you be here for long?’
    Please! Please!
    ‘Two days. We leave on Sunday,’ Andrew replied.
    Yes!
    ‘Well, I hope you have a pleasant stay. If there’s anything you need, anything at all . . .’
    ‘Thanks, Rainbow. I’ll take over now.’ Dad practically pushed her to one side as he smiled at the new guests.
    ‘Rainbow?’ Andrew raised his eyebrows.
    Rainbow’s face immediately began to radiate heat. She could’ve died. ‘My dad’s idea,’ she informed him quickly. ‘I hate it.’
    ‘I don’t,’ said Andrew. ‘It’s original. Unusual. It suits you.’
    ‘D’you think so?’
    Andrew nodded. And for the first time since Rainbow was about seven, she didn’t mind her name.
    ‘We’d like a family room,’ said Mr Stanley. ‘I was asking your daughter if your family rooms come with a double and a single bed or three singles?’
    ‘A double bed and one single,’ Dad replied. ‘But as we’re not too busy at the moment, I can let you have a double room with an adjoining single for the same price, if
you’d like?’
    ‘My own room. Great! Perfect,’ Andrew enthused.
    ‘I’m not sure about that . . .’ Mrs Stanley began.
    ‘Mum, I’m perfectly old enough to stay in a room of my own. I’ll behave,’ Andrew said silkily. ‘I promise.’
    A strange feeling came over Rainbow as she watched Andrew and his parents regard each other. There was something going on, some strange undercurrent that Andrew’s words had provoked.
    ‘That’s OK then. I’m very keen on guests who behave themselves!’ Dad laughed.
    And just like that, the tension in the air vanished. Rainbow wondered if maybe she’d imagined it. She wasn’t sure. But she didn’t think so.
    ‘Rainbow, could you . . .? Rainbow?’ Dad prodded his daughter’s arm to get her attention.
    ‘What?’
    ‘If you can stop fluttering your eyelashes for five seconds, could you get me the keys to the Dickens and the Austen rooms please?’
    Rainbow’s cheeks began to burn – badly. Honestly! She could’ve kicked Dad in the shins. ‘I am not fluttering my eyelashes,’ she hissed, before turning to get the
keys.
    ‘Dickens room?’ Mr Stanley asked.
    ‘All our rooms are named after famous writers. Dead ones. I don’t want to be sued. It was my idea actually. It came to me about a week after we took over this place and