Page 40 of Best Mistake Ever
I keep a low profile on Sunday and don’t see Dee at all, leaving her to make sure the festival wraps up successfully.
I’m weirdly nervous about seeing her today though.
Sitting and chatting with her by the fire on Saturday night felt strangely intimate. With the soft light from the flames playing across her gorgeous face and the way we had to lean in close to hear what each other was saying, it once again felt like we had a genuine and unusual connection to each other.
Chemistry.
I regret talking about Tessa now because it seemed to kill the closeness building between us. From the expression on her face, Dee was clearly uncomfortable discussing something as personal as the breakdown of my last relationship. But seeing her looking so vulnerable after nearly passing out, I’d wanted to let her into my head. To show her I have vulnerabilities too. To remind her there are genuine reasons for me being the grumpy bastard she has me pegged as, after my less than friendly behaviour towards her.
No wonder she’s pushing me away now though. She must be totally confused about what I’m all about when I’ve been so hot and cold with her.
I feel like I still barely know anything about her and I have to admit, I’m intrigued. I’d like to know what makes her tick.
Her reluctance to let me in is actually more of a turn on than when she out and out flirted with me.
As Dee predicted, the whole festival is wrapped and packed up by midday and as she’d promised, you wouldn’t even know it had happened, apart from a few large patches of flattened grass where the marquees and tents had been, which will spring back in no time.
It’s an impressive operation that her friend, Jay’s running and I have to admit, I’d be more than happy for him to use the place to host his events in the future. It could turn out to be quite a lucrative thing if we manage to come to an arrangement about fees for the hire of the place, especially if he’s wanting to book out a long weekend in high season as well.
I’m really buzzed by the idea of it. I loved seeing the place being used to its fullest and I’ve had a lot of people approach me to say thanks and tell me how much they’ve enjoyed being in the hotel. It made a real change from people coming over to ask for a selfie or to tell me how much they love my dad. And it warmed my soul to be complimented on something I’d brought to fruition outside of my family’s fame. Something I’d achieved as me, rather than my father’s son.
Hopefully, the interest shown in the hotel might actually translate into more room bookings in the future too, especially if they go on to tell all their friends and family about the place.
It’s heart-warming to hear that other people love the house and grounds as much as I do.
For the first time in a long time, I feel proud again to be the guardian of the place.
I’m excited to plan what else we can do with it.
It occurs to me that I haven’t felt this level of excitement about the future in ages and a lot of that is down to Dee. It’s uplifting to be around her positivity. Infectious.
And the return of my enthusiasm for the project is most welcome.
On that note, at one o’clock on the dot, I see Dee coming out of the staff entrance to the house and make her way over to where I’m waiting for her by my car, ready to take the trip to the boutique hotel she mentioned yesterday.
It’s a great idea to scope out competitors, something I’ve not done in this area yet. I know I should have undergone more research before launching into running a hotel myself, but I was too excited to get stuck in and Tessa never seemed interested in coming along with me to look at places, so I just kept letting it slide. Looking back now, I can see how naïve I was to think I could just launch into this business without doing the research or having the experience needed to make it a success. But I guess I was so hell-bent on proving to myself and to everyone else – particularly my dad, if I’m honest – that I could make it work on my own merit and without help from anyone else.
That I’m more than just a pale imitation of him.
What a short-sighted idiot I was.
No wonder the hotel’s been struggling. With Dee’s help, insight and intelligent ideas, I have a good feeling about turning the place into a going concern now though.
And I’m looking forward to being inspired today. It’s about time I felt something other than despair and lethargy towards the project I was once so excited to get my teeth into.
Perhaps we can visit some of the cider-making businesses later in the week too. I was heartened to hear she thought it would be a good idea to start a press here. It’s something I’vebeen toying with for a while and the more I think about it, the more enthusiasm I have for the idea.
But one step at a time.
‘Hi,’ Dee says as she reaches me. ‘Ready for our research trip?’ She gives me a grin which makes me think she’s not feeling the same worries about the state of things between us as I am, which is a relief. I really don’t want to mess up the relationship we’re tentatively building between us. I’d hate to lose her now.
‘Absolutely. Let’s go.’ I open the passenger door for her and motion for her to get in. She does so with a nod of thanks.
Walking round to the driver’s seat, I roll back my shoulders, trying to trick my body into relaxing.
It’s a fool’s errand, of course, because as soon as I slide into my seat next to her and her familiar sweet scent hits my senses, my cock’s immediately back on high alert.
She must sense my agitation because she turns to me and asks, ‘Everything okay?’
