Page 72 of Best Mistake Ever
I’ve never felt so content. At peace. As if I’m in exactly the right place with exactly the right person.
I count myselfverylucky.
I’ve not said as much to Jonah, but I suspect Tessa is kicking herself now for indulging in such a cruel and public break-up with him because she’s now not able to visit the place alongside her celebrity and influencer friends.
Not that Jonah’s banned her or anything.
But I can’t imagine she’d be welcomed with open arms by anyone here.
He’s actually much more chilled about the messy break-up with Tessa now. In fact, he’s even able to laugh about it with people if they ever dare mention the Reverse Darcy thing.
He decided to own it and it’s taken the sting out of it for him.
I’m so proud of him.
And myself, if I’m honest.
My dad took a bit of time to come around to my change in career direction and our relationship was a bit fractious for a while. He eventually agreed to meet Jonah and come over to Gladbrooke to look around though and of course, once he saw what a great job we were making of it, and more importantly, how much happier I am now, he reluctantly admitted I’d made a good choice.
He really likes Jonah too. He can see how good he is for me.
And he really is.
Just as I’m thinking this, Jonah strolls in through the front door and comes straight over to me, pulling me into his arms and kissing me hard.
‘Morning, beautiful. I see you’re already ready to party,’ he says, smiling into my eyes.
I’ll never get bored with seeing that smile.
An excited shiver of anticipation runs through me. ‘I certainly am. Are you getting ready too now?’
He shakes his head. ‘I need to make a few calls, then I need to speak to Tony about some repairs to the cider press, but I’ll catch up with you after that and we can practice the set for tonight.’
‘Great.’
I smile and lean in for another kiss, luxuriating in the firm press of his mouth against mine. Breathing in his delicious, unique scent, I feel my body rush with desire and almost suggest we head back to bed before he leaves again.
But we have too much to do this morning. It’ll have to wait.
Reluctantly, I draw away from him and extract myself from his arms.
‘Is Dee coming tonight?’ he asks, running a hand through his now slightly dishevelled hair.
‘Yup. That’s the plan.’
He nods, then drops a soft kiss onto the top of my head.
‘It’ll be great to see her. It’s been ages.’
He’s right. It has.
My sister and I have taken very different paths and we don’t get to see each other much these days. It’s always a joy to be around her whenever we do get together though, especially now she’s taking full responsibility for her life. She and my dad still have a difficult relationship, to say the least, but both of them try hard to get on when we’re all together, which I appreciate.
‘She’s looking forward to seeing you too and she promises to be on her best behaviour and not make any more bad jokes about you being an apple farmer,’ I say with an ironic tilt of my eyebrow.
‘I don’t believe that for a second,’ Jonah says with a grin, before walking back out of the door and heading towards his office to make those calls.
I watch him out of the window as he strides away from me, my body still craving his touch. He cuts a striking figure as he moves through the growing number of festival crew members, who all greet him warmly as he passes.
