Page 43 of Best Mistake Ever
I allow myself to imagine for a second what it would feel like to pull her towards me and kiss her. To taste her. To explore her body with my mouth…
I clear my throat and walk out of the bathroom and back into the main room, my eyes drawn to the huge bed. I have to tear my gaze away from it as I feel her follow me out and come to stand next to me.
The air seems to be pulsing around me, as if my need for her has a life of its own and is escaping into the air around us.
Oh man, I have to get out of here. Away from temptation.
She seems to sense my agitation because she says, ‘Jonah?’ in such a way, I suspect she’s thinking the exact same thing as me. Her eyes are wide and her pupils large and dark against her irises as she stares into mine.
But is she? Can she be feeling this irrevocable pull between us and the drive to give in to it that I am? Surely not after what she said to me the other day about maintaining our roles.
‘Are you hungry?’
The flash of warmth I see in her eyes is welcome, but I don’t smile back. If I do, I’ll lose it completely and I’m determined to remain professional around her. I promised her I would, after all. And she’s right about us setting those boundaries. I’m her boss, so it wouldn’t be a good idea to cross that line.
Even though the restraint I’m clinging on to feels tenuous at best.
‘Yep,’ I say stiffly.
For more than you know.
‘Okay. Let’s eat,’ she says, breaking the intense eye contact between us and leading the way out of the suite.
I’m glad now that she’s walking in front of me down the narrow path, so she can’t see my frown of concentration as I try to will my deviant cock to calm the hell down.
In the restaurant, we’re shown to our table and she gestures for me to take the seat with the view across the large front garden, where a few people are braving the cool weather to play croquet on the lawn.
Our waiter takes our coats and tells us what to expect from the afternoon tea that Dee’s ordered for us.
‘We’ll take one glass of champagne as well,’ I tell the waiter, who smiles and nods before retreating, leaving us on our own.
‘You’re in need of a drink, are you?’ Dee says with a small smile. ‘I hope it’s not my company that’s driving you to it.’
I let out a snort of laughter. ‘Actually, it’s for you.’
‘Oh!’
‘To say thanks for all the hard work you put into hosting the festival at such short notice. I know it was long hours and I’m grateful for how much effort you put into making it a success.’
Colour has risen to her cheeks at my compliment. ‘Well, it was my absolute pleasure. I really enjoyed it.’
‘It looked like it.’
She’s smiling, but her eyes don’t meet mine.
We’re interrupted by the waiter returning with her drink.
‘Thank you,’ she says again, taking a small sip. ‘You’re not indulging too?’
‘No. I’m off booze at the moment,’ I say.
She doesn’t press me on this, which I’m grateful for.
The waiter re-appears with a three-tiered cake stand filled with delicious-looking sandwiches, mini cakes and scones and places it between us on the table.
‘This looks amazing,’ Dee says with real pleasure in her voice. She’s such an upbeat person to be around, I realise. Whenever I’m with her, she’s nothing but positive about the things going on around her. It’s refreshing after the crap I went through with Tessa, who was very difficult to impress.
‘You have a really great attitude, you know, so positive,’ I tell her, deciding to let her in on what’s going on in my mind. I’ve always been really bad at thinking good things but not saying them aloud to the people I’m with, but Dee’s inspiring me to be more open with my feelings.
