“You mean the ones you had me read from when you phoned me the other night?”
Her toes dug into my erection and I wondered how easy it would be for us both to sneak into the bathroom.
“They would be the ones.”
“They gave me a few ideas. We should choose what we’re having. You’ll need to keep your strength up.”
We ordered and I tried to steer the conversation to a topic that would lessen the tightness in my balls.
“I’ve broken the back of the plastering,” she said, referring to the priory. “The two guys I wanted to do all of it are starting on Monday. It was a pain that the job they were on hit problems but it can’t be helped.”
“When do the buyers want to move in by?” She’d already found a buyer for the property which was both a blessing and a major issue.
“Ten weeks. It’ll be longer than that though. That’s the estimated date of completion on the house they’re selling, but their buyers are in a chain so I suspect it’ll be a fortnight after that at the soonest. And Seph’s buying my place,” she said and looked at me questionably. “But not to live there.”
I raised my brows as our starters appeared. We moved both into the centre, sharing as normal. “He’s bought it as a rental?”
Ava nodded. “Yes. And he’s going to start to look at a house to buy and renovate. He’s keeping it quiet at the moment – you know everyone will start to question what he’s doing and how it’ll go wrong as soon as they find out.”
She was right. Faith in Seph, unless it was work related, was limited. “When are you moving out?”
“Maybe a couple of weeks? He’s got a potential tenant already – someone he knows from college.”
“Where are you going to stay?”
She shrugged. “I would’ve moved into the priory, but I’m not sure. I’ve done some more research on its history and I think I have a lead on the baby that was born, but that room still freaks me out a little.”
“What’s it being turned into?”
“A safe room, which is kind of what it was intended for originally. Killian’s firm are sorting it out.”
“Who the fuck’s buying it if they need a safe room?”
She shook her head, laughing. “Guess.”
I eyed her. “The only person I know with a safe room is Killian, who was in the marines and now in security. So I’m going to say Nick.” Nick was Killian’s older brother and his partner in the security firm. He had twin daughters and another baby on the way. Given the size of the priory, I wondered if his wife, Katie, was having twins as well.
“Correct. It’s near to Killian and Claire and the schools are good, so he asked for first refusal. I’m glad they’re having it – but it means I’ll have lower margins than I was expecting and I’ll end up taking more time on the décor.” Her smile was full and lit up her pretty face. “But it’ll be worth it. I love it when I can get involved in homes for people I know.”
“What about your own home then?” I said. She had moved a lot, not settling herself. “Don’t you want to decorate a place that’s just for you?”
Her expression changed. “I hate the thought of living somewhere permanently where it’s just me. I’ve grown up with six siblings and countless friends staying for a while at times. I don’t think I can make a home until it’ll be more than just me.”
I nodded, understanding how she felt. I didn’t remember a time before Izzy was born so my childhood home had always been filled with noise and frequently high pitched screams. And squabbling over make up and clothes. Plus, having no opportunity to spend more than five minutes in the bathroom. If I ever had daughters, I was installing a men only bathroom. “I get that. That’s why I haven’t bought.”
“You and Andrea were planning to buy together?”
“Kind of. We talked about it in theory, but never about where we’d buy or what sort of house. I don’t think either of us were really bothered about it.” It was something we would mention,when we buy somewhere, but it never became a plan or even a discussion about saving for a deposit although I had more than enough saved, even for a house in London.
“What sort of housewouldbe your ideal?” she said, toying with her martini. “Sorry – my job and all. I’m obsessed with houses.”
“Don’t apologise. I like townhouses or the old terraces, but the big ones with cellars you can convert. Killian’s house is ideal,” I said. “But with a garden big enough to have a football net in for kids to have a kick-a-bout.”
She smiled. “You want kids?”
“At some point. When the time’s right. What’s your dream house like?” I didn’t want to linger on the kids topic. We weren’t there and that conversation could easily open a can of something nasty.
She thought for a moment, sipping her drink. “That’s a hard question because there are lots I like. I know it wouldn’t be anything built after nineteen thirty. But other than that, it would be the feel when I walked in a place. You know straight away if you’re a fit.”
