I’d known her be in relationships before where she’d let men get away with a little more than she should.
“Too well.” Her voice was filled with something I couldn’t identify. “Birthdays. Let’s plan.”
I wondered what she meant bytoo wellas I tried to head out of the back door quietly, realising that my car could well have been spotted by Payton, but she was never the most observant.
Why was I treating her too well? The thought stayed with me for the rest of the evening, but I didn’t ask her when we spoke later. It was something else we needed to keep unsaid.
Chapter Eight
Ava
June
“So I was thinkingabout the interior design on number twenty-two. If you can meet me on Friday evening, we can start to work out what to remodel and have a look at the kitchen…”
I had already tuned out. Jon was doing his usual I-will-talk-and-you-will-listen and I couldn’t take much else in. The priory had hit problems in terms of a septic tank that was old and hideous and needed removing. It wasn’t a huge hindrance but it was going to add time on to the completion date. Two of my other projects had been at the snagging stage and I might have lost the plot with one of my foremen who had insisted on using a particular plumber who wasn’t to my standards. I wanted to go back to Eli’s where I knew he was waiting with a cup of tea and another four episodes of our latest series to binge on Netflix.
“I’m sorry Jon, I have plans on Friday night.”
“You need to cancel them then. This is important. I know you’re trying to grow your business so turning down this opportunity would be madness.” He looked flustered and hot, as if he was starting to feel ill. He was always so desperate to meet with me, when he wanted and on his terms.
I shook my head. “It’s my brother and sister’s birthday weekend and I’m helping set up the venue on Friday. Besides, it’s Friday night and I work hard enough during the week.” I mentally slapped myself for excusing myself to him. It was none of his business what hours I worked or how I was developing my business. In truth, I didn’t want the work from him as I had more than enough, enough to seriously think about hiring a second interior designer so I could focus more on the renovations.
“I know it’s Friday. I thought I could take you to dinner afterwards.”
Rolling my eyes was inevitable.
“I’m sorry, Jon. I have a boyfriend,” I said. There was no point in telling him that I was flattered or giving him any sign of hope because there wasn’t. Even if I was dating other people, he wouldn’t be on my hit list. Not the dating one, anyway.
He frowned. “Why would that stop us having dinner? Friday. Let’s do it.”
“Like I said, I’m decorating the venue for the twins’ party. Then I’m going out with Elijah.” I wasn’t sure if we actually were going out but that wasn’t the point right now.
“Fine. But you need to promise me a dinner with you soon.”
I gave him the politest smile I could muster. “How about Elijah and I go out one evening with you and your girlfriend?” I said, hoping, desperately hoping, that he did indeed have one.
“I’m not seeing anyone at the moment, and if I’m honest, I don’t care for your boyfriend. When do you want to go through number twenty-two if you won’t do Friday?”
I didn’t rise to the bait. “Next Monday morning at ten,” I said. “I have some time free then.”
“Not Sunday?”
“I’m not working Sundays at the moment.”
He raised an eyebrow and pushed sandy blonde hair out of the way of his face. “In this business…”
I felt the elastic of the band around my temper begin to give. “I’m sorry, Jon, but you’re speaking to me as if I’m only just starting out. What I’ve done so far has been incredibly successful. I don’t need to work weekends and at the moment, I don’t want to. If you want to find someone else to work on number twenty-two or any of your other projects, feel free,” I said, somehow managing to keep my tone calm.
He took hold of my arm, moving me closer. He wasn’t rough or hurting me in any way, just very insistent. However, I’d grown up with four brothers and I knew exactly how to disengaged with such a grasp. My arm went slack and I let myself go off balance, stumbling just enough for him to realise what he was doing.
“Sorry, Ava. Long day. Let me know if you can fit number twenty-two in earlier,” he said, his grip having loosened but his fingers still too close.
“I know for sure I can’t make it before next Monday. If something is cancelled I’ll let you know and you can check your schedule.”
“Sure.”
I gave him a brief nod, the mood between us petulant and sullen. “See you next week.”
