Chapter Thirty
Maya
When I had thought of Tommy’s job in the past, I had always imagined him in a hard hat, high vis vest and steel toe boots. Dust and dirt covering his exposed skin in a thin layer, sweat glistening on his forehead, you know, the classic coca cola advert.
As I stood and stared at the mansion before me though, I began to understand that I had seriously underestimated his business. This, this was something else.
The Georgian house in front of me is built from rare red brick, partly covered in ivy. It looks magical, like it has come straight out of a fairytale. The grounds are manicured to perfection, even the grass has those posh stripes running through it.
I get out of the car in a daze, not knowing where to look first. Tommy rounds the car and offers me his hand.
“Come on, let’s go and explore inside,” He teases. “I know you’re dying to snoop around.” It’s true, I can’t bloody wait.
I follow along beside him up the pale stone driveway to the door. I turn back to look in the direction we have just come from. I can’t see another house nearby. It’s so private and peaceful, exactly what I need.
He opens the door and disables the alarm while I walk further into the house. We’re in a large open space with a grand staircase in the middle, a variety of paintings are hung on the walls and several doors lead off the hallway. I’m desperate to open every single one to see where they lead. Tommy must be able to guess from my rare quietness that my mind is racing.
He takes me on a tour of every room downstairs. Living room, office, toilet, kitchen, dining room and then another living room. I feel like I’m on an episode of ‘MTV Cribs’. Every room is neutral and modern with accents of the original house, beautiful fireplaces and ceilings still intact from the eighteen hundreds, all restored by him.
I can tell how proud he is of this place, and how hard he’s worked to make it into a home.
“Do you want a coffee before we carry on?” He asks as we head back to the kitchen.
“Yes please,” I nod eagerly as I take a seat at the island. I’m a whore for caffeine. “I can’t believe this place, your apartment is amazing, but here?How could you ever leave?”
“For you. I want to be wherever you are.” He grips my chin between his finger and thumb, angling my head up to him as he leans in to kiss me.
God, the butterflies are back in full force, I could kiss this man for hours and not get bored. He backs away with a cocky grin, knowing exactly what he does to me.
He starts to make the coffee when I hear cars pulling up the driveway and panic sets in at who it could be. We’re in such a private area, not just anyone could get in, could they?
“Can you hear that?” I ask.
“Don’t worry, it will be the team coming to set up camp. They’re moving into the pool house whilst we’re here.” He shrugs, like that statement was the most normal thing in the world.
What is my life?
“Ooookay,” I drag out. So much for peace and quiet.
“Maya, you won’t even know they’re here,” He smiles. How does he always know what I’m thinking. It’s an ability he’s had, even since we were children together “I forgot to tell you, Max wants to know how you’d feel about them all coming for a night this week. The fuckers can’t go two minutes with you.”
“Don’t be so moody, I can’t help being so loved,” I smile. “Who is thinking of coming?”
“The girls, Lucy, Max and Jenson.”
“Do you know what’s going on between Jenson and Blair? I’ve never seen her act like this towards, well, anyone.” Blair is like a brick wall when it comes to anyone that’s not me, Fallon and of course Gracie.
“No idea. Jenson isn’t a settling down kind of man.”
“Neither is she, that’s what I don’t get. That girl has enough notches on her bedpost to put any man to shame,” I say. Blair is a free spirit, she does whatever and whoever she likes.
He picks up the coffees and I follow him into yet another room. This one is smaller than the others but by far my favourite. It has large windows covering one wall, then the rest are covered in books. Thousands of books, every shelf packed to the brim. There is even one of those cool ladders on wheels leaning against one of them. I will one hundred percent be having my Belle moment on that later.
We move over to the window seat, sitting opposite each other with our legs entwined in the middle.
“No need to show me around upstairs, I’m happy to sleep in here,” I say as I lean back into the cushions sighing.
“Baby, don’t for a minute think you’ll be getting much sleep tonight,” His eyes darkening as he stares me down.
