Chapter 46
CHAPTER 46
JESSY
A s the villagers drift back to their homes, I make my excuses to my parents and Angie and slip away to the gym, where I arranged to meet Luke.
The crew are tearing down the ‘set’ as they call it, and Jasper and Morgana are somewhere plotting the next part of their reality show, leaving me to wonder what Luke is about to say.
As I walk, my lips still burn from the kiss earlier. I lost myself for a moment as something shifted between us. It was almost as if we were alone in the room. We weren’t acting anymore, at least I wasn’t and as I lost myself in his kiss, for a moment I imagined things really could work out for us.
As I head inside the gym, my heart flutters when I see Luke sitting astride the bench, a bottle of champagne on the floor beside him, with two glasses.
“Are you celebrating something?” I ask, raising my eyes and he inclines his head. “I hope so.”
I hover uncertainly beside the bench and he pats it and says softly, “Now, where were we?”
As I join him, it strikes me that I’m not self-conscious anymore. Perhaps it was the kiss or the way I am so comfortable around him.
He bends down and lifts the bottle in one hand and then one of the glasses and he pours some champagne into the glass and hands it to me before doing the same with the other one.
He says nothing until he touches his glass to mine and says in his sexy voice, “To new chapters.”
“To new chapters.” I add, “Not that I understand what it means, but I’m intrigued.”
“I’ll let you in on a secret.” I note the light in his eyes and wonder what it could be and he whispers, “I had a call from the manager of the club yesterday.”
I try not to let my nerves show as I wait for him to ruin my life.
“I’m being transferred in the new year, subject to a full medical, of course.”
“Transferred?” I smile. “Please tell me you’re moving to Arsenal. Life would be a lot easier for you around here.”
“Sadly, no, but it is a life-changing opportunity.”
My breath hitches because this doesn’t sound good for me or for Granthaven.
“I’m heading to Spain. Madrid.”
“That’s–” I can’t form words because my heart has just crashed and burned and from the excitement in his eyes, Luke is more than happy about it.
“It’s a golden opportunity that I would be a fool to pass up. Very few footballers get the opportunity to play for one of the most successful clubs in the world. It will help so many people too; people who are close to me. I can’t turn them down.”
“So you can choose?” I’m not sure why I’m asking him that because it’s obvious he’s more than happy about it, and he nods. “I can turn it down, but I’d be a fool to do that.”
I raise my glass. “Well, it’s congratulations then. I’m happy for you, Luke. That’s great news.”
I paint a smile on my face while my heart is giving up. I knew this would happen and all the hope I had after we kissed has been crushed with his news.
“So–” He raises his glass and touches it against mine and says huskily, “It means I will have the money to make our plans a reality.”
“Our plans?” I’m confused, and he nods with an excited gleam in his eye.
“Your business plan, Jessy. Renovating the houses, the barns and the manor house. Bringing new business to Granthaven to ensure its longevity.”
“I’m sorry, Luke, but well, um, how? You will be living in Spain.”
“Which is why I need a business manager. It’s why I need you.”
“I see.”
I knew it was too good to be true. This is about business and not my heart.
I attempt to disguise my feelings and smile. “You will have to spell it out for me because I’m not really understanding what’s going on right now.”
He surprises me by taking the glass from my hand and setting them both down on the floor, he takes my hands in his and stares at me with a soft gleam in his eye.
“Morgana and Steven are returning to Cheshire in a few days’ time. I am not.”
My heart beats a little faster as he whispers huskily, “My heart is here, Jessy, with you and the village.”
“You’re staying?”
I can’t hold back the huge grin on my face as he nods. “I know it’s inappropriate because you’re my employee and well, you may not want anything other than a professional relationship with me, but Jessy Potter – well – I don’t suppose you’re free tomorrow evening.”
“I may be.”
I’m suddenly rather shy as he winks. “Then would you like to go out, for dinner perhaps, on a kind of date?”
I note the anxiety in his eyes as he waits for my response and I squeeze his hands and whisper, “I thought you’d never ask.”
“I have another question.” He leans a little closer and, as his lips hover against mine, he whispers, “Do you have a passport?”
I don’t even get to answer as his lips crash onto mine and this time our kiss is a lot deeper and holds more meaning because all of my doubts dissolve like the bubbles from the champagne as life gives me a second chance to live the dream – wherever it takes me.