37 #3
Dani shrugged and carried on with another drinks order that Augustino had given her. Within a few minutes Jerome was back holding a bottle. He placed it on the bar and Joseph immediately picked it up.
“Where did you get this?” Joseph asked looking at the bottle which had El Tesoro written across the top. “It’s an Anejo,” clearly impressed. “This is one of the few tequila’s that’s made by hand, you know. This is really good stuff.” Joseph looked wide eyed at Jerome.
“I recently became acquainted with it and bought a few bottles. Here let me open it.” Jerome took back the bottle and cracked open the seal with his long fingers.
Dani placed two whisky tumblers on the bar on two small white napkins and Jerome poured a generous measure into each glass.
“You really know your tequila,” Jerome snorted.
“I think you’ve forgotten I lived in California for the last five years,” Joseph replied dryly picking up his glass. “To old friends and long marriages.”
Jerome picked up his glass and clinked it against Joseph’s. “Old friends and long marriages.” And they both took a sip.
“Whoa, that’s smooth.” Joseph inspected his glass.
Jerome nodded and snorted, “It is. Worth every penny. I’ve a feeling I’ll be getting a taxi home tonight.”
Joseph laughed, “Yeah, we’ve too much catching up to do.”
The party continued in high spirits. The tables had been cleared and all that remained were the glasses that were being used. Jerome had let Jamie and Carmen leave by ten and Pino and Richard left at eleven. Between Augustino and Dani they’d be able manage the few drinks that were requested.
Jerome and Joseph had now moved to sit at a table and were now on their third, large tequila.
After a couple of glasses of Prosecco, two glasses of wine with the meal and a brandy, Joseph was beginning to feel the effects of the tequila.
Jerome on the other hand was decidedly more relaxed and was definitely enjoying Joseph’s company, reminiscing about old times, the tequila taking the edge off what had been a stressful few days.
Around half of the guests had left but the remaining partygoers were happy to dance away to various songs that were being requested.
Jenny made her way over to bar, now that work had eased up.
Dani was pleased to see her again and they made arrangements to meet up sometime after the holidays.
Dani liked Jenny’s friendly manner and felt for her being in a foreign country without any family or friends.
Jenny shook her head as she looked over at Joseph and Jerome.
“It’s good to see him relax. He’s been so stressed out with the hotel, but boy he’s going to have a stinker of a hangover tomorrow,” she giggled.
“Good job I’m driving.” Jenny looked at her watch.
It was quarter to midnight. “I think I’d better get them all home, Mr and Mrs Mann look worn out.
” Jenny glanced over to where the anniversary couple were slumped in their chairs.
Jenny said her goodbyes and then went over to Joseph.
He staggered out of his chair while Jenny went over to the Manns and gathered up their belongings and presents.
Augustino had put them in a couple of boxes and offered to take everything to their car, along with the rest of their cake, which Carmen had already boxed up.
Joseph sidled up to the bar, watched under the close scrutiny of Jerome.
“I just wanted to say thank you once again Dani. You really made my parent’s anniversary very special. You’re a real gem, sweetheart.” His words slurred a little as he spoke. He then took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Goodnight, Dani.”
“Goodnight Joseph.” Dani flushed at the attention. Jenny waved to her as she ushered out the Manns and once Joseph had hugged his goodbye to Jerome, they left followed by the remaining guests.
Augustino helped the deejay pack up his equipment while Dani put the last of the dirty glasses into the dumbwaiter, sending it down to the kitchen. She really felt for Rico. He was going to have to face all that in the morning.
It was half past twelve by the time everything was in some sort of order. Augustino helped Dani move the vases onto the bar while he waited for a phone call from his new girlfriend who was picking him up. Jerome was talking on his phone at the far end of the room when Augustino’s phone rang.
“Oh, that’s me out of here. See you tomorrow.” He waved at Jerome and then all but ran out of the room. Dani continued to move the vases, then started to remove the dirty tablecloths and pushed them into large bin liners ready to be collected by the laundry service.
Jerome shut off his phone and paced over to the bar where Dani had put the now half-full bottle of tequila and his glass, which he still hadn’t finished.
“Looks like I’ll be here for a while yet. The taxi service we use is stacked out with work,” he sighed, then picked up his glass and drained it. “You should try some of this Dani. You’re a tequila lover.”
“Um, thanks but I’m driving,” she reminded him.
“Of course, you’re right. Why don’t you take what’s left. Then you can have one when you get home,” Jerome suggested.
“Oh, I couldn’t. That’s kind of you but really I…”
“Can you never just say okay and thank you?” he sounded mildly exasperated. “Look, you’ve worked so hard these past few days, call it a bonus.”
“Okay, thank you.” She twisted her mouth in an attempt not to grin. Jerome shook his head and chuckled. “How long will you need to wait for?”
“They said forty minutes.” He could just walk to Sky, he thought to himself. But it had started to drizzle and he’d be soaked by the time he got there.
“Well, I could take you home, if you’d like.”
Jerome was about to explain that it was Sky he was going to when he stopped himself, deciding he’d just decline the tempting offer of a lift.
The idea of being in the close confines of a car again with Dani disturbed him, even if it was just a ten-minute journey across town.
He’d just take the large umbrella they kept in the restaurant and walk.
If nothing else, the walk would clear his head.
“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to do that, it’s out of your way and…”
“You could just say okay and thank you, you know.” Dani arched one eyebrow at him, then pulled the last of the tablecloths off the table and stuffed them into the large black plastic bag.
Jerome laughed, causing his eyes to sparkle. “Touché. Well in that case, okay and thank you. I’ll ring up and cancel the taxi.”
“I’ll just run and get my things from the changing rooms then, and I’ll meet you outside.”
“Sure.”
Once Dani had left the room Jerome quickly rang the taxi company cancelling his ride and then he dialled Paul at Sky.
“What’s it like? Is everything okay?” Jerome asked Paul.
“It’s hectic but everything’s under control.”
“Good. I’ve just finished off here but I’m heading home, it’s been a busy day.” Jerome grabbed the tequila bottle, then switched off the lights in the function room and headed down the stairs.
“No problem Boss. I’ll tell Gino and get him to send you the figures.”
“Thanks Paul. Good night.”
“Night, Boss.”
Jerome shut off his phone and slipped it into his pocket.
He paused at the door leading to the car park.
What was he doing? He thought to himself.
He knew exactly what he was doing, prolonging his time with Dani.
Was he really stealing minutes just to be with her?
He’d blown off work at Sky just so that she could drive him the full twenty-minute ride home.
Jerome sighed, thinking back to his conversation with Joseph while they’d drank their tequila.
“So is Dani seeing anyone?” Joseph had asked Jerome. The question caused Jerome’s scalp to prickle. Images of Kuch dancing with her came to mind but he rid them just as quickly as they’d appeared.
“I’m not sure. I don’t think so,” he replied gruffly.
“I was thinking of asking her out. Would that be okay?”
Jerome shrugged in an attempt to feign interest. But his back stiffened and he took a large gulp from his drink. The idea of Dani and Joseph together was seemingly worse than Dani and Kuch.
Jerome switched off the lights in hallway and opened the door.
It was only a matter of time before one of her many admirers was going to claim her as theirs.
The thought stirred feelings in him that were totally inappropriate.
He wasn’t thinking straight. Jerome looked at the bottle in his hand.
That’ll be the tequila, he thought, then he tapped in the alarm code, then shut and locked the door.
It was just a ride home for goodness sake, and he was tired.
Yeah, keep trying to convince yourself Jerome, he reprimanded himself.
Dani was waiting in her car. She’d put the heating on full blast and was twiddling a loose strand of hair that had worked itself out of her French plait.
“You need to give me your postcode for the Sat Nav,” she asked expectantly as Jerome buckled up his belt.
“Or I could just direct you,” Jerome replied dryly.
“Um, I suppose.”
“So, head as if you’re going to Harewood, the way home, and then I’ll tell you where to get off for Bramhope.”
Dani nodded and pulled out of the car park. She was nervous and when she’d suggested the lift she didn’t think for a minute he’d accept. She’d hoped though, and here he was, his large frame folded into her passenger seat, looking sexy as hell.
“They’re very nifty these cars. Are you happy with it?”
His comment halted her thoughts. They were obviously going to partake in small talk, she thought to herself. Hmm… well at least they could talk about cars, a safe subject. Dani thought back to their previous conversation about cars, maybe it wasn’t so safe after all.
“Yes, it’s easy to drive and park, it’s fast enough too and economical. What with going back and forth to Harewood,” she explained, keeping her answer as simple as possible.