Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
Joel
“ T o the rear of the property, you have a relatively large storeroom and bathroom area as well as access to parking behind the building,” the estate agent says as we head out of the back door of the building we’re viewing. It’s the third property of the morning. Edie wants to spend the day looking at different places in preparation for the salon’s new location.
I’ve never been prouder of her for going ahead with it.
“And is the area for parking all of this space?” I ask, wanting the estate agent’s attention back on me because he’s currently looking at Edith like she’s his next meal.
“Yes. If parked horizontally it can easily accommodate four cars.”
“So, there’s potentially some client parking if needed,” I say. “The other place only had parking access for you and Alice.”
“What was the lease time on this one again?” Edie asks, standing with her hands in the back pockets of her jeans as she looks up to the building. Her hair is up in a ponytail, exposing the line of her neck that I desperately want to kiss. This whole ‘let’s keep us between us’ thing is already driving me crazy, and it’s only been a few days. I hate that I’m having to hide the truth from those around me but at the same time, I’ll do anything to make Edith happy.
“Five years.”
“That’s a long time. The last place was only three.”
“I can assure you, Miss Kennedy, that it’s a great building for what you are wanting to achieve here.”
“So was the last place with two years less.” She sighs, and I can see that viewing three properties already has her mind on overload. She needs to be pointed in the right direction, otherwise she’s just going to confuse herself more.
In my personal opinion, the second place is the most suitable. It had been more central to the town for starters, and the design of the building was far more conventional than this one.
“What’s your gut telling you?” I ask, taking a step towards her.
“My gut is telling me that I should hire an architect and get him to design the perfect place for me.”
“You wouldn’t be able to afford me even if you asked,” I quip.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve heard you’re pretty good at settling mates rate deals. And you know I’d pay you back any way you want.” She gives me a wink and a knowing look that causes me to chuckle.
Meanwhile, the Estate agent has gone from looking at Edith to checking his watch. The look of disapproval on his face tells me that he’s done here and is pissed that we’re not. But I’m not going to rush Edith if she’s not ready to make a decision.
I turn to him, now wanting to be on my own with my girl. “Can we have some time to think about the ones we’ve viewed and get back to you? It’s a lot to take in on one hit.”
“Of course. I have to shoot off anyway. But you have my card if there are any questions. Take your time.” He gets in his car and heads off, and the second he’s gone, I pull Edie close, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Whichever one I choose, you will help me with all the building adjustments and décor, right?”
“Of course. I have people who know other people. We can sit back and watch them do all the hard work.” I press my lips to the soft spot of her neck and slip my hand under her top. The warmth of her skin is a welcome comfort I’ve been needing. I can’t keep my fucking hands off her.
“What are you doing? This is not the time or the place,” she says, yet her voice tells me she’s enjoying it, not in any way making me stop.
“I’m trying to make your mind relax a little so yes, this is the time and the place. Besides, I’ve wanted to kiss you for hours.”
“Mr Collins is barely out of sight.”
I kiss her neck again. “Mr Collins was likely to get a punch if he carried on looking at you like he had been.”
“Oh wow.” She chuckles. “I didn’t know you could be so possessive.”
I pull back, smiling. “If I can’t touch you in public don’t expect me to like someone else eye-fucking you.” I kiss her lips once, twice, three times before she pulls back.
“As much as I love kissing you, can we be serious for a moment?”
I playfully roll my eyes. “Fine. Talk to me. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking: do I go for the price I can afford or the space and capacity that I need? Neither question is helping me to come to a decision.”
“So, think about what you want to achieve instead. Do you want the sauna and the tanning room that you spoke about, or do you want to just upgrade with an extra room for the more in-depth treatments you offer?”
She links her arms around my neck and looks back at the building. I give her the time she needs as she thinks it through.
“If I’m going to move premises then I may as well go for bigger to accommodate all the treatments I’m wanting to do.”
“So, there’s your decision made about the first building we viewed. Cross that one off your list and choose between the two that are left. Go big or go home as they say.”
“But what if I go big and lose everything because I fail? ”
“And what if you thrive and gain so much more? You have an incredible business with a reputation for being the best in the Craven District. Where is there a failure in that?”
“Well, when you put it like that.” Her cheeks flush at my compliment and this time, she kisses me. We’re in one of the back streets of the town. it’s pretty abandoned so we don’t have to worry about the eyes of others.
“Don’t think about the what-ifs. Think about the reason why you’re standing here now. Think about how hard you work and how far you’ve come. Think about all the good that you have in your life right now and how much you deserve it.” I run my finger along her jaw and whisper. “Follow those dreams of yours and fly.”
“As long as you fly with me,” she whispers back.
“I’m right beside you, cupcake.”
“God, I knew I needed you here today.” She takes a deep breath and looks back at the building again. “I like them both. But from an architect’s perspective what’s your gut telling you after seeing all three?”
“That it’s getting close to lunch and I’m hungry,” I joke.
“Funny.” She taps me on the back of the head before turning in my hold, resting her back against my front.
I rest my chin on her shoulder and look back at the building. “This place is a reasonable size for what you’re after. However, I preferred the structure of the last place.”
“Didn’t you think the upstairs was a little big in that one? Even if I put the sauna and tanning room up there, there’s still loads of space.”
“So, turn it into something else: a resting place for your clients—a place for them to sit and read. Or how about an area where you can hold parties such as hen do’s or birthday pampers?”
“Oh my god.” She leaves my hold and spins around to face me, her eyes are wide and I can tell I’m onto a good thing here when she squeals and grips my arm. “Yes! I love those ideas. I can do party packages with discount deals. Or hen do bonuses with champagne and a free treatment of their choice. Jesus, the possibilities are endless for that space.” Excitement dances in her eyes. “Right, we need to go to lunch so we can plan. Wanna be my assistant?”
I chuckle as we start to make our way towards the main street. “No. But I’ll be the naked butler at the hen parties. ”
“Like hell, you will be. This arse belongs to me now.” She grips my buttock with a squeeze.
“Come on. We’ll get something in the café on the corner so you can start planning.”
“Don’t you want to head to your office?”
My office is at the opposite end of town along with my car. It’s not that far to walk but the café is seconds away. “The café is closer.”
She shrugs. “Okay. We can do that. I just thought your office was safer. Now you’re going to have to refrain from touching me a little longer.”
I stop walking, realising my mistake. My office would give us the privacy I want to be able to fuck her. “Okay point taken. We’ll grab a takeout and head back to my office.”
“Too late. The café it is.”
“But I want to do dirty things to you,” I growl as I press my mouth to her ear, stepping up beside her.
“And now I’m looking forward to watching you squirm. Game on.”
“There is no game because the plans have changed.”
“Not interested, Mr Fitzpatrick.” She shows me the palm of her hand in a bid to stop me.
Jesus, she’s killing me.
The banter between us has always been one of the best things about our friendship, but now we’ve taken things to the next level, it’s driving me fucking wild.
I pick up my pace again, this time wrapping my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and ruffling my knuckles in her hair like I’ve done many times.
“Joel. You arsehole.”
“That’s not all you’ll be saying in a few minutes when I take you to my office.”
She slaps me on the chest playfully. “Stop it. People may hear you.”
“I’ve been telling you that the last few days.”
She laughs out loud and I laugh right along with her. Knowing of the unused alleyway to the right of us and the desperate need to have her body pressed against mine, I make use of the perfect opportunity.
Grabbing her wrist, I pull her towards it and press her against the wall. Placing my arm on the stone behind her, I cage her in. The look of surprise in her eyes is quickly filled with desire.
“What are you doing? People may see.”
“No one will see anything. This alley hasn’t been used for years.”
“And you know this how?”
I smooth my hand over the curve of her hip and press my lips against her neck, making a pattern of kisses up towards her mouth. “Because I do. Trust me.”
“Have you been here before? Are you planning on doing naughty things to me and then ask me for payment after? Because I’ll have you know, I’m not that kind of woman.” She chuckles, trying to fight the desire I know is taking over her body. I can read her like a book.
“But you’re the kind of woman that loves my mouth on you,” I breathe, moving to the other side of her neck, feeling her body relax with each beat as her hands now lower to my hip, pulling me closer towards her.
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to say anything, I sensed it.”
“Well then, we’ve clearly been friends too long. I can’t keep anything to myself anymore.”
“Stop talking,” I press my mouth against hers and run my tongue along her bottom lip before slipping it into her mouth. Her hands immediately take hold of my jaw as she welcomes my invasion, drinking me in just as much. The little whimper that escapes her throat is a sign that I’ve won her over as I grind myself against her. She’s killing me in every way, and the more I’m with her, the stronger this feeling inside blossoms like it’s never done before. But as much as I want this. I also know that we need to stop before we find ourselves in dangerous territory.
“Fuck, we so should have gone to my office,” I groan.
“Yeah, that was a bad move you made there,” she jokes.
I pull back to look at her with wide eyes, knowing full well that I was up to going to my office. “I’m sorry what was that?”
She laughs. “You heard. I’m never listening to your ideas again.”
“My idea was more appropriate. You weren’t wrong when you said you wanted to make me squirm because I’m fucking hard here.”
She links her arms around my neck, poking her bottom lip out and giving me puppy dog eyes, clearly loving the fact I’m in a predicament for which I’ve only got myself to blame. “Aww. Whatever will I do with you?”
“Take me to my office so I can fuck you senseless.”
She studies me for a second, right before a wicked look flashes in her eyes. “Okay. Okay. You win.”
Thank you, Jesus.
“Finally,” I growl, pleased she’s seeing sense. Right before she knocks me back and leaves me hanging.
“Once we’ve had lunch at the café.” She taps me on the nose with a wink, pushing me back and stepping out of my proximity with a grin.
“Un-fucking-believable.” I huff out a low laugh, resting my hands on my hips as I watch her walk up the alley, swinging her hips in the most sensual way.
“You are such a fucking tease,” I shout, grinning.