Page 36 of One Night Only
I turn in the opposite direction and march past him.
“I wasn’t trying to trick you or anything,” he continues.
“I know.”
“Then why are you upset?”
“I’m not,” I lie. Or at least not for the reasons he thinks I am. I should never have agreed to this. This is the exact opposite of not spending time with someone. And I don’t like him like this. All heartfelt and sincere and…I let out a breath. “You’re going to have to knock it down,” I say as we emerge through the trees.
Declan bats a low-hanging branch out of the way. “What?”
“You brought me here for my professional opinion,” I remind him, climbing awkwardly over the gate. “You’ll need to completely rebuild it to make it any way habitable.”
He grimaces, looking back the way we came. “How about a lick of paint?”
I land with a soft thud on the other side.
“Some bright cushions?” he calls as I make my way back to the car. “A complimentary welcome basket?”
I turn to see him still standing in the field, looking almost disappointed. It’s a look I’ve seen on my clients’ faces many times. Usually when it hits them that realizing their dream isn’t going to come cheap.
“It’s got a lot of promise,” I say finally. “But you’ll need to do it right if you’re serious about it.”
“I’m serious.”
“Then check the building regulations before you even begin planning. Then start with the foundations. Get a carpenter to help with the roof. Water in the walls is going to be a problem. You also have no room to insulate inside and if you don’t want to change the appearance outside, you’ll have to rely on heat from the fireplace. And you’ll need to extend it. Once you start adding in furniture it’s going to get very cramped very quick and you… What?”
He’s smiling at me now, twirling the flashlight in his hand. “Nothing. Do you have a business card?”
“I’m on vacation. Can we go now?” I add, glancing pointedly at the clouds. I’m suddenly eager to get back to the hotel. To other people. To somewhere where it’s not just him and me.
“Anyone would think you wanted to be rid of me.”
“My best friend is getting married tomorrow. I have things to do.”
“Then who I am to keep you?”
He plants a hand on the gate before I can respond and launches himself neatly over it.
I turn back to the car before he can catch me staring, shivering as a light rain falls from the sky.
9
The clouds are here to stay. That’s what it feels like anyway as they remain a stubborn gray blanket in the sky for the rest of the day. By evening, everyone is resigned to the fact that it’s going to rain during the ceremony and an awning is erected between the hotel and the tent so that no one gets wet on the way in.
To cater to Paul’s ever-increasing family numbers and to make up for the smaller showing on the bride’s side, we’re forgoing a larger final party at the hotel for a supposedly reflective evening in the village pub, run by Uncle Harry.
It’s supposed to be a quiet night, a couple of drinks and some music, but by the time Annie drives us down for our fashionably late entrance, it looks like the entire village is there to celebrate.
I’m surprised so many people can fit inside. Kids sit cross-legged on the floor or under tables, eating chips and sipping soda. Others sit on the back of well-worn leather sofas or tuck themselves into the corners. There isn’t an inch of space. Luckily, I’m with the bride and have two reserved spots right in the center of the action.
“Real quiet,” I say loudly to her as we take our seats. “I’m feeling very reflective.”
She only grins as someone shoves a Guinness into her hands.
“Nothing for me, thank you,” I say as a woman leans over to take my drink order.
“Ah, you will.”
