"Let's get going." Lisa was really excited to reach the manor. They had just arrived at the village and were settling down in the taxi towards the Gladden manor.
"We'll reach shortly" Dominic said. He reached for her hands and kept them in his silently gazing over the woods they crossed. Lisa squeezed back his hand and reflected on their time together. For one, she knew that something was bothering Dominic but still did not press for him to open up to her.
It seemed that something stopped Dominic to move forward with her when she made it clear that she wanted him. Though he teased and joked, he never crossed the line. She was starting to feel desperate. Despite her lack of experience, Lisa was intensely aware of the attraction flaring between them, and she noticed more than once the way his eyes lingered on her.
Lost in her thoughts as she was, she did not realize they had reached until Dominic murmured softly in her ears "Wake up, Princess"
Turning to him, she was once again lost in those eyes. Just as she though he would move to kiss her, she was jerked out of her reverie by the driver. "Are you sure you want to get down here? No'one been here since long and think it has been sealed."
"We are here to revive this old manor. Get the words running into the village. Here's my card, if there are people interested to do some manual work around here, they are most welcomed to contact me" said Dominic. "Com'on Princess, lets check this place out."
Dominic asked the driver if he could come and pick them up in another two hours to drop them to the Golden Hotel and he gladly agreed.
"This is beautiful" exclaimed Lisa, opening the yard gate "and it is better preserved than I thought." The stunning beauty of its ivy-clad façade made Lisa gasp. It was perfectly proportioned, an English country house of immaculate loveliness. Its gables and barley-twist chimneys proclaimed that.
"Beautiful? Ya sure" chuckled Dominic.
"Yeah, I know it is old and dusty right now but wait till I spread my magical wand over it. This house will be the pride of this village and of course the Gladden family."
"I believe you to be magical." His heated gaze took in the perfection of Lisa's body, her long flowing hair falling over one shoulder, her small waist and her shapely legs. The pair of jeans she wore clung to her ripe curves.
However, just then, he abruptly began to inspect the yard and the 'garden' where wild plants had invested the whole plot of land. Lisa just did not know what to make of it. She turned and decided to check the backyard of the house. As she approached, she saw that the back garden was filled with topiary figures, yew bushes clipped into fantastic shapes of animals and birds.
"I think we should open the door. Have checked the porch flooring and it is still in a useable state so I guess the inner floors would not give away" Lisa shouted back.
"Are you sure it's a good idea? Maybe, we should wait to organise a troop first"
"Am positive – trust me, this old manor can still take what we have"
"No problem, just get back and do the honours. I would hate to interrupt this dream moment" mocked Dominic. The smile that never reached his mouth was in his eyes again. Lisa followed in bewilderment to the front door. He unlocked it and she tentatively went in.
The house had been locked for years; yet, the serene atmosphere of the lovely old house enveloped them. Lisa paused in the hallway, gazing up at the carved minstrel gallery that ran above their heads. The Gladden manor was, if possible, even more beautiful inside out.
She caught an impression of magnificent old furniture, fine old painting, Persian rugs on the floor. Carved linenfold panelling ran the entire length of the hall. A splendid chandelier hung from the celling, its crystal prisms muted now, as if waiting to fulminate into dazzling light at the touch of a switch.
Dominic was standing beside her, watching the expressions cross her face. She turned to him at last, shaking her head with renewed excitement. "Dominic, can you imagine a more beautiful mansion than this. God, it's beautifullllll – look at the stonework and the fireplace. It looks like genuine Adam."
"Be careful of where you are walking"
Lisa was having none of it. "It only requires good lighting and dusting here and there. Even the furniture seems intact."
"We better head back to the hotel, Princess. It is better not to push our luck and risk hurting. I will call the driver for him to pick us."
The driver arrived almost instantly and Lisa reluctantly left the manor.
"We should get back here tomorrow morning earliest possible. I have the plans with me. Was thinking of unique scenery for each room – as if you are entering a new environment" Lisa continued to chat away about how the plans she envisaged barely noticing that Dominic was increasingly wearied, distant and lost.
Reaching the hotel, Lisa hurried into her room to check her plans again and to talk to Cassie.
With her notebook on the counter at her side and Skype loaded, she looked hopefully at the screen and smiled when Cassie buzzed.
"Hi, Cass," She said.
"Lisa! How are you? Where are you? Did everything go alright?" came the excited reply. It was soothing to hear her voice. It was a sound she knew, as her piece of stability. They had been together since the orphanage, even after their adoption into different families, they still kept in touch and their friendship had grown stronger with time, even turned into work partners. Lisa was the creative soul of 'L&C Designs' while Cassie managed the financial aspects.
"Yes, all is well. Been at the house and it's really really magnificent. I cannot wait to start the works; all my plans and designs are ready. Hope Mr Amidon liked his house?"
There was a giggle before Cassie said, "Oh yes, but you missed the dinner he paid for the staff. He was really pleased and wanted to meet you as well I think he got the hots for you. He assured that he will recommend our firm to his acquaintances." Cassie was a romantic at heart and could see blossoming romance everywhere.
"Well has Mr Handsome decided to make a move as at now?" she probed.
"No," I answered thoughtfully, "He confuses me so much. One moment he is all heated and the other, all forgotten."
"Well, it's not as if you have made a move" she admonished.
"You know am not able to – I will never have the courage to make the first step." Lisa decided it was safer to change the subject and started over the house again.
Lisa took a long soaking after her talk with Cassie and then her father. Dominic had asked her to join him for dinner at seven and she had around one hour to prepare herself. She wanted to look beautiful for him.
Forty minutes later, Lisa stood in front of the mirror admiring her reflection; she was wearing an exquisite dress, about knee length, made of the most buttery soft and supple black lambskin leather. It was made in a sleeveless, backless halter style that let her go bra-less, the square neckline was cut low over her breasts. It fit like a proverbial glove around her waist, hips and booty.
True to his word, Dominic knocked promptly at seven o'clock. He didn't have long to wait before the door was flung open, and Lisa stood face to face with the man who had dominated her thoughts all afternoon.
He wore a light blue suit and a crisp white shirt was buttoned down leaving his bare chest to her greedy eyes. Lisa found his simple, masculine garb very appealing.
"Good evening," she breathed.
"Good evening, Lisa. You are looking quite ravishing this evening." He seemed to make a conscious effort to keep his eyes away from her breasts.
