The Final Note (DJ Series Book 1) (8 page)

Thank you for an amazing night. You really made it one of the best. I miss you already. Goodnight, sugar. xx

On Sunday I really do miss him. It’s like I have an unquenchable thirst for his time and attention and even though we don’t see each other we have a huge textathon that night. Chloe loved her Kindle and I brought the Ford Focus I went to view with Dad.

I’m more than happy with it. There isn’t a scratch on the shiny panther black paint and the interior is immaculate. Dad gave the car the once over and all the papers are up to date so I drove away happy. Someone clicked ‘Buy It Now’ on my auction for Phil. Dad says a pleasant, local chap picked up the car with every intention of restoring it for his son. I mentally slapped myself many times for sulking over an old car but I genuinely miss the old boy, even if I do love the new replacement.

On Monday we had a great time at the cinema and Tuesday we met up to go for a run together. We made a point of meeting up Wednesday and tonight he has picked me up from work for dinner at his place again.

“You know, I feel kinda bad that this is the second time you have cooked me dinner and I haven’t returned the favour.”

I push away my finished plate of baked salmon, fennel and tomatoes.

“Feel free to come back tomorrow and hijack my kitchen.” Dayton grins before taking a sip of his drink.

“How about we go out for a meal, my treat?”

“Alannah, you really think I would agree to go out for a meal and let a lady pay for me? Sorry, no. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable.”

He is serious. He puts his drink down and starts to clear away our plates.

“Why? I want to. I want to return the favour.”

I follow him through to the kitchen and watch him start loading the dishwasher.

“It’s not happening, Alannah. That’s not why I cooked us dinner tonight; your company is all I crave. I’d be ashamed of myself if I let you pay for a meal.”

I’m surprised with how adamant he is. “That’s a flat out no then?”

“I’m afraid so, sorry. The idea of going out for a meal sounds great though.” He offers me a determined look. “I’m paying.”

I chuckle and cross my arms. “That does nothing on my part to even up the score though.”

“Nobody is counting. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow.” He grins.

I lose.

I’ve texted Dayton asking where we are eating. I need to know so I can dress appropriately. He’s booked us a table at La Bella Luna, an expensive Italian restaurant in Manchester city centre. I call Corrine in a flap, I own nothing elegant. A few clubbing outfits and casual clothes are normally all I need. Corrine offers to let me raid her wardrobe and I’m standing in her bedroom looking at her extensive clothing collection in awe.

“Holy shit, Cor, you’ve actually worn all of these? Where the hell did you wear this?” I pull out a tie dye wrap dress and Corrine smiles.

“Gay pride celebration in Nottingham.” I quirk an eyebrow at her. “Hey, you don’t have to be gay to support their cause. It was a fabulous day out.”

I flick through the hangers but I could be here all night. “Oh, Corrine, can you just find me something, please? You have a better fashion sense than me anyway,” I whinge before plonking down on her huge bed with the tie dyed bedding.

“Okay, I’ll find you my three most suitable dresses and you can try them all on.”

I slip on a calf length backless black dress and, as much as I feel great in it, I can’t help thinking it would be a little OTT. I change into an emerald floor length strapless dress. It looks nice and the colour is perfect, understated but elegant. Finally I try on a ruby red, knee length cocktail dress. It’s one shouldered with ruffles on the shoulder that drape to my elbow. I feel amazing in it.

“That’s the winner. Now shoes.”

I sit in front of my dressing table half an hour later applying smoky eye make-up. I’ve left my chestnut waves down but pinned one side back from my face with a large red flower grip. I finish the outfit with a silver chain with a diamond love heart.

I take in my reflection and am pleasantly surprised, then a flash of Regina pops unbidden into my mind and my mood sours substantially. I scowl at myself. I refuse to compare myself to anyone. I’ve always been comfortable in my own skin and I hate that I feel inferior to her. When I told Corrine how she makes me feel she brushed it off telling me I’m a million of Regina, my beauty isn’t skin deep, that I’m a beautiful person through and through.

I take in my reflection, my big brown eyes, my button nose and my narrow lips. My oval face is perfectly framed by my glossy and thick, dark locks that wave down past my shoulders. A lot of people have told me I’m beautiful and I don’t think there is a thing I would change about my looks. Then I picture Regina and see how we are two totally different people. She is blond and angelic with cherub features, my darker looks are more sultry. We’re opposite ends of the spectrum.

I push away my irritating thoughts and check if I have everything I need in my clutch bag, Dayton is due any minute. Coby wolf whistles when I enter the living room. “Looking good, sis. Who is the lucky guy?”

“Thanks, Coby. His name is Dayton.”

“You look stunning, darling. This Dayton fellow should count his blessings,” Dad compliments with a smile.

“Where is he taking you? Is he picking you up?” Mum gushes.

“He’s taking me to La Bella Luna and he will be here any minute.” I twitch back the blind to see if he’s here yet but I’m sure I’ll hear the car before I see it.

“Do we get to meet him?” Dad asks and I cringe.

“Do you
have
to?”

“No, but I want to,” Mum answers for Dad.

Right on queue Dayton’s car pulls up at the kerb and Dad comes to the window. “That’s his car?” Coby joins him at the window.

“F’Kinhell. What a beast. What is he, a football player or something?”

“A DJ and will you
please
come away from the window for crying out loud? Mum...” I turn to her with pleading eyes, begging her to rein them in.

“It’s not Dayton Scott? Is it?” Coby looks astounded and I blink in surprise.

“Yeah, that’s him. How do you know him?” I’m blown away that even my brother knows who he is.

“He’s only the biggest DJ in Manchester. Haven’t you heard his music? All the girls at school go crazy over him. What’s he doing at our house?”

“I think we’ve just established he’s here to pick up your sister,” Mum says as there is a knock at the door. “I’ll get it.”

“Please, be.., normal.” I look at Coby with a warning glare but he’s checking himself over and seems as nervous and excited as me. Dayton follows Mum into the room and all my worries are forgotten, my thoughts are hijacked by how amazing he looks in a pressed white shirt with a dark red tie and dinner suit. I feel my heart stop for a beat, he is divine. He flicks me an embarrassed smile before Dad pushes his hand out at him.

“Dayton, I’m Harry. Pleased to meet you.”

“Likewise, Harry.” Dayton smiles before looking back to me. “Alannah, you look breathtaking, as always.”

I thank him and feel the heat rise in my cheeks. Remembering my manners I turn to Coby. “This is my brother, Coby. Coby, I think you know Dayton.”

“Have we met?” Dayton asks, offering Coby his hand. I can see Coby looks star struck but shakes his hand.

“Nah, I’m not old enough to get into Lexis yet, everyone at school knows about you though. Sweet ride by the way. That’s what kind of car I want when I pass my test. I bet it’s a real pussy puller, ain’t it?”

Mum swiftly clouts Coby around the back of the head and I feel mortification blaze through me as Coby rubs his hand over his hair. “None of that talk, boyo.” Mum frowns.

“Jesus, Mam. I’ll never be able to drive if you knock the eyeballs clean outta my head!” Coby grumbles.

Dayton smiles and gives him an apologetic glance.

“You’re not drinking tonight then, Dayton? If you’re planning on driving?” Dad interjects and I give him a pleading look, hoping he isn’t going to start with an unwarranted lecture on road safety.

“Of course not, Harry. I wouldn’t be so foolish. Road safety is a bit of an issue for me so I would never take any risks.”

“You drive a mighty fast car for someone so safety conscious.” Dad points out the obvious and I feel my cheeks redden. This is exactly why I didn’t want to invite Dayton in.

“That I do, but I assure you I’m not a boy racer. I respect the power of my car and the safety of my passengers is always my first priority. Alannah is more than safe, I promise you that.”

I go to stand beside Dayton and take his hand. “Dad knows that. Don’t you, Dad?” I give him a pointed look and he nods his head. “We should go, we have reservations,” I say as an explanation as I pull Dayton gently towards the door.

“Have a great night. Hopefully we’ll meet again soon, Dayton.” Mum smiles at him and he nods.

“I hope so, it was nice to meet you all. Goodnight.” Dayton smiles and I wave at them as I move to the door.

“Night, don’t wait up.”

I let out a breath like I’ve been holding it the whole time we were in the house and start down the garden path to the car. “You’ll have to excuse my dad, sometimes he forgets to take his driving instructors hat off when he gets home from work,” I excuse him but Dayton bats my comment away.

“I’m driving his daughter, I expect him to be overprotective, especially if he has seen my car. I know the impression it gives.”

The drive to the restaurant is a short one and when we park I see the place is in a very old building but is modernised tastefully and looks glamorous from the outside. Dayton takes my hand and guides me inside, greeting the maître d. I take in the opulent settings and intimate low lighting. We are guided to our table laid with crystal wine glasses and silver cutlery. Dayton pulls my seat out for me and once seated the waiter brings us our menus.

“This place is beautiful, do you come here often?” I ask quietly.

“I brought my parents and sister here for my mum’s birthday a few months ago. The food is amazing.” His eyes seem to sparkle in the warm lighting.

We order our starters of barley mushroom risotto. Dayton orders me wine by the glass and while we wait for our meals he takes my hand over the table. “I’m pleased we came here tonight. It’s nice to be able to bring you somewhere more sophisticated than Lexis. It’s been so long since I’ve been out somewhere like this, apart from with my family obviously.”

His thumb grazes over the back of my knuckles and I commit his face to memory, loving the way he looks at me. “Thank you for bringing me. I’ve never been to a restaurant this nice. It’s very romantic.”

“I’m glad you think so. I meant what I said, too, you look sensational.”

“So do you. You should wear suits more often.” I smile.

“There’s not much call for suits in my line of work.” He grins back and I’m itching to lean over the table and kiss him but I have to be satisfied with the kiss he lays on the back of my hand.

Our starters are as amazing as Dayton promised they would be and our mains of duck ragu pappardele are equally delicious. The portions are so big that I’m stuffed and sit back in my seat sipping shiraz. “Wow, stick a fork in me, I’m done.” I giggle and Dayton rolls his eyes.

“We haven’t even had dessert yet. Man up, Alannah. We have one more course to go.”

“Are you serious? I can’t eat another bite.”

“I’m sure you can. How about we split one then? You can choose.” His eyes dare me and I grin.

“Isn’t it traditional to try and get me drunk, rather than make me fat?” I tease and he laughs, the deep sound making my insides quiver. I could have him for dessert, umm, now that sounds appealing. He hands me the dessert menu and I give him a relenting look.

“Maybe we can get drunk at my place after?” He gives me a crooked grin and I straighten in fake indignation.

“What do you take me for, Mr. Scott?” I flick a glance over the menu, looking for something light rather than stodgy. “I’ll take the lemon Italian ice. You have to split it with me.”

“No problem.” The waiter disappears and Dayton sips his non-alcoholic drink. “I’m not even near ready to take you home yet.”

It’s like he can read my mind because I’m not ready to call it a night yet either. I take in his handsome face and feel a rush of gratitude that it’s me he’s here with. “Why me, Dayton?”

He blinks and looks confused. “What do you mean?”

I rest my chin in my hand, my elbow propped on the table. “I’ve been told you don’t date or do one night stands and I know for a fact you’re not short on offers. So, why me?”

“Why not you?” I roll my eyes and smile.

“Seriously. I wanna know. Why am I sat here rather than one of the many women who would give their right arm to get a dinner date with you?”

“Alannah, they aren’t like you. You’re different, special. When I saw you standing in Luke’s kitchen you weren’t waiting for the whole world to notice you. You didn’t even see me watching you. Then when we spoke you were just so... normal. You didn’t expect me to be something I’m not or go gushing at my feet, making me uncomfortable. You’re grounded and very easy to be with. I don’t meet many people like that.”