Page 9 of The Science of Attraction

“Yeah, I thought so.” I kept my gaze rock solid on his. “So now we’ve got that out in the open, you can listen up.”

His gaze sharpened and he eyed me warily.

“You don’t have to like the fact I take men to my bed rather than women—” I let the statement hang there for a moment, watching his eyes widen almost comically. If Paddy thought I’d hold back just because he was paying me, he had another think coming. “—but youwillrespect me professionally or we will end this contract right now. Just as I might not like that you appear to be a homophobic bigot, but I will respect you as a client in need of my skills, and you’ll get treated the same as all my other clients.”

Paddy huffed and muttered something I couldn’t quite make out and didn’t want to in case I felt obliged to respond.

Instead, I pressed on. “That means we both have to give a little for this contract to work. The truth is, I have the skills and experience you need, Paddy. I’m one of the best around at what I do and that’s why your medical team recommended me. And just so we’re clear, I don’t need this contract.Youneedme. I don’t need you. You’re not doing me any favours here. I have a waiting list of clients and a substantial number of air points along with a desperate need for a holiday that I haven’t had in years. Which was exactly what I had planned until I got Norma’s call. She did a great job of convincing me to ditch the holiday and come here instead. She promised me that you wanted this. That you’d do the work.”

Paddy’s eyes flickered and his jaw worked like he’d just swallowed something sour, but I wasn’t done.

“But let me be really clear on one thing. I won’t be treated like I’m a second-rate citizen, or like I have the damn plague. I’m gay, Paddy. It’s not catching. So get over it. I’m more than happy to walk away from this job today and you can employ someone else you deem more acceptable, although I don’t rate your chances of finding anyone as good or who is prepared to come all the way out here for such a long contract only to be barked at by you, homophobia aside. Now, are you gonna sit there like a petulant child, or are you going to get back to work so that you have a fighting chance of enjoying the rest of your life on this gorgeous land you have the undeniable privilege to live on?”

I folded my arms and waited, hoping he saw sense but not too bothered if he didn’t. If he wanted me gone, I’d happily go. Rehab work was a partnership. If he couldn’t work with me, I wasn’t doing him any good by staying.

Silence filled the small room and the walls pressed in, ratcheting up the tension. Paddy’s gaze dropped to his knees, the fingers of his good hand rolling and unrolling the edge of his singlet, but still, he said nothing.

Neither did I. The ball was in his court.

After what seemed like a lifetime, Paddy’s gaze flicked back up to meet mine. “My... ssssson—” He squeezed his eyes shut. “—Zzzach... is g-gay. Mmmmy... son.”

“I know.”

Paddy looked up in surprise.

“I also know he probably saved your life up on that mountain. Is that the first time you’ve said the wordgaywithout throwing up in your mouth?”

Paddy blinked but one corner of his mouth twitched. “Okay.” He began slowly nodding. “We... keep doing... thii-is.” His gaze dropped. “Have to... get be-better... please.”

The ‘please’ part was barely audible and I almost asked him to repeat it just to fuck with him. Then I figured I should cut my losses and take it for the monumental admission that it was.

“All right then.” I offered my hand and he stared at it for a few seconds before clasping it with his good one. “Hi. I’m Liam Skelton, your rehab specialist. Looking forward to working with you.”

Paddy managed to mask his lopsided grin but not before I’d seen it. “P-Paaaddy. Same. And—” He waved his good hand in the general direction of my face. “Sssorry.”

I gingerly touched my nose, which had thankfully stopped bleeding, and rolled my eyes. “And it was such a pretty face. Whatever will the boys think?”

His smile was too quick to hide that time, and I knew we’d be okay.

I reached for his frame and set it in front of his chair. “Right, let’s get you decent and then you can finish dressing in the bedroom where there’s more space. Is it safe to show you the best way to get those boxers up without fear of you taking out my other nostril?”

Paddy rolled his eyes but nodded, and it was all I could do not to punch the air.

Five minutes later, I opened the bedroom door to find Norma sitting on the bed waiting for us, her silver-threaded hair pinned up in its usual chic bun. She’d have been a stunner in her younger days, and that fine bone structure and classic beauty had morphed into an elegant fifty-something. Jules lurked in her kind eyes and the way her mouth always seemed poised on the verge of a smile. It was hard to imagine this gentle woman falling for such a truculent man when she no doubt had her choice of suitors. Then again, love rarely made sense.

Norma’s soft green eyes were full of apology, telling me she’d overheard enough of what had been said in the bathroom. But one glance at the wad of paper in my nose and she aimed a look of dire warning at her husband. “You’re a damn fool, Patrick Lane.”

Paddy grunted, flushed bright red, and found something enthralling to study on the floor.

Norma shifted her attention to me, offering a quick apologetic smile. “Everything okay?”

I nodded. “We just cleared the air a little, that’s all.”

Paddy shot me a surprised look and I shrugged. Throwing him under the bus wasn’t going to get us anywhere.

“Lunch at twelve then, as usual?” Norma raised a brow and we all knew what she was really asking. Was I staying or leaving?

“We’ll be there.” I held her gaze. “Straight after Paddy gives me a tour of the woolshed.”

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