Page 5 of Ace My Heart

I’d always wondered why he hadn’t followed his father’s footsteps into tennis – I’d played a few friendly matches with him and there was no doubt that he could have been great if he’d put his mind to it.

I would never tell him to his face, but I had a feeling that running his own business was probably going to be a success. He wouldn’t have to kowtow to anyone else’s ideals, for starters. And he certainly looked the part. His tall, broad physique was toned, tanned and totally cut. I was sure that he waxed his chest and back just so it was impossible to ignore how defined his muscles were.

I didn’t want to think about where else he might wax. Not that I wouldevergo there, but in my sex-starved state, dick was never far from my mind.

So yeah, he was a specimen. Men would employ him because they wanted to look like him, and women would employ him because it would mean they got to perve on him for the duration oftheir training session. Not to mention the motivation factor:if I just lose that extra ten kilos, I might have a chance with a man like him.

Vomit!

“You trying to burn a hole through me, Mel?” he asked me, sprawling out further on the lounge. He was so tall there was no room for me to sit, not without having some part of him touching me.

I sneered around my chocolate.

“Just trying to figure out what kind of ape you are,” I retorted, turning back to the TV.

“Let me make it easy for you, I’m the sexy ape you secretly want to bone.”

I scoffed. “More like the ape who constantly grunts and beats his chest. You’re so full of yourself. Want to know the worst kept-secret in the world? Not every woman wants you!”

“No, but you do.” He thought he was so funny.

I groaned in frustration. “Dream on, pal!”

“Hey, you just let me know when you’re ready to take a ride on arealman, Stink. I’ll happily break you in.”

I leapt to my feet, a growl rumbling in the back of my throat. I was just opening my mouth to inform him that I had an appointment tomorrow night with a real man, one with chest hair and everything, but at the last minute I caught myself and snapped my mouth shut so fast that I gagged on my own saliva.

“Don’t choke on your last bite of Caramello, Stink,” he warned, smirking up at me from the lounge.

I found my breath and lost my temper. “Don’tcall me Stink, you oversized doofus! You’re the biggest knob I’ve ever met! If I could –”

The door opened with a bang and Steve strode in.

“Mel, calm down, don’t let him get to you. Joel, stop teasing her and move over so she can sit down. Have you eaten, Mel?”

I took several deep breaths while Joel sat upright and patted the cushion beside him. I plonked myself down, folding my arms over my chest. Joel rested his arm along the back of the sofa behind me, his fingers draped so they tickled my shoulder. When I wriggled, hesnickered at me under his breath so his father wouldn’t be able to hear.

“Yes. I had salmon pasta.”

“And she just inhaled a chocolate marsupial,” Joel added unhelpfully.

Steve sighed. “Joel, I told you to be on your best behaviour! Mel’s got a very important game ahead of her. I don’t want her stressed out.”

Joel rolled his eyes. Steve didn’t see it, but I did, and I scowled at him. He winked back at me.

“I was just trying to help her lighten up a bit, Dad – she’s way too tense. Seriously Mel, you need to chill out.” Oh, sonowhe was all concerned about my welfare!

“Well, why don’t you go do some Yoga with her? That’ll help her relax.”

“Mel?” Joel turned to me, sounding so sincere that I knew that I would look like the immature one if I didn’t comply.

I followed Joel out onto the balcony. It was large enough for both of us to use, and it was nice to be in the fresh air. It was getting to be late afternoon too, so the sun was low enough that the worst of the heat was gone.

Stripping off the long pants that I had been wearing in the air-conditioned players’ retreat, I stood waiting in my tiny training shorts. Joel eyeballed me. I ignored it. I could rise above his childish behaviour. You really wouldn’t have guessed that he was five years older than me by the way he acted.

“Nice arse, Stink,” he whispered as he moved into the Warrior. I followed.

“I don’t know why I used to want an older brother. If I’d had one as annoying as you, I’d have killed him by the time I was twelve!” I hissed.

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