Page 31 of Sparring Partners
“You look hot.”
“What?” Luca’s heart jumped in his chest.
“It’s a hot day,” Adrian said evenly. “We’re in for a spell of good weather.”
“Right. Good.” Luca swallowed the groan. Was that all he could say?
Adrian smirked, feeding off Luca’s discomfort.
“I’d better?—”
“Do you want?—”
They staggered to a stop, each looking at the other, until Adrian tipped his head and spoke.
“I was about to get something to eat and drink. If you want, you can join me.”
No. He needed to keep his distance from Adrian, there was no way he could…
“Thank you. I can certainly do with a cold drink. But don’t worry about anything more.”
Adrian started to speak, but Luca’s stomach beat him to it as it rumbled its protest.
“Oh.”
Adrian laughed. Loud and good humoured, transforming his dark watchfulness, making him looser and lighter as his laughter morphed into an easy smile.
“Nothing fancy. Just a cheese sandwich. Or are your tastes more refined? You’ve got a two star kitchen, after all.”
“A cheese sandwich is perfect. But please, no pickle.”
“That’s a promise.” Adrian shuddered. “Pickles are the devil’s food. Come up to the house via the main drive. I’ll see you there.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
The front door was closed. About to ring the bell, a weak bark snagged Luca’s attention.
“Hello, boy.”
Spud, his tail wagging, ambled towards the rear of the farmhouse before stopping and looking back.
“Oh, do you want me to follow you?”
Spud answered with another small bark as Luca approached. Extending his hand, Luca allowed the old collie to give him a sniff, before the dog made his slow, stiff way, checking to make sure Luca was following.
“Hello?” Luca called, just outside the open back door.
“In here.”
Luca followed the voice through to the kitchen, where he found Adrian piling cheese between thick slices of bread.
“Doorstops,” Adrian said, without pausing or looking up. “No dainty finger food here.”
“I never doubted it.”
“Sit down.”
Luca pulled out a chair at the table, where they’d had their awkward, prickly meeting.
