Page 109 of The Making of Jonty Bloom
“No to the straps and what the hell would you do with a circular saw?” Willis asked.
“Don’t encourage him,” Mike said. “Whereabouts are you staying?”
“Devan’s rented a place on the beach road at Shennan Sands. Sunshine Cottage.”
Mike raised his eyebrows. “Very nice. It’s exclusive up there. I’ll drop the board off with your wetsuit tomorrow before I go to work, okay?”
“Thanks, Mike. Could I ask a huge favour?”
“No,” Willis said.
“My bike’s locked up at the back of the hotel. That’s something else that won’t fit in Devan’s pathetic car and I… I’m not working there anymore.”
“You lost your job? What the hell happened?” Mike took the key to the bike lock Jonty offered him.
“A guest is claiming I punched him in the nose. I didn’t. I must have accidentally kicked him when he pulled me into the hot tub, but another guest has backed him up and the hotel doesn’t want the bad publicity.”
“Jesus, Jonty. You loved that job.”
“I’m going to sort it out,” Devan said.
“What about all your stuff?” Willis asked Jonty.
“I’d like a few things, more of my clothes, but can we help put the rest in your garage to free up the van?”
“Me and Willis will do that. Just take what you need.”
Jonty wrapped his arms around Mike. “Thanks for helping me out.”
Mike gave him a tight hug. “That’s what friends are for.”
Jonty didn’t miss the look that Mike shot Devan.One that reminded him not to mess me around.
WHEN HE AND DEVAN WEREfinally on their way to the house, Jonty heaved a sigh of relief.
“Nothing is going to stand in the way of sex, right?” Jonty asked. “Oh except, we need to empty the car, put the food away, unpack our clothes, make something to eat, eat it, wash up, have something to drink, watch the news in case aliens have invaded, take off our clothes, shower, I need to find a new job…then your lovely arse is all mine.”
“Er…”
“Which bit of that didn’t you like the sound of?”
“Er…”
“You want me to unpack everything?Andput the food away? I can’t rely on you to tell me whether aliens have invaded? I suppose not. You’ve too much on your mind. Oh, don’t tell me your arse isn’t lovely. I’ve seen it. I’m really worried that I’m going to disappoint you. That’s why I’m talking so much.”
“You always talk a lot. I like it. I like you.” Devan glanced across and smiled at him.
“Even when I’m being sarcastic?”
Devan laughed. “Yes, even then.”
“I need you to stop the car,” Jonty whispered.
“Why?”
“I just do. There’s an entrance to a farm coming up on the left. Please.”
Devan pulled off. Jonty guessed Devan was thinking he wanted to take a leak or maybe throw up, but it wasn’t that.
