Page 166 of The Making of Jonty Bloom
Devan had asked Stan, his private investigator friend, to follow Ravi. It hadn’t taken long to get pictures of Ravi in positions he had great difficulty explaining to Griff. Griff and Devan were less bristly with each other after last Christmas. Jonty thought it was only a matter of time before the two were friends again.
“I’ve heard a lot of compliments about your sea glass designs. The hotel shop has sold several today.”
“Really?”
Devan narrowed his eyes. “So it wasn’t you who kept going in to ask Dieter if any had been sold?”
Jonty put on his innocent face, even though it never fooled Devan. He’d made a number of sea glass signs in the hotel, including the names of the rooms and a larger piece featuring two seahorses with their tails entwined that was on the wall in the lounge.
“A couple of guests want to speak to the artist to discuss commissions.”
Jonty widened his eyes, then smiled. “One of them you, by any chance?”
“Lex and Delia Drummond, the TV presenter.”
Hands landed on the shoulders of both Jonty and Devan.
“Well done.” Alan dropped his hands. “The place is fabulous. I’ve not heard one negative comment.”
“We’re not quite up and running,” Devan said.
Jonty shrugged. “There still won’t be a negative comment.”
“We need future bookings from the people who are here, or from people they tell about the hotel,” Devan said.
“We’ll get them.” Jonty smiled. “I think we’d drum up interest with my nude weekend idea.” He turned to Alan. “It isn’t only the guests who are naked but all staff members. I think it’s a winner. Everyone here that I’ve asked has agreed with me.”
Alan’s jaw dropped.
Devan laughed. “Alan. Think whose mouth that came out of.”
Alan let out a relieved huff and scurried off.
“You are an evil little shit,” Devan said.
“Am I?”
“It’s why I love you.”
Every time Devan said that he loved him, the most enormous lump appeared in Jonty’s throat.Is that always going to happen?
“Struck you dumb again?” Devan smiled. “If I’d have known…”
Jonty swallowed hard. Opened his mouth, then closed it again.
“I reallyhavestruck you dumb. Wow. Want me to say it again?”
Jonty nodded.
“I love you,” Devan whispered.
Jonty bit his lip, grabbed Devan’s hand and yanked him through the groups of people and into the office. He closed the door and leaned back against it.
“You’re worrying me now,” Devan said. “Say something.”
“I’m still not sure we’re sexually compatible, but I do love you. I love that you want to keep trying to make the sex work.”
Devan growled.
