Page 70 of The Making of Jonty Bloom
Be kind to him.Devan rolled his shoulders. He never set out to be unkind to anyone. Occasionally, his temper got the better of him, but he wasn’t a mean guy. This was supposed to be a few days of fun, but the trouble was, the longer he spent time with Jonty, the more he was interested in him. He hadn’t imagined the flirting, hadn’t misread the list of stuff Jonty wanted to do. Okay, Jonty didn’t know the reason he was really up here, but hedidknow he was leaving on Sunday.
There were reasons that might not happen. If McAllister said yes to selling, then Devan would stay on for a while, though not in the hotel. Maybe he could rent a place for a month. Be more hands-on than he usually was, once a deal had been struck. Plus, Alan had told him to take a break. Even if Devan was needed elsewhere for a few days, it wouldn’t be a problem. There was an airport at Newcastle. But the biggest incentive to stay was that Devan wanted to. Where better than a place that had allowed him to touch happiness for the first time since the day before his wedding?
Not a place. Jonty.
Devan slid into a happy daydream about him and Jonty living together for a month, only for it to turn black when he thought what Jonty would say when he learned the reason he was going to be out of a job, assuming McAllister said yes. Jonty would be seriously pissed. Devan could put things right but…
Tell him.
Don’t tell him.
Tell him.
He felt as if he were pulling petals off a daisy. Hewouldtell him, but not yet.
As soon as he had McAllister’s decision.
Or as soon as they’d agreed on the price.
Devan felt a deeper ripple of guilt, knowing he was looking to delay the revelation, but unless he could find Jonty another job…Can I?He needed to talk to Jonty first.
Jonty came back to his side, beaming. “I really enjoyed that. All that hot sweaty muscular flesh lodged between my thighs. Making a great lumbering beast do exactly what I want. Is there anything better? Mmmm—I don’t think so. Do you want to choose what we do next? Or do you want me to?”
“You seem pretty good at choosing. I’m sure I’ll like whatever we do.”
“Okay. Back to the car. We need to follow the coast road north for about six miles. You have to keep quiet about this place. We’ll go through the oath swearing ceremony when we get there. It involves a chicken and a dartboard which I’ve handily packed in my bag. Hardly anyone goes there, and those who know about it, would like it to stay that way, which is why it has only one star reviews on Tripadvisor. Big secret. You’re only the forty-sixth person I’ve told.”
Devan laughed and opened the car.
“Not counting my 5,000 friends on Facebook.” Jonty grinned. “Actually, make that five. I only joined in case…” He shrugged. “In case my mother was looking for me. There are a few Jonty Blooms in the UK, but only one living up here. Me.”
Oh Jonty.Devan set off. “Do you know her maiden name?”
“Henley. Rosie Henley.”
“What’s your father’s Christian name?”
“Gary. Why? You going to order a hit on him?”
Devan raised his eyebrows. “Do you want me to?”
Jonty widened his eyes. “I was half-right about the serial killer bit? No hit, thanks. Well, not unless it’s done by an incompetent assassin. My father needs to die slowly and painfully.” He winced. “I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t mean it. Mostly. I don’t care about him anymore. I haven’t for a long time. It was a waste of energy being resentful. That doesn’t mean I forgive him for the way he treated me, but my anger’s gone. I had a shitty, abusive father—and I had to accept it and move on.”
“How long did it take before you felt like that?”
“Are you thinking about your treacherous ex? You should be well over that dickhead. Plenty more fish in the sea. Oh—you caught one.” Jonty put his hands together and made a snapping sound. “Devan shark, doo doo, doo doo doo doo.”
Devan laughed. When he had a moment, he’d text Stan with the names. Jonty might have no interest in his father, but the guy might know the whereabouts of Rosie Henley.
“Your fuckhead ex and my fuckhead father. Ooh, maybe we could swap murders.” Jonty licked his lips. “You get rid of my father and I’ll get rid of—well not your ex necessarily, but an annoying person of your choice, present company excepted.”
“Great idea for a film, but we’re not two random strangers who met on a train.”
“But wearetwo random strangers who met in a hotel. You can be the charming psychopath and I’ll be the talented tennis player. I might have to have a few lessons. I haven’t played for a while. The police will never guess who did it. Keep right here, don’t turn off.”
“You do remember how that film ended?”
“One of us survives. A clue. It wasn’t you.” He sat up straighter. “Another hundred yards and we can park. It might be a good idea to turn the car, so we’re facing the right way when we leave. In case we’re in a rush.”
