Page 95 of The Making of Jonty Bloom
As they walked along the beach, Jonty ran through what had happened and how he’d moved out to stay with Mike and Willis until he found a new place.
“You sure it was Brad?”
“Yep.”
“The police will do something now, surely.”
“They went to see him, but I don’t know what he told them. That’s not all though. There was a bit of an incident at the hotel.”The major told me what you’re really doing up here.“I met Ravi.”He told me too, in his way.
Jonty could almost taste the tension pouring off Devan. He wished Devan could sense the grief pouring off him.
“Whatever he said was a lie,” Devan said.
You’re the biggest liar.“Really? He said you were the most honest guy he’d ever met, the most fantastic lover, the most gorgeous, the most skilled with his tongue, the most talented with his dick, the most—”
“I think that’s enough. He wouldn’t have said any of that.”
“He wouldn’t? That’s a bit of a disappointment. So why did he come up here?”
“He had a Dior shoot at The Angel of the North. The business I came here to do was supposed to have been done by my brother.”
Jonty’s lungs locked for a moment. Was Devan going to tell him?
“He and Ravi had planned a few days here together.”
Jonty frowned. “But Ravi knew Griff hadn’t come up, so why did he still come to the hotel?”
“To beg me to reconsider being Griff’s best man and ask if maybe I’d like to fuck him for old time’s sake.”
Jonty gasped. “Bloody hell.”
“Thank you for not sayingDid you?I wished I didn’t have to say that I wouldn’t touch him with a pole of any description, but I do need to tell you that. Ravi and I are done. I can’t tell Griff what he said, but I did tell my other brother who will tell our mother. She might believe it. Maybe it will filter back to Griff. But I don’t even care and it’s likely that Griff won’t believe it anyway.”
“Ravi asked me for the key to your room. He said he’d accidentally locked himself out. I said no because he might be a vampire.”
“Out in daylight?”
“Do you know nothing? Vampires have mastered the ability to walk in the sun.”
Devan laughed.
“But I’m pretty sure he overheard me telling my boss that I thought I might have left my phone in your car because Ravi then went on the attack. He complained about the mojito I made him, but there was nothing wrong with it. When I brought him another, he yanked me into the hot tub. He’s wrecked my only suit. Maybe my shoes. I somehow clonked him on the nose when I fell in and made it bleed. He’s saying I thumped him. I didn’t.”
“I thought you were going to kick him in the arse.”
“I’m full of talk. So is Ravi. He’s talking about suing me and the hotel. When he realises the ear plugs I left in his room are actually mini marshmallows, I think I’m doomed.”
“Oh God. I don’t know whether I dare laugh.”
“Vincent sent me out of the way to walk Dottie. I don’t think he believes I didn’t thump Ravi. Another guest is backing Ravi’s version. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the sack.”
“I’ll talk to Vincent, tell him what Ravi’s like.”
I give up. You’re not going to tell me.The disappointment was crippling. Jonty’s stomach churned. He took a deep breath. “Do you need to bother? I’m not going to have a job soon anyway, am I?”
Devan stopped walking and stared straight at him. Jonty watched it gradually dawn on Devan that he knew exactly why he was in Northumberland.
“Were you going tofuckme, thenfuckoff, and let me find out what a realfuckeryou are?” Jonty clenched his fingers around Dottie’s lead.
