Page 59 of Waiting for Ru
Jasim kept his eyes peeled for anyone who might have seen him leaving, but even if they did, he had a good excuse, checking up on an injured employee. Nothing unreasonable in that. Nor in exchanging numbers with Ru.
His mind raced with possibilities. How quickly he’d stepped from a position of control to one of recklessness. Ru wouldn’t have even understood what he’d meant when he’d said it was too dangerous. Maybe he’d think that it was just a matter of not wanting anyone to know what they were doing—going to do. That was true, but Ru would have no idea why. He should have warned him to be careful. Jasim had a fleeting thought of a little farm in Ireland where he and Ru could live without fear of discovery. What would he give for that to be able to happen? Then reality slammed back.This is a guy you want to fuck, not marry, for God’s sake.
Jasim detoured via the office.
“Hi.” Georgia smiled at him. “Everything okay? Ru all right?”
“He’s back in the block with the others. I think he was uncomfortable staying in the house. Are you aware of his background?”
“Everyone is.”
Jasim bristled. “How?”
“They looked online. I don’t know who started it, but I heard a group of grooms talking about him. So I looked him up. It’s very sad. He went through a terrible time. His poor parents.”
“Did he give any next-of-kin on his form?”
“Yes, though not his parents.” Georgia rose from her chair and went over to the filing cabinet. A moment later, she handed him the card.
Jasim memorised Ru’s number. “His brother. Right.” He handed the card back.
“We can’t tell his brother about the accident unless he wants us to,” she said.
“I know. I just wanted to be sure we had someone to contact, just in case.”
“Want to look at those invoices while you’re here?”
“I’ll do it later.” Tapping Ru’s number into his phone before he forgot it was more important.
He didn’t do that until he was in the house. Then he pressed call.
“Hello?”
“Ru.” Jasim’s voice shook as he said his name. “I got your number from Georgia.”
“Right. Now I have yours. Did you forget something?”
“Several things. My mind went blank for some reason. I have no idea why.”
Ru chuckled.
“Please don’t attempt to do any work. You’re supposed to be resting. Definitely no riding yet. But your swimming lesson is still on.”
“Okay. But I don’t have any trunks.”
“You have underwear.”
“But you’ll see everything when they’re wet.”
Ru put such mock-horror into his voice that Jasim laughed.
“Tell me the rules,” Ru whispered.
Jasim swallowed hard. “No one can know. No one can even guess.”
“Okay.”
“No one knows that I’m gay.” Well, there were a couple of people, but no one he’d ever see again. He hoped. “And it has to stay that way. I’ll explain properly when we’re together, but it’s essential that no one suspects.”
