Page 15 of Fe
Ripley nodded. “I have no idea how to tackle a tower of food. I thought I’d see how you managed it.”
“Demolition is the only way.” Fen pushed it over with his fork.
Lust, want and need were roaring through him. He had never had such a visceral reaction to anyone and he was having trouble understanding why. Fen was…stunning to look at but it wasn’t only that. He was different—enticing, funny, defiant, lippy…I could go on and on.Except for every reason Ripley had to want him, there was a reason why this wouldn’t work. Ripley could go on and on listing those too. And yet, he still thought there weren’t enough of themnotto pursue this. Not that his mind was completely made up, which was unlike him because he was confident and decisive and determined.
Fen was fuckingundoinghim.
And I like that. I want that. How long have I been waiting for that?
Before he became completely distracted, and did something stupid like drag Fen to the bathroom to fuck him, Ripley pulled out his wallet, peeled off five twenty-pound notes and pushed them across the table. “Is it enough? No, it isn’t. How much more should I give you? Thank you for returning the items. I’m not usually impolite. I can be abrupt, but I was rude. I’m sorry. I apologise for the incident with the puddle, I really didn’t see you. I was in a rush to get to the auction house before it closed. I’m sorry for not taking the time to thank you for returning the medal, in particular.” He rarely apologised. Fen had no idea how unlike him that had been.
“Apology accepted.” Fen smiled and for a moment, all was right with Ripley’s world.
“Am I no longer an arsehole?” Ripley asked.
“Don’t push it.” Fen picked up the money, took out his wallet and a moment later, shoved twenty-five pounds back across the table.
Ripley raised his eyebrows. “I said I’d give you a hundred. Or more.”
“I only want back what I paid.”
Ripley put the money away. Fen was eating slowly, but clearly liking what he ate judging by the dreamy expression on his face. Ripley could see the sense in not arguing over the money. It would piss off this prone-to-raising-its-prickles-at-the-slightest-provocation hedgehog.
“Do you like being a barrister?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It’s a career that rewards hard work and dedication. A barrister rises or falls on the basis of their reputation. I like the variety of work. I enjoy being in court. I like…making things work out for people.”
“A gladiatorial arena. But without the blood.”
“Mostly. I did once get a fist in my face from a client. Blood everywhere. I’d won the case, but in the process said something he didn’t like.”
Fen winced. “Something tells me you don’t handle arguments about who has the kids on a Sunday night.”
“Not unless a crime’s been committed. Sadly, there have been cases of parents killing their kids to stop their other half taking them out of the country.”
“It’s shocking how crazy people can get.”
“It is.”
“Do you always win?”
“Usually. But not always.”
“A bit like me in restoration, battling with objects that sometimes fight back too hard.” Fen shrugged. “I can’t save everything, or I think I’ve saved it only for my most critical boss of the two to decide it’s not good enough to sell in the shop so he finds another way to get rid of it. Car boot sale, charity shop or rubbish bin.Ouch. That last one always hurts.” Fen gave a rueful smile and Ripley found himself fixated on Fen’s mouth. The curve of those lips… The way they’d look wrapped around his—Stop it!
“Did you train to be a restorer?”
“On the job training.”
“Straight from school?”
“I had a few jobs after A Levels but liked antiques and that’s what I’ve done for the last few years.”
“What subjects did you study?”
