Page 28 of Judging Duke

“Duke worked there.” My pulse raced at the mere thought of him. Was it from hate or the searing kiss we’d shared?

Robbie looked puzzled, then realisation dawned. “My Duke?”

“He was never your Duke. He ran away and left you.”

“You scared him away. You threatened him with the police when it was never his fault.”

And here was the hate again. Where was he when Robbie needed a friend?

“Not his fault?” I was dumbfounded. How could he say that? “He supplied the alcohol, and he dared you to do it.”

“I could have said no, and I didn’t. Stop blaming Duke for something that was all me.” Robbie’s voice rose, and Carlos looked on, a frown on his face.

“Mr Fletcher. Robbie needs to stay calm.”

“I know.” I stood and stepped into the garden, ignoring Robbie’s shouts.

Conflicting emotions surged through me. On the one hand, thinking about what Duke had done to Robbie sent anger through me, but on the other, that kiss had ignited a passion inside of me. A burning desire to be with him.

What the hell was I thinking?

“I want to see him, Simon.” Robbie appeared beside me. “Tell me where he is.”

“No. I’ll not have you contacting him,” I said, clenching my jaw.

“I’m a grown man, Simon. I know my own mind and can do what the fuck I want. If you won’t tell me, I’ll call Dexter, see where he sent you.”

“Just fucking leave it, Robbie. He didn’t care about you then and probably doesn’t now. He was arrogant as fuck when he was sixteen, and he hasn’t changed from the little I saw of him.”

“You don’t rule my life. Since the accident, you think you can control every part of me, but you can’t.”

“No? Who pays for all this?” I swept my arm, gesturing to the house and land it sat in. “Who’s paying for your next treatment?”

Robbie opened his mouth to speak, but realisation set in that it was me. All me. I’d looked after him and my parents for the past fifteen years.

“He was my friend,” he whispered. “Other than you and Carlos, I have no one else. Please, Simon.”

His pleas tugged at me. Duke wasn’t the only one that had deserted him that night. Everyone he’d known had rallied round at first, but the longer it went on, the smaller his friend group became until it was just me and our parents.

Carlos came along a little later, and it was no wonder he’d formed a close bond with the Spaniard.

Was I that selfish to deprive him of reconnecting with Duke? Could I be that cold?

Just because I had an issue with the guy, it didn’t mean Robbie should. He seemed okay with the whole thing.

“I’ll give you the number of the hotel, but I don’t want to hear anything more about him. I don’t want him here at the house. Ever. Do you understand?” I faced him. I refused to compromise on that.

“I don’t get your problem with him. We always got on well when we were younger.”

“You know my reasons.” I turned away. Fuck, it was hot, and this conversation wasn’t helping.

“The blame and the animosity you feel towards him are unfounded, Simon. I never blamed him, and you shouldn’t either.”

Well, that was his opinion. I didn’t have to like him or it.

I fingered my lips again, remembering the press of them against mine a mere twenty-four hours ago.

“Just keep him away from me.”

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