Page 42 of Judging Duke

“Oh, that could be anything, knowing him.”

“I know. The last time he said that we ended up visiting a place to make ceramics. They were not impressed at his clay dildo.” Marc closed his eyes as if remembering the event.

I just laughed. Ziggy was a great friend and didn’t care one bit about what people thought about him. Not now, anyway.

He was a force of nature, but where Marc was concerned, he could be a complete pushover, loving him almost as much as he loved his dog, Honey.

“Well, this is me.” My apartment was a short walk from the gym, but I’d need to get a bus into the city for work. Driving in Liverpool was not a favourite pastime. I missed the countrysideand its quiet, winding lanes, where the only traffic jam you’d see was sheep crossing the road.

Marc nodded and continued on his way, breaking into a quick jog. I watched him as he disappeared into the distance. Ziggy was one lucky bastard and had fallen on his feet where Marc was concerned. We were all similar in height, Marc having a couple of inches on us both, but he was built like a brick shit house, looking menacing with his tattoos and piercings.

Yet he was the softest, most considerate person I’d ever met.

He wasn’t at all like me, or Simon.

Simon was a dick.

I arrived at the salon in good time. Lottie was talking with her client while she did her nails.

“Here he is.” She smiled brightly.

I loved Lottie. We’d met several years earlier on the streets, both of us wanting a way out. Attending the same college, Lottie and I had become good friends and had kept in touch. When she’d opened this place, I was the first person she’d called.

At the time, I’d been working abroad for an exclusive client, until he’d accused me of having an affair with his wife. I hadn’t been, but the chauffeur had. After that, I’d procured the place at the spa where I’d met Simon.

Lottie wasn’t my boss. I’d vowed not to work for anyone again, but she was able to offer me a space here. I came and went as I pleased, and as long as my rent was paid on time, she was happy.

I gave her a swift kiss on the cheek and winked at her client, a middle-aged woman I’d seen here before.

“Glynis here was telling me about her next holiday. She’s heading off to the Seychelles for a few weeks. Ever been to the Seychelles, Duke?”

“Can’t say I have, but I hear it’s beautiful out there. Don’t forget to take some pictures and make Lottie here jealous.”

“Hey, don’t you have something you should be doing,” Lottie said, batting me away.

“I have a client due any minute, but I’ll grab a coffee first. Can I get you ladies anything?”

Both declined, and I made my way into the small kitchen at the back of the building. I set the coffee maker and scrolled aimlessly through my phone while I waited.

Nothing grabbed my attention, not today nor in the past few days. I was about to bring up a certain porn site and watch a certain someone when my phone rang before I could even open up the browser.

It was a number I didn’t recognise, and also international. Tempted as I was to ignore the call, something told me to answer it.

“Hello. This is Duke.”

“Darling Duke. This is Barbara. I’m so glad I got hold of you. I have a proposition for you.”

I closed my eyes and clutched the phone to my chest.

What in God’s name could she want?

CHAPTER TEN

SIMON

The flight from Liverpool to Nice had taken no time at all, barely enough time to sell the duty-free booze and overpriced snacks.

The staff were pleasant enough, despite having to deal with a rowdy gang of lads wanting to drink their body weight in beer. In hindsight, it hadn’t been the best idea. The budget airline seats could barely contain my swimmer’s shoulders and definitely didn’t offer any legroom for someone of my height.

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