Page 46 of Judging Duke

“What the fuck is it?” He placed the glass on the table and pushed it away from him.

“Some weird concoction.” I reached into a bucket full of water bottles and handed one to him. “This better?”

“Much. Thank you.” He cracked the lid and drank deeply, tilting his head back. I let my eyes to roam over the smooth neck, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing with every mouthful.

As much as I wanted to hate him, the lines were blurring. I stared at him, not bothered that he was doing the same.

“Tell me about you.” I wanted to know what had got him to where he was.

“It’s a long story. One that started fifteen years ago. Not sure this is the time or the place. Tell me about Robbie.”

Robbie was a sore subject, and his request picked at the scab covering the wound in my heart.

“Robbie does as well as he can. He hates being in the wheelchair, but he’s learnt to adapt. We moved to a more suitable house. He has the downstairs to himself, with a bedroom, a wet room and a gym.”

“Wow. Your parents get a grant or something? That couldn’t have been cheap.”

“I paid for it. I pay for everything. The mortgage, Carlos, the expensive treatments. I did it all.”

“You must love him very much. I remember how close you were when we were younger. I envied you.”

“Sometimes I hate the fucker, but he’s my brother and I do what I can to make his life more comfortable. He’s an ungrateful prick at times, though. Makes me want to smack him upside the head.”

“You used to do that to us both.” He rubbed his head as if he could still feel it.

“That’s because you were brats.”

“I grew out of that. I wouldn’t let anyone get away with it these days.”

“Is that so? Didn’t I knock you on your backside a few months ago?”

“Lucky shot. I wasn’t ready. I’ve fought my way out of tougher situations before. I’m more of a lover now, not a fighter.” His smile was unreadable.

I snorted. He was cocky; I’d give him that.

His eyes met mine, and I began to wonder if I’d give him more if he asked.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

DUKE

Acivilised conversation.

What the hell was going on? What alternate universe had I stepped into?

I’d arrived at Barbara’s house in the late afternoon and had definitely not been expecting to see Simon there.

When Barbara had called me a week or so ago, I’d listened to what she had to say, more than aware of what she’d offered before, but she assured me this was nothing more than she needed a massage. She’d been having problems, and finding someone reliable and as good as me was proving difficult.

I’d thought at length about it and initially had said no. I had clients and obligations. I couldn’t just drop everything, but when Cyril came on the call and told me how much money he was offering, I’d have been stupid to turn it down. Money wasn’t the be-all and end-all, but it went a long way to making my life more bearable.

“Just a few days. I’m sure you can rearrange your diary for me, darling Duke,” Barbara had pleaded. How could I let one of my favourite clients down in her hour of need?

And that’s how I found myself sitting across the table from a man I swore would kill me, given the chance. Except right now, I definitely wasn’t getting that vibe from him.

“So, what brings you here? Other than giving Barbara the massage of her life.”

“She asked nicely.”

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