Page 56 of Putting Down Roots

“Did I ruin you for any other women, then?”

“What?”

“It makes sense now. I wondered why the sex was so . . . perfunctory.”

“Don’t be vulgar Natasha.” I let her insults wash over me. They can’t hurt me anymore.

“What was that?” David, finishing his inspection of the roses, appears next to Natasha. “What-Oh Jacko.”

“It’s Jackson,” I grind out.

“I can see why our marriage failed.” Natasha’s voice is cold and spiteful. “It seems I didn’t have the right, equipment.” She flourishes her hand towards Luca.

David looks between her and me, and Luca. His eyes darken. “Are you telling me you’re with this poof? I see I didn’t do a good enough job of beating it out of you.”

I can take any number of insults against myself, but not against Luca.

I get a fleeting moment of satisfaction at the shocked expression that crosses David’s face, as my fist makes contact with his jaw—just before my hand explodes in pain. I’ve never hit anyone before, but there’s no way I’m standing for that.

David clutches his jaw. For a moment I wish I’d broken his nose, but it’s brief. Violence isn’t the way. The shocked expression on Natasha’s face is at least the first genuine emotion I’ve ever seen.

“Luca, this is my brother, David. David, this is Luca—my boyfriend.”

I turn to David. “I should have done that a long time ago. Now get out and don’t come back. I never want to see either of you again.”

Anna rounds the corner.

“Ah, there you are. The photography crew want a few more pict?—”

She takes in the scene and immediately takes charge.

“Jackson and Luca—to the house now. Claude, you’d better leave before I call the police, and I don’t know who you are, but I don’t think you’re welcome either.”

Natasha at least has the sense to realise Anna’s being serious. She grabs David’s arm and pulls him away, stumbling over the path in her high heels towards the car park.

CHAPTER 49

Luca

We don’t speakas we walk up to the house and into the kitchen. Jackson crosses to the sink and runs his hand under the cold tap.

I feel I need to say something.

“Thank you. No one has ever stood up for me like that before.”

“I just wish you hadn’t witnessed that. I hoped you’d never have to meet my brother.”

“No wonder you were straight!” He exclaims, and his tone makes me laugh. Once I start, I can’t stop. He laughs too. It’s a release of all the pent-up tension.

“That was Claude, I take it.”

“Yeah, but I found his words didn’t hurt me anymore—they made me angry.”

“That’s good. Just don’t go around hitting people. It hurts.”

I don’t think I’m gonna be doing that. Jackson is drying his hand on a towel. I go over and take it in mine, then lift it and kiss his knuckles lightly.

He puts his other arm around me and pulls me close. He kisses me and then says, “I love you Luca, I will always defend you.” We kiss again.

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