Page 126 of He's the One

Robert didn’t answer.

“Look,” Col said. “Leave me alone. I know you feel you always need to win, but this time walk away. We’ll both keep quiet, both hold on to the information we have and let this end. I don’t want you to lose your job, or lose your kids. I’m not worth it.”

Theo nudged him and glared but Col shook his head. He was giving Robert anouthe’d take.

“No, you’re not,” Robert snapped and the call ended.

Col blocked the number.

“Bloody hell,” Theo whispered. “You think that’s it? He’s going to stop?”

“I think the chances are better than they’ve been before. But he’s sly. If he gets the chance to cause trouble for me, he’ll take it, but he’ll do it anonymously.”

“Do you really have protected status?” Theo asked.

“I did when I was a kid but not now.”

“You have a lot of baggage.” Theo smiled at him. “Show me you’re worth it.”

Col kissed him and when they finally broke for air, Theo whispered. “That’s all right then. Absolutely worth it.”

The next morning, when Col and Theo pulled up at the gate to input the entry code, James came out of his house. Col lowered the window.

“Morning,” Theo called.

“Morning.” James nodded at both of them.

“Is everything okay?” Theo asked, which was just what Col was wondering.

“Did you get all the materials you needed to do the work on your place?” James asked.

“We’ll need more plasterboard,” Theo said. “There’s no longer a ceiling. In case you’re wondering, it was deliberate.”

James raised his eyebrows. “I’ll ride up with you and take a look.”

He climbed into the back of Col’s car.

“Col did everything on his own time,” Theo said. “After work. We did it together. Even me.”

“I assumed that was whattogethermeant. You do know the stable block is listed like Asquith.”

“We’re not doing anything other than replace what had already been done,” Col said. “Apart from the ceiling. I’m surprised they ever allowed that to be boarded over.”

“It was probably done before the regulations came in.”

“Col found a secret way into the hidden garden,” Theo blurted.

Col winced.

“Theo is not good with secrets,” James said.

“I am,” Theo protested. “But I wanted to tell you this one. My father told Col there was a secret and said he thought he might find it.”

“Was he…okay about that?” James asked.

“He was noncommittal.” Col pulled up in the courtyard and they all climbed out. “But he didn’t tell me not to look. What would you like me to work on today?”

“Let’s go and see what you’ve done here first.”

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