Page 114 of He's the One

Theo looked at him in horror. “Did I? No wonder I fell asleep.” It explained why he felt unsteady and slightly sick. He leaned back against the horizontal metal bars that stopped people falling down onto the sand.

“I think I’m drunk. Well, no. Not think. I am drunk. I have virtually no tolerance for alcohol. I don’t know why. It’s not bloody fair. My father thinks it’s hilarious. My mother not so much. She says I embarrass her.”

“How does too much to drink make you feel?”

“Sleepy. A bit unsteady. Along with reckless and daring. A lethal combination because when I do something stupid, I’m even less safe than if I’d tried it sober. I wonder if I’d freak out if I went onto the sand? Maybe it’s the perfect time to try it when you’re with me and I’m not thinking straight.”

“Really?”

Theo turned, looked down onto the sand and gulped. “Maybe not. It’s too dark. There might be holes.” He turned back again and snuggled up to Col. “I shouldn’t be drunk when I do it.”

“You’re right. What other daring thing do you want to do?”

“I’ll show you when we get back.”

Col took his hand and pulled him away from the sea.

Chapter Eighteen

Theo slept all the way back and Col had to help him up the stairs. He ended up half-carrying Theo into his bedroom. There wasn’t much in there. A cheap-looking bed, tatty wardrobe and an equally tatty chest of drawers. An old rug lay over wooden flooring. The heavily-cracked and marked walls were a mess. Theo deserved better.I can make this better for him.Col laid Theo down, pulled off his shoes, stripped him to his underwear and covered him with the duvet, all without Theo waking.

Col sat beside him. Theo looked even younger while he was sleeping.Not Col’stypehad turned into exactly his type. Theo was funny and kind. Col doubted he had a cruel bone in his body. Though that made him wonder if Theo would give in to the pressure exerted by his parents and marry a woman. The whole concept made him uneasy and also made him suspect something that he doubted had ever entered Theo’s head. But it wasn’t up to him to put it there.

He planted a kiss on Theo’s forehead and left.

When he got back, he texted Theo that he’d landed safely and went to bed.

The next day, Col woke to a message from Theo.

Phwoar! Was it as good for you as it was for me?

Col laughed and sent backYou were astounding.

Theo sent a smiley face emoji, then a worried one.Father wants mother and grandmother off site while Dastardly is dealt with. I have to take them shopping. Ugh!

Col hesitated, then sentI dare you to buy condoms while they’re watching.

I’m no longer drunk, no longer daring. Anyway, I already have 15 packs! But you’re right. Won’t last us a weekend. I’ll buy more.

Col was still smiling as he headed into work.

The first thing he did was remove the wooden support from under the arch he’d rebuilt. The weight of the stones was carried along the curve of the arch and supported at the sides, but Col still held his breath as he pulled the wood free. The stones stayed in place. Now he knew the archway was secure, he began to repair the broken sections, which was mostly a matter of finding the right blocks for the holes and setting them in place.

He took a break after his second batch of mortar, and checked inside the structure for the secret Theo’s father had mentioned. He was guessing it was a carving or graffiti or maybe a stone that would slide out to reveal some hiding place. As Col illuminated the interior with his phone, he spotted the window above a section that looked as if it had once held floor joists. The arched area was obliterated by ivy, which would easier to remove from the outside.

At a lower level, he spotted a section of stonework that looked a little different to anywhere else. A few seconds of judicious tapping with his mallet suggested there was likely a gap at the back. Probably a way into the garden. Col wouldn’t risk checking it out until he’d secured the walls. Maybe there was even a lever that opened up the whole section.Indiana Jones, here I come!

When his phone rang, he thought it would be Theo but it was James.

“Get up to the house as fast as you can. Side entrance near the East Wing.”

“On my way.” Col dropped his mallet and ran.

Luis was waiting and beckoned Col inside. “James needs support to eject Darnley.”

Col followed Luis to the office where James stood at the open door. Darnley’s strident voice was quite clear.

“This is preposterous. Some of the paperwork belongs to me.”

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