Page 21 of Hold On

“Hobby vampire.”

Ren laughed and Dominic felt another layer of his protection peel away. When had he last made a stranger laugh?

“What can you do with that degree, other than teach what you’ve learned to someone else who’ll then teach someone else?”

Dominic shrugged. “No idea. I wasn’t thinking of a job when I chose it. It was just something I was interested in. I did an Open University degree in Maths too.” He pressed his lips together.Shut up!

“Are you mad? No, you’re just clever. My brother will love you.”

I just wantyouto like me.

“I enjoy learning.”And I really should have kept my mouth shut.Except he didn’t want to lie about everything. Just one thing.

“Ah.” Ren nodded. “You’ve definitely got to meet my brother. He used to do his homework without being asked. And piano practice. Who the hell does that? He’s a phenomenon.”

Dominic felt out of his depth.Change the subject.“Where’s your bike?”

“In the stable block. I left it some hay and put straw under its wheels. Should be fine.”

Dominic laughed. “I’ve never been on a motorbike.”

Ren’s eyes darkened. “I’ll get my brother to bring his helmet over and I’ll take you for a ride. If you like.”

“Yeah, that… that would be good. Thanks. Well, I better go before I get into trouble for ignoring the notice on the gate.”

“You’re welcome anytime. In fact, I know my brother has put out a request for volunteers to help dig, if you fancy that.”

“Maybe.”

“You can work with me.”

“Are you a hard taskmaster?”

“At times.” Ren smiled. “Do your minders know where you are?”

Dominic made himself smile back but he felt as if his insides had turned to ice. “I gave them the slip.”

Ren laughed. “See you tomorrow?”

Dominic nodded and walked away with his heart singing.

Chapter Four

Ren watched as Dominic strolled away. The guy was very pale. Long, slim and sexy. He looked to have about the same amount of arse as Ren—not much. Ren wasn’t into bubble butts or beards. Hewasinto what was heading away from him and had no trouble imagining Dominic naked underneath him, maybe on top of him…Maybe… Except that thought sent a trickle of sweat abseiling down his spine. Ren also couldn’t help wondering about his story. There was something going on and Ren was nosy.

But he wasn’t in a fit state to be thinking anyone was hot, and being intrigued was probably going to get him in trouble. It usually did. There was too much risk of saying something he shouldn’t, of him freaking out over nothing, or getting violent without meaning to. He’d always been…difficult, but what had happened six months ago had changed him. He wasn’t the man he used to be. He wasn’t sure what he was. Apart from being a puzzle all on his own.

He’d refused therapy. He didn’t want to talk to anyone about how he was feeling, neither one-to-one nor in a group. Well, he didn’t want to talk to anyone who was paid to listen, but the powers that be had insisted he speak to someone, and he’d had to conform or he’d have lost his job. He’d picked the psychologist who’d seemed the most easy-going. Definitely wasn’t going to speak to a woman. Hard enough to talk to a guy. But Ren knew what the man wanted him to say, so he provided that instead of the truth. Sort of. Ren was an expert liar though, and the guy knew that. He’d given Ren more time, which was ticking away.

It wasn’t in Ren’s best interests to open the floodgates because there was no way he’d be able to close them again. Like a dam with a small crack, once it was there, it could only get bigger until everything collapsed in on itself. If Ren even admitted to feeling anxious, the rest would follow, that he was pissed off, guilty, angry, sad, on edge, lonely, let down, hurt, traumatised…Stop right there.No one had ever said the job would be easy. But he’d not thought…Stop fucking thinking!

He took a deep breath and scraped away at the soil, trowelling it into the bucket. Scrape, scoop, dump, repeat. This job however, was easy and boring as shit. If Dominic could be persuaded to join the dig, it would at least give him someone to talk to. Not that he could tell Dominic the truth. Ever. Ren needed to move on, but he was caught in a trap of his own making. Maybe Dominic could give him a hand out of both holes he’d dug himself into.

Mr Tall, Dark, Handsome and Mysterious. Ren chuckled.I have a type.He really didn’t. Though he could count on the fingers of one hand those with whom he’d stayed the night. But he wasn’t sure he was fit to be with anyone yet. What if he freaked out? Ren swallowed hard.

His mind slid back to Dominic who was too thin, too pale, too nervous, too quiet, too…tempting. It was that secret. What was he hiding? Why were the others so protective?

Married to a woman and not happy?

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