Right now, with Jack standing about six-two in battered trainers, well-worn jeans, a couple of days’ worth of scruff and biceps I wanted to nibble on, my libido had resurrected itself like a phoenix from some very hot flames.
“You’re talking like you might win, Simone.” He kept his voice low. “Tell you what, let’s have a bet.”
My heart rate rose a little. I hated losing. “What for?”
“Loser makes the winner breakfast.” He winked. “Just between us.”
No one else was in earshot, either finishing a beer or trying to find the right sized bowling ball.
“I’m not sure either of us will lose really. Although you will lose the game.” I liked the idea of breakfast with Jack. “What about Lauren?”
“She can join us if she wants. I think she wants to talk to you about dancing. It isn’t often she finds an adult who gets what she’s talking about.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve danced.”
“That’s a shame.” He picked up a bowling ball. “Game’s about to begin.”
* * *
The hardest partwas trying not to stare at Jack’s ass as he bowled. His jeans hung just right and I remembered several times what he’d said about going to the gym. Going to the gym, however, had not helped his bowling skills. I was ahead by a fairly high margin, whatever fluke of luck that had caused bad blood between me and Number Two had returned with a vengeance only this time I wasn’t going to be on the wrong end of a verbal onslaught.
My team had relaxed with me a little, some offering a running commentary as I bowled, others offering a high five after a strike. Jack pretended to be miffed, making copious comments about my bowling style and that it was sheer fluke, beginner’s luck, but there were smiles he threw my way when no one was looking.
Proud smiles.
“You’re enjoying yourself.”
We were pausing for a beer and burger break. I’d retreated away some, not wanting to force myself into conversations that might’ve been private.
“I like bowling.”
“I can see why. You’re ace at it. But I think you’re enjoying being here too.”
I nodded. “I am. They’re nice people.”
“Yep. You employed a good team. Loads of talent and ambition, but good people too. Mark over there covers for Tom when he has an exam to study for.”
Tom was a kitchen porter. Mark was a pastry chef but generally just worked during the day.
“I didn’t know that.”
“You didn’t need to. Tom didn’t want to let you down but he’s becoming a bit of a musical prodigy and had a bunch of theory exams. Mark covered for him. Janine takes extra shifts when someone needs a night off because her daughter didn’t get her grant for university this year, and Leigh keeps nagging for us to show her how to cook because she’s thinking of becoming a chef.”
“I should know this.” My stomach felt hollow.
Then a hand pressed on my back, warm and tender.
“No, you can’t. You manage two restaurants and you’re starting a third. You can’t know all this. Just know that the people you have working for you are good people and they like you and admire you. And not just for your bowling skills.”
The air around me had been rearranged. Someone had taken the weighted particles away and replaced them with ones that were freer.
“That translates as ‘don’t carry the weight…”
He shook his head, stopping my sentence. “It doesn’t translate as anything. It’s exactly what it is. Your turn.”
I bowled another strike, meaning that I was pretty much unbeatable. The battle was now for second place.
* * *
