“Yes. I’m not asking your permission, Nate, that would never happen, but I don’t want to create an issue between you and your teammate.” I truly had too much love for my brother to fuck up the good things he had going on in his life, and his football career and playing for England.
“It’s your choice, Jezzy. Jesse’s a good bloke, but he doesn’t do relationships and I don’t want any details if you hook up with him. Ever. So whatever you share with Amber or anyone else, I don’t want it coming back to me.” There was an odd quiet to his words. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but is Jesse interested in you like that? I wouldn’t have thought you were his type, and I didn’t mean that to sound as shitty as it did.”
“I don’t think I’m his type, but I do think he’s interested. I think he’s bothered about what you’d say.”
More silence.
“Nate?”
“Sorry, Jez. Your life, your choice. But unless it gets serious, like ring and wedding bells serious, I don’t want to know from either of you.”
“Sure. I don’t want to sneak around behind your back, though.”
“It isn’t sneaking; it’s just not being obvious so I don’t need to think about it. Remember I knowa lotabout Jesse.”
“I know. How’s Amber?” I changed the subject, needing to take my brother’s head out of wherever it had gone.
“Good. She’s started sleeping well the last couple of nights, which means I’m sleeping well too.” He told me more about the girls and, very quietly, about the plans for the big tree house in the garden, as well as his latest plans to propose.
By the time we ended the call because Libbie was up and wanting his attention, Nate’s voice was back to normal and I half wondered whether he’d forgotten the reason why I’d phoned.
A text message from him half an hour later told me he hadn’t.
Your choice always, but if he fucks you about, I’ll hire a hitman.
Jesse was drinking coffee with Simone Wood and her husband, Jack, two of their children playing in a playpen that had been set up far enough away from the pool that there would be no sudden splashes.
He smiled when he saw me, standing up and making introductions. I kind of knew Simone through Amber’s sister-in-law, Ava, as she was a friend of Ava’s family, and I’d eaten at her restaurant a few months ago when I’d been in London. Both she and her husband were chefs, owning and running three restaurants in the capital, and holding at least a couple of Michelin stars.
“Ava sends her love.” Simone stood up too, pulling me into a quick hug. “She wanted to come with us but things got in the way.”
Jack hugged me after, his arms as solid as Jesse’s. “And Simone’s not allowed to give you any more details, even though she’s dying to.”
I raised my brows. Ava was one of seven siblings, and they’d been working hard to make sure there would be another large generation of Callaghans to terrorise the world. “I won’t ask, but I will speak to Amber later.”
Jack nodded. “You do that. But you never heard anything from us. How was your meal last night?”
Carina joined us as we talked through the menu. I took a chair next to Jesse, trying to ignore the scent of his cologne that seemed to do things to destroy my brain cells. A discussion started about local produce and what Simone and Jack would need for dinner tonight as they were taking over the kitchen as a trial.
“The debate we’ve been having — ” Simone started.
“Argument, babe. It was an argument.” Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“It was a debate. We were having a professional conversation.” She gave him a glare that could’ve been classed as a weapon of mass destruction.
“Professional conversations don’t end with make-up sex.” His smile was smug.
Her glare was even more lethal.
My eyes found Jesse’s, and we exchanged a small smile.
What was also lethal was how he looked this morning. He was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt, his tattooed arms bulging, legs stretched out in front of him. Sitting on a lush lawn in the south of France, surrounded by vineyards, was not a place he should’ve looked at home. On a motorbike somewhere, kicking up dust, was more in keeping with the darkness he exuded, but the smile he gave me and the light in his eyes told me he was happy being here.
I wanted the right to touch him, to reach out and put my palm over his bicep, to twine my fingers with his.
“Let’s park what makes a professional conversation till later and find out whether the people we’re feeding want vegetarian or meat.” Jack pulled her onto his knee, wrapping his arms around her, both of their attention going to their children as the eldest, a little boy, tried to use his sister as a trampoline. “Leo! Stop it! Now!” The peaceful French countryside was ruptured by Jack’s yell, followed by a yell back from his son.
“He so takes after you.” Simone glanced up at her husband.
