“Is that okay?”
He nodded. “Course it is. We’re there for two and a half weeks – stay as long as you want.”
“Who else is staying?” I hadn’t been to the chateau before. Nate and Jesse had both invested in it as part owners a couple of years ago, the building an old ruined chateau that had been restored into a hotel or wedding destination, with a restaurant and a vineyard on site.
“Jesse and Jerrica, me and Amber. The kids. Then Rowan, Dee and Toby, and I think Otter and Ryan are coming too. Neva and Genny are there for the full time, which is great because the girls and Oliver think they’re the best babysitters.” Nate reached out for Oliver when he stuck out his arms, shouting the words ‘daddy’ and ‘hit’. I figured ‘hit’ was him trying to say ‘shit’.
I nodded, feeling relieved and said, “Cool. I’ll book flights when I get home. Those ribs really do look fu – fudging good.”
A familiar voice sounded behind me. “And which part of your diet plan do those fit into?”
CHAPTER2
Neva
“And which partof your diet plan do those fit into?”
I knew that the Manchester Athletic squads would appreciate it if I turned a blind eye and eradicated my sense of smell whenever I was around both them and food. I also knew that half of the team had no issue with maintaining a healthy, optimised diet even during the off-season.
The other half – they needed a recording of me every time they opened their phone to place a takeaway order or got in their car and headed near a fast-food drive through or went out for a night.
Jude had fallen into that second category until he hadn’t.
Jude had fallen into my bed – until he hadn’t as well. Which was something only the two of us knew about.
He turned round and smiled, his grin still far too handsome.
And far too young.
There was a decade between our ages. I hadn’t known what I was thinking, getting involved with a man so much younger, but at the same time as that, I knew exactly what I was thinking. He was stupidly gorgeous and never stopped smiling, usually laughing too. In the last year, he’d grown up. The man-child had lost the childishness and become just man.
Which made me feel a bit better.
“Diet plan? What’s that?” He was smiling. “I’m injured. I just need to keep my strength up.”
“Do we need to have a chat?” I smiled evilly. “Food can help you heal.” This was true.
What was also true was that I had a glass of wine in my hand that had been poured by Genevieve and it might not have been my first.
Jude slowly shook his head, smiling. “We can have a chat when I’m not about to eat my bodyweight in ribs.”
“Those ribs are mine!” Dee swept in between Jude and the barbecue, swiping up five of the ribs, her expression that of a woman who’d just found her soulmate.
“Are guests not allowed any?” Jude looked at her in mock horror.
Dee’s mouth was already full of rib, the marinade round her mouth. She shook her head, her eyes taking on a glazed look that was slightly obscene.
Rowan shook his head. “Please curb your orgasm face.”
I started to laugh, especially when Dee just shook her head, continuing to eat like she’d been starved of all sustenance.
The ribs did look good. I hung around until Rowan took more off the grill, as well as a few steaks and more burgers, others flocking around like they’d never been fed.
Backing away, I headed to where Genny was sitting, checking something on her phone that was probably her work emails. The woman was a workaholic.
“What’s happening in the world of Manchester Athletic?” I sat down next to her, another glass of something alcoholic on the table for me.
She put her phone down. As the assistant to the club’s owner, Genny’s life revolved around the players, the players’ wives and girlfriends, the women’s team – although they were generally scandal free – and everyone associated with the club. She was the oil that made the cogs turn, and the superglue that held things together. A kiss and tell story in the press about one of the players? Genny managed it. A player moving to Manchester from a team abroad – Genny co-ordinated it. The manager losing his shit when something didn’t go his way – Genny rammed his balls down his throat so he couldn’t speak any more.
