Geraldine rolled her eyes as she said placatingly, ‘I promise.’ Then, looking down at the baby on her lap, she said in a childish voice, ‘Your mummy is so straight! What on earth is she doing married to your daddy?’

They were laughing again; Geraldine was as good as a tonic, and Sharon loved having the company, especially while her Lenny was away.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

It was hot in Spain, and the farmhouse they were staying at was remote and well equipped. They also had use of a 4x4 and a small family car – something that would blend in, and had Spanish plates. It was the first time abroad for both of them and they were like schoolboys. They had applied for one-year passports at the Post Office and, before they knew it, they had been on their way. It was an education for them both. Marbella was starting to take off, and it was a paradise to the likes of Lenny and Reggie.

They had found their mark in no time, and were amazed at the lack of security around him. Even his villa was approachable. It was absolutely outrageous that a man could put himself on display like that. But, as Lenny reasoned, Christopher Steel thought he was untouchable what with his Colombian contacts, etc.

They were sitting outside at a small table, eating bacon and eggs that had been cooked by Reggie. They were enjoying the time alone together; it was like a honeymoon and they could forget the rest of the world for a few hours at least. Lenny had never felt like this in his entire life. It was as if he had been asleep and had finally woken up to the real world. He looked at Reggie as he wolfed down his food; he was tanned and muscular, as Lenny was himself. There was a pool that they were delighted with, and where they had already had a few encounters that left Lenny flushing red at the thought of what he was capable of with this man. This handsome man who he could talk to for hours, and whose body felt as if it was a part of himself. How could his life have changed so dramatically in such a small space of time?

If he had not met Reggie, would he have never known these feelings? Yet he still loved his wife, still desired her. It was confusing and exciting at the same time. He had not even really tried to fight his feelings, if he was honest with himself. He had wanted Reggie Dornan since the first time he had laid eyes on him; he just had not understood the attraction. If Reggie had not been so forward he wondered if it would ever have occurred to him that he had fallen in love with another man – fallen in a big way for his physique, his eyes, his hardness.