Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
GAbrIEL
I catch the end of Charley’s lesson with Andrés and I’m transfixed watching him.
He’s always been a natural on horseback, even when he was just starting out.
He has an inherent balance and rhythm. Watching him gallop down the field on Arrow, at one with him, it’s beautiful to see, and I feel no regrets about letting him have one of my best horses. They suit each other.
“Simon has made us some lunch if you’re ready,” I say when I reach them.
“I’ve worked up an appetite for sure.” Charley jumps to the ground, no sign of the wobbles he had the other day, though his broad chest is heaving and I’m distracted by its movement for a second until he speaks again.
“I’m out of shape. Any chance of a gym so I can get my fitness back?
Along with the sauna you promised of course. ” He grins and his blue eyes shine.
“I did no such thing. I said you can use the hot tub.”
“And share with Mim? How would she fancy her tub being filled with sweaty men?” He hands Arrow over to Kirsty, while Jorge takes Saban and we start walking back to the centre.
“Eeeew, that’s a mental image I don’t need.”
“Of your mum or the sweaty men?” Charley laughs.
Of my mum, obviously. The thought of a sweaty Charley is delicious but I don’t say that.
I resist the urge to tackle him to the floor for saying something like that, which would’ve been my response when we were kids.
Instead I shove his shoulder hard, making him take a few steps sideways to regain his balance.
He just laughs at me the way he would have done once I’d had him pinned to the ground.
The sound stirs a deep desire in my core.
How had I not read the signs back then? Oh the wonders of hindsight and its twenty-twenty vision.
But a gym is an excellent idea and I make a note to call Duncan, the architect for the centre, and see what he can come up with.
After they’ve washed their faces and hands in the staffroom sink, we go through to the restaurant where Simon has prepared a table for us.
He invites us to sit, but not before Andrés has claimed a kiss from his boyfriend in greeting.
“I wanted you to be my guinea pigs for some of the food, as I’m training a couple of new staff this morning.
” He winces as there’s a clattering heard from the kitchen.
“Oh lord, I’ll be right back.” He disappears briskly through the door.
We hear a few heated words before he reappears with a couple of dishes, and is followed by two young people, a man and a woman, both also serving dishes which they set down on the table.
One of them has a very red face. Simon dismisses them and takes his place at the table.
“Are they alright?” Charley asks in a loud whisper, and Simon snorts and rolls his eyes.
“They will be with a bit more training and less goofing around.”
“You seem too mild mannered to shout like that,” Charley adds, and Simon gives him a toothy grin. I’ve known Simon for a few months now and I know there’s steel behind his cute face.
“A kitchen is a busy place, with hot food, sometimes open flames. They need to be aware of that in order to stay safe. They’ll remember me being sharp with them, but they won’t take any notice if I make light of it.
I also praise good work, though, and I never bear grudges.
If they mess up one day, the next shift is a clean slate.
” He gestures to the food, which is an array of small sandwiches, blinis, mini quiches, and tartlets.
All of them are able to be eaten in one or two bites.
“Tuck in. I was planning these for the lunchtimes over the two days. Mix them up so it’s not the same each day.”
We all add a few to our plates and start trying them.
I’ve eaten at a lot of functions and events, not to mention Michelin starred restaurants over the years, and I’m used to the types of food they serve.
But Simon brings something else. Instead of it being overly fancy just for the sake of it, he brings new twists to the classics. These are no exception.
“Delicious,” Andrés says, finishing what he originally had on his plate and reaching for some more.
“Well, you’re biased, so I’m not accepting your opinion.” Andrés just shrugs and Simon turns to me and Charley.
“I think they’re incredible,” Charley says, popping a tartlet into his mouth. “Can you make me lunch every day?”
“He doesn’t even make me lunch every day,” Andrés grumbles good-naturedly, and Simon laughs, batting his arm with his hand.
“I don’t think we’ll have enough wait staff for the lunches, so can we do these buffet-style, and the staff can just replenish them and clear plates? We can label them clearly to show the vegetarian and vegan options,” Simon asks.
Charley looks over at me as if I need to confirm it.
“It’s your call, but if you want my opinion, I’m happy with that. Then people can graze what they want, especially between matches.”
“Okay, yeah, it works for me,” he confirms to Simon.
“So, I have news,” I say when there’s a lull in conversation, and all eyes swivel to me. “You are now officially a member of the club.” I hand Charley a sheaf of papers. He takes them and glances at them before looking up.
“You registered me.” His delighted smile causes a fluttering in my chest.
“You need to complete the last one, since you’ve been a registered player before, so we can assign a handicap.”
“What’s that?” Simon asks.
“Each player has a handicap of between minus two and ten. I’m at four, whereas Andrés is at eight.”
Simon beams at his boyfriend, obviously proud of his skill, as he should be. Andrés winks at him.
“Each team adds up their handicap, and matches usually require them to be within a range. Those with a lower score start the game with goals on the board. It makes the game more balanced and fair.”
“That makes sense,” Simon says.
“What were you before?” Andrés asks Charley.
“I was a two, but this is good. I figured I’d have to start back at minus two. In fact, I wondered if you’d only asked me onto the team to offset Andrés’s score.” Charley laughs.
“Who says I didn’t?” I tease and he nudges my leg with his knee under the table. He doesn’t move it away again and I’m hyperaware of it for the rest of our lunch.
When we’ve finished everything put before us, because it’s too delicious to leave, Simon goes back to the kitchen and Andrés heads off back to the stables. I walk with Charley through to the offices and see a car pull up.
“That’ll be Oscar. You already know him and what’s already happened with the marketing, so will you sit in on this please?” Charley asks and I agree.
“Oscar, it’s good to see you again. I have to be honest, I had no idea you worked for Renown until Oliver mentioned it,” I say and shake his hand firmly. “This is Charley, the manager here.”
He offers Charley his hand and he shakes it.
Oscar’s as tall and handsome as his brother, both dark-haired and with an olive complexion, a contrast to the blondness of me and Charley.
He’s just a few years younger than Oliver, which makes him a couple of years younger than us.
He’s also gay, a fact I do know, as he had a boyfriend with him at Olly and Immy’s wedding.
His hand lingers far too long in Charley’s, and I see his eyes flick up and down checking him out before he smiles, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners.
It makes my teeth clench and my hands curl into fists.
“How’s Heath?” I ask, forcing my jaw to work. His smile slips and he drops Charley’s hand abruptly, taking a step back.
“No idea. The arsehole cheated on me and I dumped him at the end of last year.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, and Oscar shrugs like it’s no big deal. What I’m more sorry about is that I wanted to remind him he had a boyfriend while he was making eyes at my . . . Charley, and all I’ve managed to do is make it known he’s single again.
“How are the horses?” I return the conversation to safe ground while Charley makes us all a coffee.
“Good, I’m heading over to Aachen in June for the big show there. With any luck I’ll be on the British team again.”
“Congratulations,” I say and mean it. Oscar’s a talented showjumper and deserves every success he has.
“Oh, that sounds cool, but does that mean you won’t have time to work with us?” Charley asks, handing us mugs and leading the way through to his office to start the meeting properly.
“Not at all. I’ve managed to fit in my showjumping round working for the magazine.
But I feel stifled there, like I’ve learned everything I can.
I know athletes in horse sports generally have a longer career than a lot of others, but I’d like to have something outside of it just in case anything happens before I have to retire.
I’m wanting to set up my own marketing company, catering for equestrian and county lifestyle clients.
It’s my background and where I have the most contacts.
I’ve been thinking about it for the last few months but haven’t taken the plunge yet.
If what I can offer you is acceptable, you’ll be my first client. ”
I take him through what we have in place so far, and Charley tells him what we have planned.
He even makes a few suggestions we hadn’t thought of, which could open up exposure in new areas.
He shows us a portfolio of his work and it’s impressive.
It’s clear he has a flair for design as well as an aptitude for marketing.
It’s a productive hour. I think he’ll be good for the business and I can see Charley thinks so too.
“I think I have a good handle on what you want,” he says, closing his laptop. “You’ll want to get started as soon as possible, so how about I draw up a proposal and bring it over on Wednesday and we can discuss it then?”
“That’ll be great, thank you,” Charley says, rising ready to show him out. Again, when they shake hands it seems like Oscar holds Charley’s for longer, and gives him a warm smile which Charley responds to with one of his own. I stop the snarl that threatens to appear by clamping my teeth together.
“What do you think?” Charley turns to me as soon as Oscar’s car is out of sight.
“I think he’s talented and he’ll do a lot to help promote the centre.”
“I agree. I’m looking forward to seeing him again.” It doesn’t feel like he’s solely talking about the proposal, and a hollow pit forms in my stomach. The light seems to have gone out of the day, and I make an excuse that I have a meeting and return to the house early.