Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Jack
I relax in the saddle as we turn off the road onto one of the trails that leads down to the beach.
I truly didn’t realize how much I miss riding.
Tomorrow, I’ll be sore as hell, but man, is it worth it.
Maybe I should plan to get down here more often—once a month at least.
And there’s no question about what to give Seb for his birthday—he’s totally in love with that bay gelding, Stark.
A few sneaky questions to Chris while Seb was getting tack confirmed it.
It’ll be a simple thing to sign over the ownership papers, and then I’ll leave it up to Seb if he wants to lease Stark back to the school for lessons or if a replacement horse will be needed.
The track winds down in a gradual incline through the trees toward the ocean.
This particular beach isn’t popular with swimmers, even in the height of summer, but it’s brilliant for riding because it has a wide, hard strip of wet sand.
When we break out of the trees, the crash of the surf greets us, the sun sparkling off the water.
The wind is cold—after all, it’s winter, and there isn’t much between us and Antarctica, just Tasmania—but I don’t care.
For the first time in ages, I feel energized.
I didn’t even know how tired and stressed I was until now that the cares have fallen away.
“Wanna canter?” The grin Seb flashes tells me I’m not the only one revved up by being out in the beautiful day.
I don’t bother to reply, just nudge Priscilla and shoot off.
Seb’s laugh follows, and then the sound of pounding hoofbeats.
I want to spend every weekend this way.
When I stroll into the office on Monday morning, I’m both rested and resentful.
My weekend away prepared me for the work week like nothing else could have, but at the same time, I really didn’t want to leave the Vale.
It was a wonderful part of my childhood; why shouldn’t it be just as wonderful a part of my adulthood?
It’s mine now. I should enjoy it.
Maybe I’ll work something out so I can work down there for a couple days a week.
I probably can’t live there permanently, not without seriously reshuffling the office, but two days most weeks should be achievable.
I’m pondering that as I pass Sarah’s desk and pause to ask, “Do you think I could work from home some days?”
Sarah drops the croissant she’s about to bite into.
“ What did you say?”
“Oh, come on. You make it seem like I’m a workaholic,” I protest.
“Excuse me, but are you not the man who inherited an estate and then didn’t visit it for nine months because of work commitments?” She turns to her computer and brings up the calendar app.
“I’m going to action this before you change your mind. How many days a week? I’ll make sure you have no in-person appointments those days.” She squints at the screen.
“You want to work from the Vale, right? Thursday and Friday, or Friday and Monday? Or Monday and Tuesday?”
Whoa.
This is really happening.
I should have told Sarah I needed a break months ago.
“Whatever’s easiest,” I assure her.
“Okay. It might be different days for a while, if I can’t move some appointments. And no-go this week, I’m afraid.”
“Sarah, you’re a freaking legend. That’s fine. That’s perfect. Um… I’ve blocked out lunch on Friday. Can you make sure it’s kept free?”
“Absolutely!” She beams, no doubt at the idea of me actually taking a real lunch break.
“Great. It’s Seb’s day to come up, and I’ve convinced him to let me take him out for a belated birthday lunch. Do you want to come?”
“To lunch with you and Seb? Uh… maybe not this time. I think it should be just the two of you.” Her smirk is more eloquent than a thousand words, and I make a face and sigh.
“It’s not like that. This is just a happy birthday lunch, same as when I take you on your birthday.”
She slumps back in her chair and pouts.
“So you didn’t…?”
A pang of regret strikes as I shake my head.
“Not yet. I think… I think I will, but I don’t… He works for me, yeah? I mean, he’s pretty much in charge of everything in my life that you don’t lay claim to. He’s more like a partner than an employee, as far as I’m concerned, but not everyone will see it that way. I want to be sure, and I want him to be sure that it’s more than just a casual thing. And anyway… he might not be interested.” I’ve been trying not to think about that.
Seb and I got along really well.
After that first awkward introduction, things were easy, with only a few sticky moments.
But I was really careful to keep things friendly, not romantic or sexual, and Seb was a combination of incredibly professional and friendly.
So… I’m not sure if an overture would even be welcome.
Plus, there’s always the possibility that Seb isn’t gay.
I’m pretty sure he is—my gaydar has always been excellent—but there’s no evidence.
Even if he is gay, he might not be out, which is another consideration.
Sarah shrugs. “You’re a good guy. I’m sure he’d be interested in at least a date. But I think waiting to see how you get along is a good idea. And I’ll book somewhere for lunch on Friday.”
Seb
I let myself into Jack’s apartment as usual at ten thirty on Friday morning.
Carol, the cleaner, is just finishing up, and she smiles at me as she packs her basket of cleaning materials.
“Morning, Seb! How was the drive up?”
“Nice and quiet. I guess peak hour on the Monash was reasonable today, because there wasn’t much traffic hanging around. Have you had a good week?”
We chat for a few minutes, then Carol advises me of a few things that need attending to in the apartment and leaves.
I quickly go through and check what needs to be done, collect the things to take to the dry cleaner, and make a grocery list. I rearranged my afternoon to allow time for lunch with Jack, but it means I need to get my errands done first.
I arrive at Jack’s office with ten minutes to spare and have the building receptionist call up to Sarah so she can let Jack know I’m here.
The receptionist ends the call and pushes a sign-in sheet across the desk to me.
“She says to go up.”
I blink.
“Ah…” What the heck?
“Thanks.” I fill in the sheet quickly, then take the swipe card she gives me that will let me access the elevators.
Sarah’s waiting for me on the floor used by the foundation and greets me with a hug.
Which is weird.
We’re friendly, but the few times we’ve met before don’t exactly put us on a hugging basis.
But whatever.
I hug her back, because I’m not a douche.
“So, you met our lord and master at last?” she says, grabbing my arm and tugging me toward her desk.
I laugh and let myself be towed.
“Yeah. It was a bit weird at first, but he’s a great guy.”
Peeking back over her shoulder, Sarah confesses, “The weird bit might be my fault. I deliberately didn’t correct a misconception Jack had, and he was surprised when he met you.”
That makes sense.
Jack seemed surprised when we met.
“What was the misconception?” I perch on the edge of her desk, noting that the door to Jack’s office is ajar.
Is he in there?
Sarah sinks into her chair and grins.
“He’d somehow gotten the idea that you were a fussy old man approaching retirement.”
Say what?
I blink again as the idea sinks in.
Our first meeting replays through my mind, and I begin to laugh.
“Telling tales, Sarah?” Jack sounds amused, if somewhat abashed, and I wipe away tears of laughter and turn to see him standing in the office doorway.
“You thought I was an old man? Is that why you kept asking where Sebastian was?”
Jack shrugs.
“It made sense to me at the time.”
“Did you see the message from your brother?” Sarah interrupts.
“He needs a response before you go to lunch.”
Rolling his eyes, Jack disappears back into his office, and Sarah leans forward and grabs my wrist. “Listen,” she hisses.
“Be ready for him to give you a birthday present.” She holds up her hand, and her wrist sparkles.
“This is what he gave me last year. He’s generous. Be prepared for that.”
Are those real diamonds?
I don’t have a clue, but from the way she’s talking, they probably are.
A generous gift? Crap.
Okay. What could it be?
I hope not anything with diamonds.
“Thanks for the warning,” I say.
“I… Do you know how generous? I mean, I thought the birthday lunch was unnecessary.”
She lifts her wrist again and shakes it.
Fuck .
Does that mean diamonds?
What the hell am I going to do with diamonds?
Nah. Jack’s a smart guy.
He’ll have figured out I’m not a diamond kind of person.
“Ready?” Jack comes out of the office smiling.
He seems kind of excited and maybe nervous, but that smile speaks to me on many levels, and I grin back without thinking.
“Sure. But you know this isn’t necessary, right?”
“Of course it is.” Jack waves dismissively.
“Birthdays are important. You can’t expect me to believe Uncle Warwick let your birthday just go uncelebrated.”
“Well…, no.” Warwick had a birthday cake policy, as in, all employee birthdays were commemorated with a cake.
And after I took over the steward job and moved into the estate, there’d been a special birthday dinner and a gift too.
Really, I shouldn’t be surprised Jack’s doing this.
It’s been pretty clear all along that Warwick was a major influence in his life. “So let’s go.”