Page 73 of In at the Deep End

“He’s okay. Funny, intelligent, a massive film buff.”

Zach snorted. “Ah.”

“What?”

“You started listing his qualities.”

Matt blinked.

“You didn’t say, ‘He’s all right.’ Instead, you gave me a character reference.”

“He’s interesting.” And how many times have I used that adjective now?

“Exactly.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Zach shrugged. “Nothing.” His grin suggested otherwise. “It’s just been a while since I’ve heard you sound so enthusiastic about meeting somebody.”

Matt opened his mouth, then realised he couldn’t argue. He narrowed his gaze instead. “I thought you had to go to work.”

Zach snorted. “Trying to get rid of me?”

“Desperately.”

Zach headed for the door, then glanced back. “Tell him thanks, by the way.”

“For what?”

“For giving my little brother something to get excited about besides old films.”

Before Matt could answer, Zach disappeared out of the room, and suddenly a stegosaurus pounced, aided and abetted by a roaring Jamie.

“Arrgh! Help, help!” Matt grabbed the little boy and wrestled him to the rug, resorting to tickling.

Jamie squealed with laughter, and Matt laughed too. Okay, this was fun, but the prospect of doing it all day already had him looking at the clock.

Another hour, then he was heading next door.

Owen surveyed the paving slabs around the pool. Matt had purchased weed killer, promising no more than a week before every last little bit of moss and weeds would be obliterated.

Right then, the pool was calling to him, and his Speedos were up in his bedroom.

Fuck it. This is what high hedges are for.

Owen stripped off his clothing and dove naked into the pool, the cold water closing over him briefly before he broke the surface, shivering as the breeze wafted over wet skin.

Damn, that feels good.

He stood in the middle of the pool, his dick soft and bobbing, and ran his hands over his head to brush the hair from his face.

Thank God Matt had checked the water the previous day.

And speaking of Matt…

Owen had to smile. Matt was probably up to his eyeballs in family shenanigans by now. A day away from Owen’s garden wouldn’t make much difference, and the flat packed wardrobes would wait another day.

Owen sank beneath the water and swam to the far end, turning as he reached the tiled wall. When he got to the shallow end by the pool house, he stood, the water around his waist.