Page 27 of All Mine (The All Mine #1)

Etienne

It was his kind of day. He always wanted to win and he was not averse to adoration.

The rowing race had become a local tradition, and the Brothers from Another Mother had won for the past four years and he wasn’t about to let that change.

Although today was the closest they’d come to losing their title.

They’d better step up their training before next year’s race.

He’d seen Isabella on the bank with the other women and had caught the look on her face as her eyes swept up and down his body.

That gut-punching look of lust, mouth slightly open, eyes dazed.

He remembered the softness of her skin under his hand and wondered briefly if she’d used the photograph yet.

She wanted him, he knew that. But she wasn’t letting herself have him. It would happen. Soon. He knew it.

The Brothers disengaged themselves to get showered and changed into long-sleeved tops and jeans before heading to the rowing club bar to celebrate.

‘Just the one,’ said Fox. ‘Abbie from next door has been looking after the boys at the ball pit for an hour. I’ll text her and tell her to bring them here afterwards. She’ll be exhausted.’

‘First one’s on me,’ Dean the watch commander called over, making a signal to the barman to put it on his tab.

Etienne and Fox both ordered a bottle of beer and Walker had a mineral water. He was still officially at work.

‘Should earn lots today,’ Etienne said as they made their way out to the patio seating area and found a picnic bench in the sun, which was bright but losing any heat now. The bank was being set up for the next event, the dog agility course.

‘We need it,’ Walker said. ‘Only just had enough to help out the Malones after their fire the other week. And they’re exactly the type of people that need the help most. They didn’t have much before the fire, let alone afterwards.’

‘I can’t imagine it,’ Fox said. ‘She’s got a son in Reggie’s class. All the parents offered school uniform and things like that.’

‘Everyone has been so good. Fiona Malone keeps saying she doesn’t deserve it. But people have given all kinds of things. Homemade meals, a new set of saucepans, a new rug from the carpet shop. Even Isabella offered daily Italian revision for Millie to get her in shape for her oral exam.’

Etienne swigged his beer, thinking he’d like to give Isabella an oral exam. He could picture that mouth, that tiny beauty spot, as she wrapped her lips around his cock. He swallowed too quickly and coughed.

‘That’s nice of her. She must be busy with the opening,’ Fox said, just as a waist-high, Reggie-shaped tornado rounded the corner and threw himself at his dad.

George, a thigh-high terror, came sprinting after.

Abbie staggered behind with a rusty-coloured cocker-something on a lead and sighed with relief at the sight of Fox.

‘Everything okay?’ he asked, taking in her grass-stained knees, flushed face, hair half escaped from her hairband.

‘Fine, all fine,’ she said. ‘I don’t know how you do it!’ She laughed. ‘The energy they’ve got.’ She thrust the lead into Fox’s hand, and tucked a roll of clean poo bags into his top pocket.

‘Thanks so much, Abbie,’ he said, but she was gone already, making her escape as quickly as she could. She waved over her shoulder and headed for the bar.

‘Uncle Etienne!’ George shrieked when he saw him and clambered up onto his knee. Etienne pushed him up higher until he was on his shoulders and George bounced around on his neck.

Reggie scampered to the bank and started performing forward rolls. The dog jumped on the picnic bench and scoured the table for leftovers.

Rosie appeared, sliding her arms around Walker’s waist.

‘Well done, Walker,’ she said with a squeeze, which he reciprocated, dropping a casual kiss on her head.

‘Hands off my girl,’ Wren said, not in the least bit bothered. She stood on tiptoe to kiss Walker’s cheek. ‘Way to go, bro.’

‘What about the rest of us?’ Fox asked, nodding at Etienne.

‘Not a bad performance, you two,’ Rosie said with a shrug.

‘Don’t think you slowed him down too much,’ Wren laughed.

Etienne’s eyes found what they were looking for. Isabella, approaching with Amber, jacket tied around her waist now. Arms bare in the autumn sunshine. The two children with them, Jayden and Riley, immediately set off headfirst down the bank after Reggie.

‘He looks comfy,’ Amber said as they reached the table, nodding at George as he wrapped himself around Etienne’s head.

‘Me, not so much, though.’ Etienne laughed, standing and swinging George down from his perch. He tumbled George in a surprise somersault on the way to the ground, his face lit with delight when he found himself back on two feet.

‘Again!’ he shouted, jumping on the spot.

‘Later, George,’ Fox said, trying to get the dog off the table where it was now finishing off someone’s burger. ‘Go and roll with your brother.’

George switched his attention to the bank and ran there making the sound of a siren.

‘Sorry,’ said Fox, rolling his eyes. ‘His nursery has been learning about the police force. I’ll be glad when they move on to something quieter.’

They watched George throwing himself onto his brother’s back, squealing.

‘Although it probably won’t make much difference to the noise levels in our house, to tell the truth.

’ He smiled sheepishly at Isabella. ‘I’m Fox,’ he said, sticking out a hand.

‘The two feral children are mine. And this is Dingbat, the dog. He’s on at four p.m. in the cutest dog arena.

’ Dingbat looked up at exactly the right moment and cocked his head adorably.

‘Isabella.’ She shook firmly. ‘And they are all gorgeous.’

Everyone shifted around the picnic table. Etienne found himself budged to the end as Rosie and Wren squeezed on next to Walker. Ending up opposite Isabella, he took a long appreciative look at her cleavage as she got herself settled. It was a good view.

Everyone wanted to know about the new restaurant, and he watched her face light up as she discussed the developments.

‘So, when will you open?’ Walker asked. ‘Have you got a date?’

‘Bonfire Night weekend!’

‘That’s quick!’ Fox said.

‘It’s a personal deadline,’ said Isabella. ‘I want it open within a year of being divorced.’

Etienne again had two thoughts at once. Firstly, he admired her honesty. Secondly, he wondered if that meant Guy Fawkes’ weekend was also the end of her self-imposed sex ban.

‘Good on you, girl,’ Amber said. ‘Successful and single.’

They banged plastic glasses together across the wooden tabletop.

‘And it’s Italian?’ Walker asked.

‘Traditional, old school, communal eating– but I’m not telling you anything more, what with the competition present. . .’ She glanced at Etienne from under black lashes. ‘You’ll just have to come along.’

Fred Barrow shuffled past on his way to the clubhouse. It was unusual for Etienne to see him anywhere apart from at the restaurant when he came for his weekly dinner. Fred seemed to be leaning heavily on his stick.

‘Everything okay, Fred?’ Etienne called and the old man turned, taking a moment to find who had spoken. His face creased into a smile.

‘All fine, Etienne, thank you.’ He edged closer. ‘Off to put a bet on the horses.’ He tapped the side of his nose and winked.

‘Be lucky,’ Etienne said.

‘And it’s nice to see you out with your lovely girlfriend,’ Fred said next, his eyes alighting on Isabella. ‘Isabella,’ he said, taking her hand in his and dropping a kiss to it.

She laughed.

‘No, we’re not — ’ Etienne said hurriedly, but the old man wasn’t listening.

‘Thank you for the maps you delivered,’ he said to Isabella. ‘I have had a wonderful time retracing our routes. Truly wonderful.’

‘You’re welcome, Mr Barrow. Keep them, please.’

‘Fred, please,’ he said before planting another kiss on her hand and shuffling off.

‘What’s all that about?’ Etienne asked her.

‘When I met him at your restaurant he told me that he travelled through Italy in the sixties. It was where he proposed to his wife. I had some old maps of the area he mentioned so I dropped them in to him.’ She shrugged. ‘Glad he liked them.’

Etienne raised his beer bottle to her, acknowledging her effort. It was only a small thing, but it would mean a lot to Fred. She held his gaze and it immediately turned into something more fiery, before she dropped her eyes to concentrate on her drink.

‘So have you come up with anything for the rocket yet, Fox?’ Walker asked and Fox put his head in his hands.

‘The next school project,’ he clarified to the women. ‘We’ve had mountains, castles, dinosaurs and now rockets.’

‘When he says “we”, he means “we”,’ Walker said, indicating Etienne and himself.

‘True. You’re lifesavers, both of you,’ Fox agreed. ‘Next one is on food so hopefully that will be easier– a batch of flapjacks or something, which even I can manage. Anyway, from my quick look on Google, yoghurt pots seem to be the way to go for rockets.’

Conversation turned to the advantages of plastic models over ones made from clay. Etienne stretched his legs under the table, other things on his mind. He met Isabella’s feet on the floor beneath the table. She flicked a questioning glance at him. He grinned.

‘Have you thought about using papier-maché?’ Wren asked up the other end of the table. Discussion followed on the messiness of the wet paper, and the fact that George would probably glue his own eyelids together.

Etienne pushed gently against Isabella’s shoe, moving his own foot forwards until it nestled directly in between hers.

She glanced at him again, and this time he imagined her parted knees under the table.

Rosie flashed her phone screen across the table to Fox.

‘YouTube has videos on how to make them out of toilet rolls. . .’

Etienne ran his foot alongside hers, increasing the gap between her feet. Her eyes widened and she took a long swallow of wine. A spot of colour had appeared on each of her cheeks. He’d bet she was a blusher after sex. His dick came to life in his shorts.

‘Make sure you take a photo,’ he said to the group, but keeping his eyes on her. ‘It’s always good to take a photo for reference.’ He wondered if Isabella had used the one he took for her.

He moved his other foot so he now had both between hers.

He hoped she was throbbing as he was. This time when she met his eye, she held the contact.

She squeezed lightly on the outside edges of his ankles and he pushed back, holding her open.

Her eyes flashed wider but she didn’t look away.

He could imagine her looking at him like that when he drove inside her.

Suddenly, a joyful screech ripped through the air and everyone jumped.

‘Found you!’ shouted a petite woman with a black pixie cut. ‘At last, Isabella!’

Isabella took a second to react, eyes locked in lust as they were with Etienne’s, but when she turned and recognised the woman, her jaw dropped in delight and she scrambled up, all thoughts of foot sex with him obviously forgotten.

‘Surprise!’ The woman launched herself at Isabella, and the two women collided in arms and kisses.

‘What are you doing here?’ Isabella choked.

‘I’ve got a day off so here I am.’ They hugged again. ‘Wanted to make sure you were okay,’ the newcomer said, more seriously.

‘Everyone,’ said Isabella, turning to the table, ‘this is my cousin, Gabriella. Gabi for short.’

Standing next to Isabella, Gabi was almost a head smaller, but equally beautiful in a pixie like way.

‘And that’s one thing I am,’ she said to a collective laugh.

Etienne closed the empty space between his two feet, swigged his beer and swallowed disappointment along with it. He’d just been starting to enjoy that. Never mind. Next time.