Page 41 of Hit For Six (Balls and Banter #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Monty

Everything seemed to be moving fast. But Monty liked it.

Rather too much. It felt as if he’d been dating Lola for months.

And yet the excitement hadn’t fizzled out one bit.

He was constantly on fire for his woman.

When they weren’t talking about anything and everything, learning all there was to know about the other (he’d finally admitted that he was about to hand in his resignation at Beau-re-mi and was waiting for the right moment) a precious stillness seemed to envelope them.

As for the rest, it went without saying that he wanted to get down and dirty with her here, there and everywhere.

There was one exception to all of this. He had to learn to hold back, to respect Lola’s independence.

‘I want to say yes to your generosity,’ she’d told him in her gorgeously romantic Empire line Regency dress as they’d set out with a group of tourists on a Bridgerton tour of the city.

Monty had caved in to his secret obsession and it had proved a fun date to learn more about their beloved Bath, even if this did mean he had to gawp at his own home wearing a ruffled shirt, a velvet cutaway tailcoat, tight trousers and polished boots, listening to everyone around him gushing about how awesome it would be to live in the Royal Crescent.

‘But, as it turns out, there’s a small chance that I won’t have to.

As soon as I know more, I’ll confirm my decision. ’

‘This sounds ominous,’ he’d replied.

‘Trust me. It’s all good if it does come off, and if it doesn’t, I’ll let you know… But it will be all good then too.’

‘Okay, now you’ve lost me.’

And he did feel kind of lost. Even without this piece of knowledge.

It was hard not to dwell on things when he knew how much of a difference he could make– and how quickly– but he didn’t want to view his girlfriend’s parents as a charity case, so Monty vowed to let it go.

As well as the niggling feeling that he was clinging to someone else’s plight to save himself from thinking about his own: the resignation letter, and Lola’s shocked face that he hadn’t sent it to his father already.

‘It’s not the dress or the designer’s fault that some boys aren’t educated as to how to behave as a man, Monty. Do you think you might be jumping on the situation and using it as a weapon against your father? Along with the late resignation? Cherry on the cake punishment?’ she’d asked.

Monty hated to admit that Lola might be right.

Yes, he was fearful of his father’s reaction but he also wanted payback, to give himself an excuse to delay the ridiculous demands of a diversional marketing campaign.

But he couldn’t focus on any of that right now.

He needed to stay in a positive mindset for his true career.

He was about to head out for his first pre-season training session.

It turned out to be a brilliant but intense couple of hours on the pitch.

Normally such activity would take place at Lords or one of the bigger stadiums but London (the city and his coach/agent) had been issued with a severe weather warning and the team had quickly decamped.

They’d be doing this for the next few days to keep the momentum going.

How Monty had missed it. Power hitting, strategic bowling and high repetition catching drills to boost his fielding skills.

All in preparation for Dubai in October.

He was on such a high right now and it was great to meet the rest of the squad, as well as to catch up with Seth and Sanjay.

Then there was the surprising news that Tim had decided to leave the team and check himself into rehab.

Monty still couldn’t forgive him but he was glad that the guy was taking positive steps to try to clean up his act.

He left the stadium with weary limbs but he was relived that they’d been given the chance to engage muscle memory.

When he got home he was going to have a long soak in his Epsom salts, before drafting up his resignation letter.

Monty knew exactly how to word it now. Lola’s input had helped his diplomacy skills and he would be ready to press send the moment his parents were back from France.

And yes, lo and behold, he’d driven to Upper Badminton already this week, where he’d even remembered to water his mother’s precious plants .

‘Montgomery! What a delightful coincidence…’

Somebody cut through Monty’s thoughts as he was making his way to the car park.

He should have walked home but he really had been put through his paces today.

He adjusted his eyes to the dimming light outside the stadium and his heart sank as he took in the haughty-taughty figure of his impending encounter.

‘Oh.’

What the fuck was she doing here? And how did she know that he’d be training in Bath right now? He’d give Bea hell for this. He’d still not ticked her off for meddling at Roddie’s party.

‘Hey, you!’ Joanna crooned. ‘I would have preferred a cheerier greeting but I’ll let you off.

Somebody looks like they’ve had a thoroughly good workout.

’ Her eyes widened as she drew closer and drank him in.

Monty’s jaw clenched. ‘As for me, I’ve just been to the States for business, otherwise I would have tracked you down sooner.

’ Shit, his suspicion was right. She’d given herself away already.

This was totally choreographed. Monty’s stomach churned.

‘I haven’t been able to get that kiss out of my head, you know. ’

‘I’m sorry.’ He laughed jumpily, glancing at his distant car to calculate how quickly he could sprint. ‘I think we might have briefly met at my nephew’s party but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten your name already.’ This was a lie but hopefully it would persuade her not to come any closer.

‘Joanna. Bennoy-Bell.’ she replied breathlessly, immediately switching to assertion. ‘That’s all right. On this occasion you’re forgiven.’

Joanna ran a red-tipped finger down his sweaty top.

Pantone 06-001, Bloody Hell Red, if he wasn’t mistaken.

Monty would really rather she didn’t. Monty would really rather he stopped thinking in design terms at the most inopportune moments.

He took a step back, wondering if he’d gotten drunk out of his head at said celebration and done something to lead her on.

But a) Lola had appeared in his life by that point so no other woman had the remotest chance of a look in and b) he wasn’t Tim.

And then it hit him; the idiocy of that hand kiss when he’d been overcome with relief at finding an escape route!

But (harking back to Bridgerton for the umpteenth time), it meant sod all in this day and age.

What was she insinuating here? That he’d asked for her hand in marriage?

Christ, she needed to get a reality check and Monty needed to get away from her before things got out of hand. For want of a better expression.

‘I don’t recall that we did anything of the sort. I’m spoken for, Joanna. I have a girlfriend.’

Joanna laughed a luxuriously long laugh at this and Monty started to feel uneasy.

‘Sounds a bit impetuous to me. Look, I get it. So much choice, so much temptation. But I can work with that. For the moment.’ She narrowed her eyes at him, then flashed him a Cheshire cat grin. ‘Try me out for size and see who fits best. See you soon.’

Before Monty could process that unbelievable speech, let alone protest it, she thrust her business card into his hand and strutted away.