Page 73 of Playing the Game

Goran tried to mimic Marlon Brando’s accent inThe Godfather.He failed miserably.

“Never do that again,” Adam said with a smirk. “Listen, I don’t want to make a big deal of it. Thing is I’ve opened a savings account for Petar.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“I know I don’t. I want to,” Adam interjected. “If I’m his godfather, I’ll take it seriously. That little fella will have whatever he needs when he’s older.”

Goran squeezed his arm. “Thanks, man. Paloma will be grateful too.”

“Hey, someone has to wipe my arse when I’m old.”

“You might have kids of your own one day.”

Adam burst out laughing. “I think not. No, I’m quite happy for you to do all the crap bits. I’ll be the cool uncle.”

“Cool? Pushing it a bit there, old man.”

Adam pulled a face.

“Who’s that with Jonas?” Goran asked.

“His friend, Heidi.”

“Sleeping alone again?”

Adam sighed. It might be worth coming out of the closet to be able to spend the night with Jonas freely.

Then he shuddered. Not quite.

“We more than make up for it.”

FOURTEEN

JONAS

He made every effort to avoid Adam without being obvious. They’d shared a brief moment when Adam had been holding the baby. He made for a very hot godfather.

Jonas wished he could sneak out to Adam’s that night. Chance would be a fine thing. His best friend, Heidi, was staying over and she had the hearing of a bat. Plus he hadn’t confessed anything to her yet. He wanted to see if she rumbled them in the same way his baby sister had. Then they would really have something to worry about.

They were chatting to Colin and Meg. Jonas tracked Adam as he moved around the room. He was never out of his line of sight for very long.

This is exhausting.

Adam and Goran were deep in conversation. It looked serious. Jonas hoped it wasn’t anything to do with the team.

Adam gave him an imperceptible wink.

Don’t do the wink. It drives me crazy.

“Why don’t you accompany me outside?” Heidi asked, snapping him out of the moment.

“Sure thing.”

They wandered through the party. Jonas nodded at a few people. Once on the terrace, Heidi got a packet of cigarettes from her handbag.

“You can’t smoke here,” Jonas said.

“Says who?”