Free Breaking: Fall or Break, Book 2 by Barbara Elsborg

to you too? Are you just a surfer who had an accident? Conrad couldn’t help being suspicious. It was inbred in him and worse after the accident.
    “Do you live in London?” Archer asked.
    Conrad nodded. “I rented this place while I recuperate. What about you?”
    “I’m based in Derbyshire but I travel around a lot.”
    “How do the wife and kids feel about that?”
    The skin crinkled around Archer’s eyes. “I was speaking hypothetically.”
    Conrad’s cock perked up again. Oh God. Do you have to? I don’t even know for certain he’s gay and even if he is, so what? Why would he have any interest in a guy who can’t even walk in a straight line? “What do you do for a living?”
    “Business solutions specialist. Something goes wrong, I go in to sort it out. I’m between projects at the moment. Having a mini vacation. Can I get another coffee?”
    “Help yourself.”
    “Do you want one?”
    “Please.”
    Archer stood and Conrad’s gaze dropped to his butt as he walked across the kitchen. Hard, tight arse, narrow hips, long legs in faded jeans. He made sure he was concentrating on his cereal when Archer turned. His type but also not his type.
    “What do you do all day?” Archer put the mug in front of him.
    “Make attempts to get back to normal. I have to exercise before I even get out of bed. Not much fun.”
    “Then maybe you’re doing the wrong kind of exercise.”
    Conrad gaped then laughed. Oh God, if only you knew. Oh God, thank fuck you don’t know.
    “What sort of exercises do you do?”
    “A physio comes in three mornings a week to inflict torture. I work on the treadmill and bike before I shower. Occasionally I find someone to rescue. That means I can skip the treadmill and bike the day after. When I’m not exercising or acting as Superman, I read, fall asleep, read, fall asleep. Fortunately the TV is upstairs so I’m not yet addicted to daytime soaps. I’ve started to tear out my hair with boredom. Can you tell?” He yanked at his head.
    “I rather like your hair. The silver strands suit you.”
    Conrad groaned. “Silver? It was jet black yesterday.” At least the guy hadn’t said gray.
    He felt as though a weight was lifting from him, the deep depression of having his life abruptly interrupted beginning to lighten. This felt normal, sitting at the table, getting to know someone, maybe flirting, though he was so long out of the game he wasn’t sure. But for a while he could forget his legs didn’t work properly, forget his life was fucked up, forget Malachi.
    “Do you have any friends come to stay, any help?”
    Except why are you asking that? Checking I’m alone? Conrad couldn’t be bothered to lie. If this guy wasn’t what he said he was, he might as well find out.
    “I sacked my housekeeping service yesterday so at least that torture is at an end. I don’t want friends here. I…I don’t want them to see me like this. I’m strong, controlled and usually a bit of bastard. Except at the moment, I’m not.” Well, the strong and controlled parts.
    “I’m always a bastard.”
    That shouldn’t have turned Conrad on but it did. He stared straight at Archer who met his gaze and raised it with a brief smile. He’s gay. But he’s too much like me. Like I normally am.
    “I gave Deefor ham. Hope that was okay. Though he did have steak last night.”
    “He had fish and chips a couple of days ago. He’ll eat anything. If I lie still too long, he’d probably eat me. Considering he was in the pound, you’d think he’d be more grateful. Most of the time, he appears to merely tolerate me.”
    “He was all agitated when you were in the water, barking, trying to tell me to help you.”
    “Barking? Was he?” Archer pushed his empty mug away and glanced at Deefor. “You little charlatan. I didn’t know you could bark.” He looked across the table at Conrad. “He wasn’t what I went in for. Unlike me to change my mind. When I want something, I’m focused on getting