Chapter 5
It was two days after Tom’s party that Dale finally met Dominic. Dale, still not ready to review his thesis, was sunbathing naked by the pool when he heard footsteps. He looked up and the swarthy gardener was standing before him like a dream made real; his muscular arms bare beneath his overalls, a pool net clasped in his hand.
“Sorry to disturb you, sir. I’ll be finished in a minute.” There was a rich, deep timbre to his voice and the hint of an accent; the type of voice that could set fires.
“You must be Dominic.”
The man nodded.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Dale.”
Dominic shook the hand that Dale offered him. It was a solid handshake; a real man’s handshake, full of strength but not crushing.
“Sorry about this,” Dale said indicating his state of undress with a nod. He casu
