‘Got everything?’ Seb asked late the next morning as I finished securing Humphrey into his doggy harness.
‘I think so. Thanks again for helping me with the car shopping. I really appreciate it.’
Seb shook his head. ‘My pleasure. I’m glad you found something you liked.’ He bent to look in at the dog who was already curled up and looking sleepy. ‘Someone seems comfy enough.’
I smiled at Humphrey. ‘He’s had a great time with Scooby. I think we’ve worn him out.’
Seb straightened back up and shifted his weight. ‘I hope you had a good time too.’
‘I really did,’ I said, looking up at him. He was close now and I could smell the citrus tang of the shower gel I’d borrowed this morning. ‘Thanks for having us.’
‘Do you think we could do this again?’
‘Of course. If you don’t mind, that is. You could come down to me, although I don’t have a spare room so it’d be—’
‘Lottie.’
‘Hmm?’
He rubbed a hand across his jaw, shadowed from a day’s growth. ‘I’m normally much better at this.’
‘At what?’
‘Asking a woman out.’
‘Asking… I...’ I felt my eyes widen as I lifted my gaze to his. ‘Is that… umm… what you’re doing now?’
‘Very badly, apparently. But… yes. I’d really like to take you out and maybe have that romantic table for two used for its intended purpose.’ He shrugged a little self-consciously, his face half smile, half uncertainty.
A chill breeze had been blowing all day and, having thrown my hat in the car already, my hair was now at the mercy of the wind. I lifted a hand to push it back from my face, but Seb’s was already there, gently, tenderly moving it and tucking it behind my ear. The word ‘thanks’ was in my head, but I couldn’t get it to make to the journey to my mouth as my brain was too busy processing his words.
‘I…’ I began, suddenly realising that I had no idea where I was going with that sentence.
Seb straightened away from me, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.
Come on, Lottie. This is a simple question! Seb Marshall, the man of some very X-rated dreams, has just asked you out. He does like you after all. This is what you wanted! It’s a simple answer. All you have to do is say yes! Yes, Seb, I’d absolutely love to!
‘No.’
Huh?
‘I’m really sorry, Seb. I can’t.’
He shook his head, a smile on his face as he briefly raised his palms. ‘No, not a problem. I… just thought…’ The words tailed off as he looked off into the distance, one hand running briefly back over the short dark hair.
Shit. What was I thinking? This was Seb. The man I’d had a crush on for ages. The man I most felt myself around. The man whose smile made my stomach flutter like no one else ever had – and I’d just turned him down.
‘It’s just that you’re a client and I don’t want to mess that up.’ I sighed. ‘I can’t afford to mess that up.’
He waved it away, the smile still there, but we both knew it wasn’t his usual, easy-going expression, however much he tried to cover it.
‘And now I’m worried it’s messed up anyway.’
‘Of course not,’ he said, airily. ‘You’re absolutely right. I just…’ he blew out a breath. ‘I’ve just had a really great time these last couple of weekends and I guess I got a bit carried away. I’m sorry. I should never have said anything.’ He lifted his hands and scrubbed them across his cropped hair, his eyes on the distance again momentarily before focusing back on me. ‘Are we still good or have I blown it?’
I shook my head. ‘We’re fine. It’s for the best. I think we both know that really.’
‘Yep.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Yeah. Absolutely. Probably best if we both forget I ever said anything,’ Seb replied, nodding, as I felt my stomach twist.
