Page 133 of My Year of Saying No
‘That was really just a bit of a joke a couple of the staff started. It wasn’t really ever going to be a proper… thing.’ Seb hesitated, stumbling over whether to describe himself as an auction lot.
‘Oh. Really? That is a shame. Genevieve Carstairs certainly didn’t seem to know that. She’s been telling everyone she planned on winning that bid, whatever the price.’ Lady Gardner seemed to suddenly notice me. And the fact Seb was attached to me. ‘But I see why things may have changed now. Never mind,’ she smiled, ‘Maybe next time.’
Ummmm…
Seb squeezed my hand as though he could he hear my brain turning that sentence over.
‘Mother. Can we go now?’
Lady Gardner rolled her eyes. ‘Lovely to see you, Sebastian. And nice to meet you…’
She hadn’t actually met me. Poor Seb had barely had a chance to introduce me, so it was hardly surprising she didn’t know my name.
‘Lottie,’ I filled in for her.
‘Lottie. Lovely. Well, good luck tonight! It’s looking marvellous.’
‘Thank you. I hope you enjoy yourselves.’ Seb included both the women in this. Lady Gardner beamed. Petunia gave him an awkward smile that still did nothing to hide the lust. Her eyes dragged to me, and the smile disappeared completely, turning cold.
‘Maybe next time, Seb,’ she repeated her mother’s phrase before stalking off on long, Bambi-like legs without an ounce of cellulite.
‘Her mother didn’t mean that. She’s just kind of a bit ditsy.’
‘Petunia definitely meant it,’ I said. ‘Money buys everything but taste and manners.’
He gave me an apologetic look. ‘I don’t know what her problem is.’
I looked at him for a moment before realising he was actually serious. ‘Oh my god. Seb. You’re kind of adorable.’
He gave me a look. ‘And now I sound like a puppy.’
‘That’s good. I love puppies.’
He grinned and gave me a squeeze.
‘Her problem is that she fancies the arse off you and had plans to seduce you via that auction lot. And then it all went to pot. Although I think she’s still planning for it to be on the cards at some point.’
‘Then she’s in for another disappointment. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever been seduced in my life.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Yeah right.’
‘What?’
‘Of course you have. You probably just think it was all you. But I can pretty much guarantee, some of those dates? You weren’t in control at all.’
‘Well. Whether that’s true or not. And I’m erring on the side of “not in a million years”, there is no way I’m interested in Lady Petunia Gardner.’
‘She’s obviously rich.’
‘And?’
‘I don’t know. She’s pretty. And she doesn’t have cellulite. That’s kind of all I have to go on right now.’
He shook his head and gave me a look that sent a bolt of electricity firing out in every direction. I tried to get some more air in, but this bloody dress seemed to be doing its utmost to prevent that. All that happened was I suddenly became a heroine in an old Barbara Cartland novel, complete with heaving bosom!
‘OK, you really need to stop doing whatever it is you’re doing, or I’m going to have to go and sit down for a bit.’
‘I’m not doing anything!’ I protested. ‘It’s this flippin’ dress! It’s got a will of its own.’
