Page 75 of My Year of Saying No
‘You also looked shocked,’ his expression was half smile, half frown.
‘I just…’ I wasn’t sure where I was going with that sentence so I gave up.
‘Thought I was too uncouth to compliment a woman?’
‘No!’ I replied, my apparently already shocked face getting another dose. I cleared my throat. ‘In fact, I somehow get the impression that it’s quite the opposite.’
He grinned and I tried not to notice. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘It means,’ I said, glancing at my phone as a message dinged, ‘that I think you can probably be pretty damn smooth when you want to be.’
‘Why do I get the idea you might think that’s a bad thing?’
‘Nope. Not at all. I was just stating a fact. Taxi’s here, by the way,’ I replied, dropping the phone into my clutch bag.
‘I see. This might be another topic to circle back to when you’ve had a few.’ He said, holding the door for me before stepping through behind me and waiting while I locked up.
‘Why when I’ve had a few?’ I laughed.
‘Because I’m intrigued as to what you might reveal once your guard is down a little more.’
We got to the kerb and Seb leaned over before I could get the door, holding it for me before sliding in next to me. I gave the driver the address of Harry’s apartment and settled back against the seat.
* * *
‘Oh darling, he’s even more gorgeous in the flesh!’ Mario whispered to me in a voice loud enough for everyone in the vicinity, including Seb, who was stood right in front of me, to hear. Heat immediately smothered my face, which I had a feeling was already turning a fetching shade of pink thanks to the free flowing champagne Harry had provided for the occasion.
I risked a look at Seb, who met my eye with the tiniest hint of a raised eyebrow. Turning, I gave Mario a glare, which seemed to amuse him even more, laughing as he squeezed me in a hello hug.
‘Mario,’ he said, releasing me and extending his hand towards Seb. ‘We’ve heardallabout you. It’s fabulous to finally meet you.’
Oh my god. Where was a hole in the ground when you needed one?
‘Ah! The famous Mario. It’s a pleasure to meet you too,’ Seb replied, smiling. ‘I know you’re responsible for Lottie enjoying her dance lessons as much as she does.’
Mario batted his gorgeously long eyelashes and laid a hand on his chest. ‘Well, I can’t take all the credit – just most of it.’ He did the wicked grin that had got us more than one warning look from the dance instructor, but even those were easing now as Mario began winning her over too. ‘And from what we hear, you’re responsible for Lottie enjoying her work as much as she does.’
‘Right!’ I needed to stop this before Mario got too carried away. I could have nobbled Jess right now for ever bringing up Seb’s name in Mario and Andy’s company. I could deal with the teasing on our own but with him standing right there, it was just on the wrong side of mortification. ‘Who’s for food? Seb, you’re always hungry. Come on, let’s go and see what we can find.’ I wrapped my hands around Seb’s arm, bodily moving him away in the direction of the buffet as he was mid-wave to Mario.
‘Stronger than you look,’ he said, glancing down at me, amusement dancing in his eyes.
‘Needs must. And stop looking at me like that.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like that,’ I said, drawing an imaginary circle around his face.
His smile widened. ‘Literally still no clearer.’
I gave a huff and turned back to the food handing Seb a bamboo plate, which he inspected for a moment before beginning to fill it. Popping a warm, artisan sausage roll in my mouth, I tried to calm my nerves and laugh off Mario’s teasing like I normally did. Seb clearly wasn’t bothered. Trying to pretend that he had no idea what Mario had meant was stretching things a little far, even for me. So now I just had to decide whether to actually address it, and laugh it off, or just say nothing and hope Seb didn’t either.
‘So, how come he’s heard so much about me?’ Seb asked, stealing a cheese straw off my plate.
‘Oi, get your own,’ I said, slapping his hand away as he went in for the second one, although I was secretly grateful the food seemed to have distracted him from his question. At least temporarily.
‘I didn’t see those.’
I stuffed the snack in my mouth before he could make another attempt at it and pointed at the far end of the table.
