He frowned. “Seriously? Love Island?”
I shrugged. “A girl’s got to have some romance in her life.”
I walked off, wondering if I imagined him muttering, something along the lines ofI’d like to give her romance.
The next dayand a half became a game of How-Can-Georgia-Pretend-Seph-Doesn’t-Exist-When-He’s-In-Her-House? It was in equal parts satisfying and frustrating, as well as slightly annoying when my so-called sister spent twenty minutes ogling him while he painted wearing just a sleeveless T-shirt which was at least two sizes too small, and sweats that I was struggling not to stare at. Every ab and detail was highlighted by the cling of the thin material, and I’d never realised until then what a fascination I had with men’s nipples.
“How on earth you work with that and stay productive all day is beyond me. Are you sure you’re into men?” she said while we were both sitting on the sofa, the sounds of Rose chatting to Seph drifting down the stairs. We’d turned the TV down to listen to the odd conversation between them which was them basically collaborating to tell a story about two unicorns who lived in a castle. They were currently falling out about whose turn it was to walk the dog. As you do when you’re a unicorn.
“I think Rose is proof of that.”
Olivia sighed, looking dreamily enough that I chucked a cushion at her head.
“Stop lusting after him.”
“He’s just so pretty. If you’re not going to tap that, then can I?” Her grin was pure evil.
“No.”
“So you’re going to go there?”
“He’s not interested.”
She picked up the cushion I’d launched at her and buried her face in it, smothering her own laughter. I was pretty sure I heard a wail in there too.
“Georgia, the man’s been here all weekend painting your daughter’s bedroom. He’s had her following him like he’s a character from a children’s TV programme – no sane person who isn’t related to a four-year-old does that of their own free will. He’s peacocking for you.” She rolled her eyes in exactly the same way that she’d been doing since she was twelve.
I figured she had a point. Plus, there’d been enough flirty looks and comments to make a teenaged girl’s heart swoon. The question was why.
“Maybe he is.”
“Maybe I’m right. But are you?” She curled her legs under her. “Because if you want me to take Rose out for a hot chocolate and give you an hour to yourselves, I can.”
Trying to stifle my smile was almost painful. “I don’t know, Liv. He’s said he wants to focus on his career and all that bullshit you hear when someone’s trying to fob you off. I don’t know if I can cope with someone blowing hot and cold.”
“Are you interested? Not just in what would probably be a decent fuck, but seeing him more seriously.”
“Jesus, Liv, do you have to be so blunt?”
She shrugged. “No point wasting words.”
I shook my head. It wasn’t an easy question. I liked what I knew of him, adored what he was like with Rose, but I was past being messed about.
“He’d need to show me he was serious. It’s not worth taking a risk otherwise.”
Liv stretched out. “I’m going to get Rose and take her out. If nothing else, Seph must be ready to stuff his ears with toilet paper by now, because I don’t think she’s stopped talking. What you do with him is your business.” Her grin was naughty. “But I know exactly what I’d do…”
She stopped talking when she realised Seph was standing in the doorway to the hall. The look on his face told us he’d heard a lot of what Liv’d just said.
“I apologise for my sister. She was brought up by wolves.” I gave him a smile that suggested I was totally chilled and relaxed. “Have you dropped Rose headfirst in a paint pot to make her be quiet for five minutes?” It was a reasonable solution.
“I made a jigsaw out of some old wallpaper.” His eyes were focused solely on me. “The room’s painted, but I’ll need to stick the mural on one evening this week as it needs to be properly dry. When works for you?”
“A four-year-old child means I have no life. Any. I can treat you to take-out for decorating.”
Olivia was almost stealth-like as she crept out of the room, right up to the point where she banged her toe on the chair and cursed loud enough to wake the dead of Southwark, then fell over, clutching her foot.
Seph and I looked at each other, then at her.
