“You don’t have to marry them. Just say hi.” He pushed down his irritation at Helen’s newfound reticence.Like now was the time to act all shy?Jeez, the woman drove him nuts. Particularly when he’d explicitly told her not to speak to Griceandnot to drink, and she’d done both in the space of five minutes. “Just smile, be polite and don’t screw up again.”
“I wish you’d stop saying that.”
“Stop screwing up and I will.”
The wind picked up at the edge of the terrace and a flock of seagulls swirled like confetti at the mouth of the gorge. Seb held onto Helen’s hand and cranked up hiseverything’s awesomesmile, fine-tuned to perfection during the many political rallies he’d been summoned to by his mother throughout his childhood. “Nadine, Ashley, meet Helen, my girlfriend.”
The two TV stars flashed red-carpet smiles—which faltered ever so slightly when their gazes hit Helen’s frizzy hair and dipped to where that damn dress had ridden up her thighs again.
“It’s very nice to meet you both,” Helen said, her snappy British accent sharper than he’d ever heard before. She acknowledged Brenda and George. “Hello, again.”
“You’re not Canadian?” Nadine’s gaze flicked back to Seb. “You’re dating a British woman already? You’ve been here, like, two days.”
“Actually, Helen and I met last year when she visited a mutual friend of ours in Vancouver. We’ve been dating long-distance for a few months.” Aware of Brenda watching—no doubt reliving the drama of the press call—Seb flashed chasteI love youeyes at Helen, praying she remembered the script. “It’s great to finally spend some time together, isn’t it?” He squeezed her hand.Over to you, Hobbs.
Blue eyes sparkling, Helen took her cue and gushed out her lines. “I couldn’t believe it when Sebastian told me he’d be working on the Get Living Campaign. It’s going to be a really great summer. Of course, I feel so bad for Daniel Jones, but having Sebastian on the campaign is definitely the silver lining.”
Perfect. Seb squeezed her hand again. “Helen and I are living together, not far from the city,” he added, like a big fat neon sign flashing the wordsWe’re Committed!Which had Nadine and Ashley choking on their champagne, Brenda raising an eyebrow, and Helen stiffening beside him.
Well, Seb was surprised about the whole living together thing too, and he certainly wasn’t ecstatic about it either. But it was the only way to get to know Helen better, and with Brenda watching closely and Nadine radiating thoseI want youvibes, how else could he prove to everyone that Helen was more to him than just a date?
“Our place is near Cheddar Gorge,” Seb continued, like he hadn’t just learned about the area in a two-minute scan-read of Wikipedia while he’d waited for Helen in the hotel lobby.
“That’s not far from where we are,” George said.
“It’s a beautiful part of the country,” Brenda chipped in, then smoothly signaled to Freddy, who’d been standing close by with a clipboard. “We should take our seats now. It’s nearly time for Sebastian’s speech.”
“Shall we, ladies?” George stuck out both elbows and set off toward the dining area with a Wag on each arm but Brenda held back, her brow crinkling as she stared at their retreating backs.
“Is something wrong?” Seb asked.
Brenda pursed her lips. “Their agent still hasn’t confirmed their appearance at Weston-super-Mare next weekend.”
“What’s the hold up?”
“I suspect without Dan and Isabella, there’s not enough exposure for them. They think it’s just another funfair at the beach.” Brenda looked apologetic. “Unfortunately, Sebastian, you’re not as well-known here as you are back at home. No offense.”
“None taken.” Dan Jones, Isabella and The Wags weren’t known in Canada either. Seb had brushed shoulders with Dan at past Olympics, but he hadn’t ever heard of the others until yesterday. “If there’s anything I can do to help persuade Nadine and Ashley, let me know.”
“Thank you, but … oh”—Brenda’s eyes narrowed—“maybe there is one thing you can do.”
“Name it.”
“You could go to that nightclub afterward with them and turn up the charm. Nadine seemed quite taken by you, she …” Brenda looked at Helen, like she’d forgotten she was there. “I mean … well … maybe you could socialize with them. Make friends.”
“Sure, no problem. We’d love to.”
“Great. I’ll see you at the table.” Brenda walked away.
“She’s right, you know,” Helen said when Brenda was out of earshot. “Nadine did seem quite taken by you. A relationship with a Wag would certainly guarantee their appearance atallyour eventsandmake you a household name.”
Seb fought off his irritation. “I didn’t come to England to flirt with women. It’s why you’re here, remember?”
“I remember all right.” Helen pulled a face. “Am I allowed to say I don’t want to go clubbing tonight?”
“Yes, you’re allowed, and for the record, I don’t want to go either, but we’re going.”
“Can’t you go by yourself?”
