At daybreak, when he’d thought she was sleeping, Sebastian had left her room, his bare butt catching the pale-dawn light as he picked his clothes off the floor.
It’s Just Sex.
Yes. He’d made that clear by sneaking out—and again, when he’d entered the kitchen a few hours later, acting as if nothing had happened.
Until she’d caught him looking at her.
“So last night was fun, eh?” he’d said as he’d helped himself to cereal.
And that was the only comment he’d made about the dirtiest, most wonderful night of her life.
Over breakfast, they’d chatted about the weather, about the route they’d take to the Hamptons, about tomorrow’s Get Living event … Everything and anything exceptthem.
Well, Sebastian was deluded if he thought last night was a one-off. They had a long summer ahead of them and he had another thing coming if he assumed her starved libido would sit by, waiting to be called. She wasn’t a machine, like him.
As she moved along to the next display cabinet in Vera Hampton’s exhibition room, Sebastian stepped in front of Helen and their eyes met over a couple of teapots shaped like rabbits.
“These two are a rather small pair,” Vera Hampton announced, handing Sebastian the two teapot bunnies.
“Indeed.” Sebastian held Helen’s gaze, one eyebrow slightly raised. “They are small, but they fit perfectly into each hand and they feel great to hold.”
Heat traveled up Helen’s neck.Okay. Not so much of a machine after all.So hewasstill thinking about her and the things they’d done together last night. As Sebastian and Vera moved on from the rabbit tea set to a gaudy-looking creation of a horse’s head, Helen turned away, unable to hold down the grin spreading across her face. Her gaze drifted out of the grand floor-to-ceiling window.
“How splendid that you’ve come to visit on such a gorgeous day,” Vera said.
Helen smiled, longing to be out in the sunshine. “You have a very beautiful garden. I bet it looks lovely even on very rainy winter days.”
“Thank you, my dear. It’s too much work for me now, but I have a wonderful gardener who does things just how I like.” Vera replaced the horse’s head teapot. “I’d be happy to show you my collection of roses.”
Behind the old lady’s back, Helen shot a horrified gaze to Sebastian.
“We’d love to, Vera,” he cut in quickly. “But unfortunately, we have to get going. I have a meeting in Bristol.”
Oh. Another meeting?Helen’s heart sank. She’d hoped they could spend the whole day together.
Footsteps sounded in the hall as George Hampton returned from his office. “I’m so sorry for leaving you, I had to take that call. I’m due to speak at the Football Association dinner in London in a couple of weeks’ time and they needed to finalize a few details.” He rubbed his hands together. “I mentioned you were here, Sebastian, and they’ve extended the dinner invitation to you, if you’d like to come along as my guest.”
“I’ll have to check my schedule but I’d love to, thank you. I know Michael is keen to work with the association.”
“Great. I’ll be in touch with the details. Would you like more tea?”
“Thank you, but I was just explaining to your mother that I’ve got another engagement. It’s been so kind of you to invite us today. And it’s been a real pleasure meeting you, Vera.”
Vera Hampton tittered under the full force of Sebastian’s charm and the goodbyes ended up taking just as long as the teapot tour.
Finally, after one last wave at the Hamptons standing on the stone steps of Godham Hall, Helen and Sebastian drove down the leafy mile-long driveway.
As soon as the electric gates closed behind them, Sebastian tugged his tie out of his collar and popped the top buttons of his shirt. “Who knew there was so much to a teapot.”
Was that a chink in his cool façade?
Helen eyed him curiously. “You can say it, you know, Sebastian. I won’t tell.”
“Say what?”
“You were bored shitless.”
“The Hamptons are nice, generous people.” He drove to the end of the lane. “They are charitable and very hospitable.” He glanced over, and she arched an eyebrow. “But yeah, I was bored shitless.”
