“I’m afraid so.” He looked both apologetic and relieved. “This’ll be good PR for tomorrow’s event.”
“Of course.”
“I won’t be long.” Sebastian emptied his shorts pockets and placed his phone, wallet and car keys on the picnic blanket then jogged off toward the teenagers.
Helen sat back down, a dark cloud hanging above her head. Thankfully, Tom had taken Harry to play peekaboo by the trees and Emma was busy changing Lucy’s nappy. Life went on, even after a hot kiss and quick dismissal.
Helen watched Sebastian chase the football. His skills weren’t the best, but he was quick and nimble on his feet. The teenagers ribbed him every time he lost a tackle, but he cheered their footwork and high-fived galore, which everyone seemed to enjoy.
The perfect sportsman. Such a gentleman.
Why did he always have to be so bloody nice to everyone? So bloody friendly and amenable all the bloody time?
And why did she have to fall in love with him?
“Uh-oh,” Emma said.
Helen dragged her gaze away. “What is it?”
“That look in your eyes … it’s like—”
Helen groaned. “I know what you’re going to say, so don’t.”
But after a few minutes of Emma’s eyes drilling holes at the back of her head, Helen conceded. “Okay. There’s the slight chance that I might’ve fallen for Sebastian, but it doesn’t mean anything.” She plucked at the dried grass by her feet. “Even if Sebastian does get over what I told him the other night, and by some miracle he does feel the same way about me, he’ll be going home next month.”
“But people have long-distance relationships all the time. There’s no reason for you to break up just because he’s leaving the country.”
“There are several reasons, actually.” Helen almost laughed. “For one, Sebastian likes things uncomplicated and tidy, which doesn’t describe my life at all. Two, we’re not really together so there’s nothing to break up, and three, Sebastian doesn’t do relationships for real, hence the hiring of a girlfriend.” Helen ripped up more grass. “That’s the big detail we’re all missing here.”
Then theJawstheme sounded quietly from Sebastian’s phone on the blanket next to her. Helen angled her head and read Celeste on the display.
Jawswas a woman?
Of course she bloody was!No doubt a jilted girlfriend—yet someone else who’d fallen for his sexy charms, foolishly wanting more and …hold on.
Celeste was his mother’s name.
Without thinking, Helen called out. “Sebastian! Your mum’s on the phone.”
Sebastian’s head shot up. He missed the ball one of the teenagers had kicked to him, said something to the group, and jogged over with a flicker ofmy business not yoursin his eyes. The same flicker Helen saw every time that ringtone sounded.
Casting a shadow over her, he cut the phone off.
“Aren’t you going to take it?”
“No.”
“I only called you because I thought it might’ve been important.”
“It isn’t.” Sebastian pushed up a smile, but the Keep Out sign stamped across his face was clear. He pocketed the phone and went back to the teenagers.
“That’s another reason for you, Emma,” Helen said. “Did you see that look?”
“Yes.”
“No one enters the inner world of Sebastian Clarke.” Helen flopped back onto the blanket and stared at the clear blue sky.
I don’t wanna fall in love and if I did, it wouldn’t be with someone like you.
