Page 40 of Sit, Stay, Love
Sera rubbed her forehead. It wasn’t exciting; it was strange and troubling. His involvement in the movie hadn’t even been announced, and the last thing he needed was for the press to start sniffing around and figure out his fear of dogs. ‘I’m sure it wasn’t the paparazzi, Mum. More like another dog walker. But I better make sure he knows about it.’
‘You can’t really see your face, only your mop of hair. And he’s got a cap on, but he still stands out. So tall! Did I ask if he’s single?’
Sera groaned again. ‘Mum.’
‘I can ask, can’t I? He’s handsome, and successful and polite. All plusses in my book.’
‘Yes, I know. Believe me, I know. But I’m working for him. He’s paying me.’
‘Semantics,’ she sniffed. ‘Do you enjoy your time with him?’
‘It’s been like a week. Not even a week. I don’t know if I enjoy time with him or not.’
She was lying, of course. She knew from pretty much the first afternoon, as they’d walked together on the beach after the Kevin fiasco, that she enjoyed spending time with Ethan. He made her tingle in a way she couldn’t remember tingling. Her stomach somersaulted whenever he smiled, and when he flirted with her, her heart practically stopped.
‘You don’t need to be around someone for years to know if they’re right for you,’ her mother said. ‘For goodness’s sake, don’t leave this one hanging like poor Toby. A woman only gets so many chances.’
‘Mum, Toby is not hanging,’ she said sternly. ‘I know you wish he was your son-in-law or something, but that’s just not how our relationship is, and not how either of us feel.’
Her mother sighed. ‘Oh, darling.’
‘Just… Mum, I have to go. I spent way too long working with Ethan today and I have a writing deadline, and I’m also waiting to hear from Toby about catching up tonight.’
‘Two handsome men in one day, and apparently neither of them is good enough for you,’ her mother tutted.
Sera opened her mouth to say something, but stopped. There was no point arguing. She would only upset herself, and her mother would just hang up, pour herself a glass of wine and play a game of cards with her husband, completely oblivious to how she left her daughter feeling inadequate and full of rage.
‘Well, say hello to him for me,’ her mother said brightly. ‘I’d better go too. Your father has poured me a wine and he’s shuffling the cards. I need to make sure he doesn’t put any up his sleeve.’ She laughed at her joke. ‘Love you, darling.’
‘Love you too—’ The line disconnected. ‘Mum.’
Sera shook her head. She logged off her computer – it was obvious she wasn’t getting any other work done today – then texted Ethan about the photo in theBeaches Daily.
Sera: Heads up. There’s a photo of us in the local paper.
Ethan: On it. PR is keeping an eye out.
Sera:
Ethan: Life with a semi-famous person We’ll keep your name out of anything.
Ethan: Unless you want to be linked with me?
Her tummy dipped. What did that mean,linked with me? He must mean professionally. Yep. Professionally. It couldn’t be anything else.
Her finger hovered over the keypad.
Sera: Next session Monday?
She scrunched up her face.Ugh. She was so lame.
Ethan: Can’t wait.
She shook her head, needing to get a handle on this ridiculous crush she had going on. She was a grown woman who could handle being arounda hot man without swooning. Even a super-hot one. A smoking hot, absolutely crazily gorgeous one.
She groaned, jammed her phone into her pocket and stretched, arching her back and wincing at the loud crack. Tia had left about an hour ago, so she decided to take a walk and check on the kennels and try to shake off her mother’s bad vibe, and the warmth that was spreading through her chest, courtesy of Ethan.
Her phone rang as she closed the door behind her.
