Page 28 of Bid For Me
“So, pomeranians, huh?” he muses, his smirk widening into a grin. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full with those ankle biters.”
I chuckle at his teasing, shaking my head playfully. “Better than them taking a chunk out of my stomach. You know, I couldn’t wear a crop top that entire summer because of you,” I jest, adding a touch of mock indignation to my tone.
Sebastian’s laughter fills the air, the sound music to my ears. Despite the playful banter, there’s an underlying warmth in his gaze that reassures me, reminding me that no matter what challenges – like my brother’s disapproval – we may face, we’ll always find a way to overcome them together.
“Can I see you tonight?”
“For a water fight? I thought we agreed to wait?”
“I want to take you somewhere.”
“Another flashy surprise?” I tease, my mind flicking back to last night and the expensive jewellery bag he had in the car that he never presented me with.
“No. I want to show you a little of the real me,” he replies earnestly.
“In that case, of course, Seb,” I tell him softly.
“I’ll pick you up at nine. That should give you enough time to shower, eat and get ready after your dog walking adventure.”
His subtle declaration that we would not be going out for dinner tonight piques my interest. Nine is quite late for a date too. I wonder where he wants to take me. Maybe some bar or nightclub, perhaps. Maybe he’s a karaoke champion on the weekends. I giggle at the thought.
“What?” he asks, smiling at me.
“Oh, nothing, just excited to see the real you, I guess.”
“Don’t worry, angel. I’ll give you a night you won’t regret. Don’t let the ankle biters drag you down. Later!”
The cool morning air fills my lungs, as I tug on the leash, trying to keep the six rambunctious dogs under control. They pull in different directions, their excitement barely contained as they sniff at every patch of grass and bark at every squirrel in sight. My baseball cap is pulled low over my head, shielding my face from the bright sun, my hair up in a messy ponytail and tucked through the back of the cap.
This is my escape – an hour to clear my mind, away from everything. Away from Seb especially.
But of course, that’s when he shows up.
I feel his presence before I see him, the crunch of gravel under his shoes announcing his arrival. I glance up from adjusting one of the leads, and there he is, standing at the edge of the path, arms crossed and eyes scanning me with that familiar intensity.
“Elle.” His voice is a mix of surprise and something else I can’t quite place.
I don’t bother to respond, focusing instead on untangling the dogs, but I can feel his gaze burning into me. When I finally look up, his expression is…confused? He frowns, his eyes roaming over me, lingering on my jeans, sweater, and mud-covered tennis shoes.
“What are you wearing?” he asks, like he’s genuinely baffled.
I stare at him for a moment, stunned. Is he serious?
“It’s called being comfortable, Seb,” I say, my voice laced with sarcasm as I tug the cap lower over my face. “Not everyonelives in tailored suits or designer two-pieces all of the time, you know.”
His frown deepens as he studies me. “I’ve just…never seen you like this.”
“Like what?” I snap. “A normal human being?”
There’s a flicker of something in his eyes – guilt, maybe – but it disappears as quickly as it came. He opens his mouth to respond, runs his hands through his hair as if he’s frustrated, but then does something completely unexpected. He steps forward, takes one of the leads from my hand, and without a word, falls into step beside me.
I stare at him, dumbfounded. “What are you doing?”
He glances down at the dog, then back at me. “Helping. It looks like you’ve got your hands full.”
I blink, surprised by the gesture, but also a little annoyed. “I can manage.”
“I know you can.” His voice is softer now, less confrontational. “But I want to walk with you.”