Strictly Come Dating

by Kathryn Freeman

  Tabby giggled. ‘Duh, It Takes Two is about Strictly. It’s where they talk to the dancers about costumes and stuff.’

  Ah. Maggie must have seen his pained expression because she smiled. ‘I think Seb might prefer SpongeBob.’

  ‘No, it’s fine.’ It beat an empty house, anyway. ‘I get to eat the best ever lasagne first though, yes?’

  Hannah rolled her eyes at him. ‘No pressure, huh?’

  As it turned out the lasagne was tasty and the conversation, dominated by the girls, was easy. It was only as he helped clear the plates away with Hannah that Seb realised Maggie was making moves to leave.

  ‘Is she going out?’ he asked as he watched Maggie walk back into the room wearing a dark navy coat and clutching her handbag. She’d clearly given her hair a quick brush and applied a subtle pink lipstick.

  ‘She’s going dancing.’

  He felt a small, but definite, tug of disappointment. ‘The lessons she was talking about?’

  ‘Yep. It took a lot of effort but we managed to persuade her. Apparently she used to be crazy about dancing before she got married.’

  It wasn’t his business. Still, Seb couldn’t resist asking. ‘Paul didn’t like dancing, I take it?’

  Hannah gave him a funny look. ‘You know about Paul?’

  ‘Well, not really,’ he had to admit. ‘Only what I’ve heard from Alice and Sarah.’

  ‘Oh yes, I keep forgetting they’re your sisters.’ She shook her head. ‘It must have been a real hoot growing up with them. They’re like, what, ten years older than you?’

  ‘About that,’ he murmured as Maggie finished saying goodbye to the girls and came over to them.

  ‘So, thank you for today, Seb.’ Her smile was the warmest he’d received so far from her. ‘Not just for helping Penny, but for making it fun, too. I have to say, I didn’t think you’d still be working on it when I got home.’

  He waited until her eyes met his and then smiled straight into them. ‘I told you, I can work miracles with the right incentive.’

  She shook her head, laughing softly. ‘Seriously, have you ever thought about going into teaching? You’ve got a real way with the kids.’

  ‘Thanks.’ She was being kind, but not only had her comment effectively deflected his flirty remark, it had also reinforced the chasm between them. Whether that was deliberate he didn’t know, but now he felt like the chump who still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, being advised by the wise professional. ‘Not all kids are as bright and receptive as Penny and Tabby.’

  In what was clearly an unconscious gesture, Maggie glanced over to where her daughters sat on the satsuma sofa. The love, the pride, on her face, caught at him. Had his parents ever looked at him that way? They loved him, sure, but were they proud of him? Then again, what had he done to make them proud? Seb gave himself a mental shake. Nope, he’d done with the crappy pity party. ‘Hannah tells me you’re going to those dance lessons tonight?’

  And there it was again, the shift in her body language from relaxed, when she was talking about her kids, to formal when the conversation turned to her. ‘I am. I’ll be hoping to avoid the mop.’

  ‘Stuff the mop, you’re going to get tall, dark and handsome,’ Hannah interjected. ‘I can feel it.’

  ‘I’ve had enough tall, dark and handsome to last me a lifetime, thanks.’ A cloud crossed Maggie’s face and Seb guessed that Paul had been exactly that. ‘I’ll settle for a guy who doesn’t stamp on my toes.’

  ‘Hey, you should aim higher than that. I hear blonde is the new dark.’ He waggled his eyebrows and though Hannah laughed, Maggie gave him a wary look. Either she thought he wasn’t funny or, worse, she knew he was coming on to her and didn’t like it.

  An awkward pause followed, and Seb figured it was time for him to leave. It felt odd staying in Maggie’s house without Maggie. Odd and, though he hated to admit it, not quite as appealing. ‘I ought to go, too.’ Maggie looked at him in alarm and he laughed. ‘Chill, I don’t mean to the lessons. I mean leave Hannah and the girls to watch their programme in peace.’

  Maggie cast a glance at Hannah, and whatever they communicated, it seemed to be in favour of him staying because Hannah gave him a bright smile. ‘We want you to stay. And you never know, with you being a fan of Strictly now, you might even enjoy It Takes Two.’

  Once Maggie had left, Hannah threaded her arm through his and led him over to the sofa. It was nice to feel wanted, he realised as he settled down with them. Plus, Hannah was easy company; open, fun. A woman his own age, who laughed at his jokes and didn’t seem like she’d be offended if he asked questions that were too personal.

  And if now and again he wondered how Maggie was getting on in her dance lessons, well, it was only because It Takes Two was even less his thing than Strictly.

  Chapter Six

  It was Maggie’s turn to host Strictly Saturday. The pizzas were out of their boxes and on trays beside the already warmed oven. Glasses and plates rested on the island, napkins by their side. A crisp salad waited in the fridge. Hannah was already here, sitting with the girls in the living room. All Maggie needed now were her other guests.

  Right on cue, the doorbell rang.

  After settling the pizzas into the oven, she went to open the door, finding not only the people she’d expected, but also one she hadn’t. Her shock must have shown on her face, because Alice winced.

  ‘He’s promised to be good. Okay, that’s a lie. When I went to pick Sarah up, Seb gave us the sad eye look and, well, we’re suckers for it, so huge apologies but here he is. If it helps, Jack and Edward have ducked out. I tried to get Seb to meet up with them, but he insisted he wanted to come here.’

  Seb, dressed smartly again, this time in black jeans, a light pink shirt that emphasised his tan, and a grey jacket, gave her a wide, winsome smile. She suspected it was the same one he’d given his sisters.

  It was unnerving to realise she, too, was a sucker for it. ‘The girls will be pleased to see you,’ she told him, trying to ignore the butterflies in her belly. She suspected Hannah would be pleased, too. Her nanny had admitted to enjoying having Seb round on Wednesday, though Maggie had been surprised, and relieved, to find him already gone when she’d arrived home. It was one thing telling Hannah what a disaster the evening had been. Quite another admitting it to the man she still didn’t feel entirely comfortable around. It wasn’t that she didn’t like him. Far from it. It was more that she didn’t like the feelings he evoked in her.

  Unconsciously she caught his eye and, as if to reinforce her thoughts, a ripple of awareness ran through her.

  ‘It’s good to know I have at least two fans,’ he drawled, shooting her another of his easy smiles.

  Ignoring the fluttery sensation, Maggie forced herself to smile back. ‘Penny wanted to show you the comment the teacher put on her project.’

  ‘Great.’ He laughed softly. ‘At least I hope it’s great or I’ll have to downgrade my earlier statement to one fan.’ Then he laughed again. ‘And Tabs will no doubt withdraw her vote the moment I open my mouth during Strictly.’

  She wanted to tell him her daughter was called Tabby, but it felt petty, mean even, considering he was so lovely with them. And considering Tabby hadn’t batted an eyelid when he’d called her that on Wednesday. It had been just after she’d watched him ruffle her hair in a gesture so affectionate, so natural, it had caused her heart to ache at what both her daughters were missing out on. Paul should have been the one helping Penny with her project, ruffling Tabby’s hair.

  ‘I’ll head on in then.’ Seb’s voice brought her back, and she watched as he strode past her into the hallway, as if he was a frequent visitor. As this was his second visit in the space of a few days, maybe he now qualified as that.

  ‘Good to see he’s dressed for the occasion,’ she murmured to Sarah and Alice, drawn to the view of his broad shoulders, enhanced by the jacket, and his trim backside, showcased by the dark jeans.

  ‘Oh, he’s got some
woman picking him up later.’ Alice shook her head. ‘To think this is where women’s liberation has taken us. Seems backwards to me.’

  ‘To be fair, he’s not got a car,’ Sarah pointed out.

  ‘True. To get a car, he needs to get a job, though maybe that’ll change soon with this youth centre thing.’

  She couldn’t say why she was so interested, but she was. ‘Has he applied for a job there?’

  Alice shrugged. ‘He said he’d been to see them. I know he’s worked with youth clubs during his travels so hopefully it will work out.’

  ‘He’ll be good.’ When they both stared at her, Maggie added defensively. ‘He’s got a knack with children. Alice, you must know that, from the way he is with Edward and Rebecca.’

  ‘Eds and Beccs.’ Alice shuddered as she mimicked her brother’s drawl. ‘I see he’s taken to calling Tabby “Tabs” now too. The man might be good with kids, but he’s a nightmare with their flaming names.’ She shook her head. ‘But enough about our brother, let’s get onto more important matters. How was the dance lesson? Were you swept off your feet?’

  ‘Did you get to trip the light fantastic?’ Sarah added.

  Maggie raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Are there any more clichés coming or can I answer?’ When they both looked at her expectantly, Maggie laughed. ‘God, you’re like dogs waiting for a bone. Sadly, it isn’t the juicy one you’re hoping for. The evening was like something out of a comedy show, only without the laughs.’ Her voice cracked on the last word proving, annoyingly, that she hadn’t yet put the disappointment behind her. Embarrassing enough that she’d cried the whole journey home. She really didn’t want her friends to know how stupidly she’d raised her hopes of not just dancing again, but dancing with a man who made her knees weak and her belly sizzle.

  ‘Tell us.’ Alice took her hand, giving it a squeeze. ‘It can’t have been that bad, can it?’

  Maggie sighed. ‘Probably not.’ If she’d only approached it with her usual caution, instead of letting her head get so carried away. ‘Everyone was quite a bit older than me, which didn’t help. On the plus side, there were several of us without partners.’

  ‘That’s… good?’ Sarah prompted.

  ‘It would have been, if the two males without partners weren’t bald and boob height.’

  ‘Boob height?’ All three of them turned to find Seb lurking in the hallway, his eyebrows raised so high they were lost in his hairline. ‘Does that mean what I think it does?’

  Bugger, bugger, bugger. The last thing Maggie wanted was for Seb to hear her tale of humiliation. ‘I was exaggerating, one of them possibly came up to my shoulder.’ She released a breath, aware there was no point in not telling them the truth. ‘Fact was, with my dancing heels on, neither of them could look me straight in the eye.’

  ‘But they could look you straight in the—’

  ‘Seb!’ Alice and Sarah both frowned over at him.

  ‘Hey, okay, I was only repeating what Maggie said.’ Amusement made his bright blue eyes seem even brighter. ‘Could they dance, at least?’

  ‘They were learning, like I was.’ Though after she’d had a blast of stale coffee breath from the taller, and a waft of ripe BO from the other, she’d worked hard to avoid them for the rest of the evening. Details she’d reserve for when Seb wasn’t listening.

  ‘Will you go back?’ Sarah asked.

  Much as she desperately wanted to dance again, Maggie wasn’t sure she could put herself through that again. ‘Maybe,’ she demurred, aware that if she said no outright, they’d gang up on her.

  ‘But you love dancing, you can’t just give up on the idea.’ Sarah glanced at Seb, and Maggie felt the bottom fall out of her stomach. God no, she wasn’t going to suggest… ‘You have to give it another go.’

  Relief flooded through her. Sarah had clearly read no bloody way from Seb’s expression, which suited Maggie just fine. She absolutely didn’t want anyone she knew witnessing her fumbling attempts to dance again. Nor did she want anyone to feel forced to dance with her. Especially not the man who unnerved her.

  ‘Sarah’s right. Maybe next time you’ll get to dance with someone whose head isn’t jammed against your—’

  ‘Thank you.’ Maggie cut off Alice’s comment, keen to move the conversation away from her blasted boobs. Taking hold of her friends’ hands, she gave them a quick squeeze. ‘I appreciate you both looking out for me, but I’m a big girl. I can make my own decisions. Now we’d better get a move on because Strictly’s on in a few minutes and I haven’t taken the pizzas out yet.’

  They headed towards the sitting room, but Seb remained where he was and when Maggie stepped past him, he cleared his throat. ‘Have you got a sec?’

  Her heart gave out a loud thump – why was that? – and she eyed him cautiously. ‘Of course.’

  Seb wasn’t sure what possessed him to call Maggie back. Was he really about to make the very same offer he’d silently begged Sarah not to make? Yet it wasn’t that he didn’t want to dance with her. More that he didn’t want to be foisted on her.

  Still, he couldn’t get the conversation he’d overhead in the hallway out of his head… The evening was like something out of a comedy show, only without the laughs. Her disappointment, buried behind the stoic front, tugged at some deeply hidden chivalrous part of him. ‘Look, I just wanted to say that if you think having, I don’t know, a wing man I guess.’ God, he was stumbling over his words like a gawky kid. ‘If you think that would help next week, I’m happy to be that for you.’

  To his surprise he didn’t get the polite smile. He got the warm one, which made her eyes glint. ‘Happy? Are you sure that’s the right word?’ Before he had a chance to reply, she lightly touched his arm. ‘Don’t worry. I know Alice and Sarah put you up to this, but I’m officially letting you off the hook.’

  ‘They didn’t.’ He wasn’t sure why he blurted that out. Only that he was sorry he had when her smile slipped.

  ‘Oh, well, I must have sounded very sorry for myself then.’ Her eyes avoided his and a faint flush entered her cheeks.

  ‘No.’ He was getting this all wrong, or she was too sensitive. Probably a bit of both. ‘I can see how much you like dancing. It’s right there on your face when you watch it. I guess I just figured if going with you would help you get some of that pleasure back, give you a sort of leg up, or whatever you want to call it, then I’d like to do that.’ Trying to find his cool, his casual, he slipped a hand in his jeans pocket. ‘We should all do stuff that gives us a kick now and again. Makes the crap and tedium easier to handle.’

  ‘Thanks, I’ll bear it in mind.’ Though she smiled, he was pretty certain she had no intention of following him up on his offer. A lucky escape, he reminded himself. Just when he thought the conversation was over though, she surprised him. ‘What about you? What are you doing that gives you a kick at the moment?’

  His mind flashed to the Whitsundays. The beauty of the reef. The joy of sun on his face, of a white sandy beach. Of a life he missed. But then he thought of his parents, and the family he’d missed when he’d been out there. ‘I’m driving my sisters crazy.’

  Maggie laughed. ‘You’re certainly doing that, by all accounts.’

  Their gazes collided, and once again he felt a pull, just like he had on Wednesday. There was something about this woman, about making her smile… maybe it was just an ego thing, proof that he had it in him to charm a beautiful woman.

  ‘Mum, Strictly is nearly starting and the pizzas aren’t out of the oven.’ Tabby, hands on hips, shouted at them from the living-room doorway.

  ‘Well, that told me,’ Maggie said under her breath before giving her daughter a wide, amused smile. ‘We’d better hurry up then.’

  Seb followed Maggie down the hall, watching her slender hips sway, just slightly, from side to side, and her ponytail bounce – yeah, he’d noticed that straightaway tonight. Usually she wore her hair down, but the ponytail, well, it made her look younger. More approachable.
He had a funny feeling he was deluding himself about the ego trip, and that what he was starting to feel for Maggie wasn’t simply a detached interest in his sisters’ friend. It was an attraction he could really do without. Jobless, homeless, unsure where his life was headed, what he absolutely didn’t need right now was a crush on the unattainable Maggie Peterson.

  Shaking the thought off, he walked back into the living room where everyone was gathered. The sofas here were a more tasteful muted grey, with cream scatter cushions. Hannah gave him a bright smile and patted the seat next to her. Realising it would be rude to ignore her, he went to sit down, hoping she wasn’t getting any ideas. She was fun, he’d enjoyed her company the other night, but friendship was all he was interested in.

  ‘You’re looking smart,’ she remarked, looking him up and down. ‘Is this for our benefit?’

  ‘I’m off out later.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Blazers. The wine bar?’ He’d somehow managed to bag a lift there off the sister of one of his old mates.

  ‘I know it. I’ve never been.’

  Ah. He didn’t want to give any mixed messages so he kept quiet and the silence between them stretched, becoming uncomfortable. Thank God for the arrival of his sisters, who entered carrying the obligatory pizza. Maggie followed behind with plates and napkins, which made him smile. It wasn’t that she was fussy – hell, she was letting them eat pizza in her fancy room – more that she was so meticulously organised.

  After grabbing a slice, and ignoring the napkin – it was as close as he could get to living dangerously right now – he settled back against the sofa. A moment later the opening credits of Strictly jangled round the room and Seb realised with a touch of embarrassment that he was actually, sort of, looking forward to watching it.

  Of their own volition, his eyes drifted over to Maggie, whose gaze was riveted on the screen, her expression one of utter absorption.