“Is that a yes? Because it’s a yes for me,” he leaned over to assure her. He didn’t think about the fact that beyond the campaign, the benefits for his career were not insignificant. As his shrewd agent kept reminding him.
Jaya didn’t need to know about those other motivations. They had a shared goal of helping the campaign. That’s all that mattered right now.
She nodded slowly and lifted her eyes at him. He didn’t expect her full gaze to impact him like that. And when she smiled, without guile and almost shyly, his heart stopped. “Good,” he managed to say.
He cleared his throat to restart his faulty body. It must be heartburn from eating pasta too quickly.
“I just have to ask one thing, BB,” she said with a glint in her eye.
“You did not just call me that…” he said and reached over to tickle her waist. She wiggled and laughed. He could have listened to her laugh all night. The feel of her warm, supple body against his calloused hands was amazing.
She playfully swapped his arms and he stilled himself. Not wanting to break the contact when she placed her hands on his chest. Jaya looked at him with so much uncertainty, something inside him tugged. “What is it?” Sebastian asked hoarsely.
“I need to ask you not to see other women,” she said softly. “While we pretend to be together. I just couldn’t.”
“Jaya,” he interrupted. “Jaya, of course. What makes you think I would see someone else while I’m dating?” She rolled her eyes.
He rushed to comfort her. “I don’t know what Molly told you,” he said, “but we weren’t dating. We were both single.”
“I’m having lunch with Molly in a few days. I had to call her after this blew up. She’s seeing a great guy now. Pretty serious. But she was still upset at me.”
“I’m sorry if that put a strain on your friendship. But you have to believe me. I would never fool around if I was seriously seeing someone.”
She sighed. And his throat lodged something hard because it wasn’t belief in her eyes, it was resignation. “You’re right. I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“How about you?” he demanded. “You gonna fool around on your fake boyfriend?” It was hard not to grin at her expression. She had a crinkled nose and twisted lips, like a kid sucking on sour candy. Adorable.
“No, of course not!” she exclaimed and gently pushed him away to take a sip of her water. Then, she looked at him over the rim of her glass with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Does practicing with Carlos count?”
CHAPTER 7
Unfortunately, just as she wrapped her mind around “practice dating” when Sebastian returned from his road games, she remembered that the sure-fire way to mess up these plans was to ask her to lie. She had spent approximately thirty-six hours telling people the truth and none of them—not her mother, or her co-workers, or the kids at the community center—believed that she wasn’t dating Sebastian.
But the second she agreed to go with the ruse, every single person would see right through the bullshit. Jaya Patel was a miserable liar.
The surprise flowers that Sebastian had delivered helped a lot. And not only because the arrangement was big enough to hide behind while sitting on her desk. Soft shades of pink, lavender, and cream blossoms rested on evergreen boughs. It came with a simple note: Practice makes perfect.
The flowers helped because she could just shrug and vaguely look at them when people asked about her “plans for the weekend.” Despite being obnoxiously out of place in a basement with no windows and, to her dismay, minimal air circulation, the flowers said all the things she would have blanched to state out loud. Namely, someone charming and romantic is enamored with me enough to spend money on dead plants and foliage in the middle of winter. Or, simply, we’re dating.
She had watched Sebastian’s last two games on the road. His offensive line scored the first goal in each of the games. As a centerman, his face-off stats were fantastic. The best in the league. Thrashers only had one win in the books from that trip, but Sebastian’s performance was notable.
Local sports channels were playing a video clip that captured Sebastian’s celebration after he made a nifty deflection that soared past the goalie. Before he beamed at his teammates and skated to the bench for the usual fist bumps, he looked straight at the camera. His was a face awash in adrenaline and passion and determination. Everyone could objectively assess that he was good looking—maybe even too fine-boned and handsome for the gritty sport of hockey—but this was something else.
Something that didn’t allow you to look away from its stark honesty. Pure fucking joy. She remembered that feeling when she was a hockey player, through high school and her first year of college. The memory brought a surge of both pleasure and pain, so she shook it off.
It was Friday and they were supposed to meet for drinks at some point. He texted her while she was in bed last night, on his way home from the airport.
Sebastian: Hey girlfriend
Jaya: That’s literally what girlfriends say TO EACH OTHER
Sebastian: Did you like the flowers?
Jaya: Perfect color scheme for when my body is interred.
Sebastian: You loved it. I bet you could hardly get your work done, thinking about me all day.
Jaya: Is that what they were for? Hmm…I would not have guessed.
Sebastian: Sure, babe, keep telling yourself that. Hey, I finish practice at one tomorrow. Should I pick you up? For another kind of practice… (wink emoji)
Jaya: two-minute penalty for that painful innuendo.
Sebastian: As long as you’re in the box with me.
Jaya: And…. we’re done. I finish at 5 but need to do some errands. Maybe 8? Just text me tomorrow. Gotta go.
Sebastian: What are you wearing?
Recalling his last question made her snort. What a hopeless perv. She had no problem calling him that to his face later tonight.
Jaya was gathering her uneaten lunch of granola bars and a protein shake—it was an insanely busy day of meetings and event coordination—when she heard traces of a deep voice from the hallway.
The receptionist’s laugh, part guffaw and part chortle, reached her ears along with an enthusiastic, “Sebastian, you’re so hilarious!” Betty was an attractive and incredibly perky blonde who started working for the center a few months prior. She usually just sent visitors down the basement, with little instruction to help them navigate the labyrinth of hallways. However, this guest was going to get special treatment.
Then, he was at her door. Large and imposing beside Betty’s petite frame.
“Wha—What are you doing here?” she mumbled in confusion.
It took two strides for Sebastian to cross the room and stand in front of her. “Didn’t you say to meet you for errands before we got dinner?” He pecked her on the cheek, his warm breath lingering over her neck. His hands lay gently on her hips. The hold was rather convenient because her legs were suddenly wobbly.
“Oh, umm, well. You don’t have to.”
“It’ll be fun. C’mon, you’re done at five, right?”
She was shaking her head slowly, but not in annoyance. She might as well resign herself to this, as the receptionist was watching them intently. Betty will happily report her observations to the rest of the crew upstairs. It seemed Sebastian was now taking charge of the situation. Good thing too, since her lack of dating experience rendered her useless.
It was all for show, but there was no denying that he was good at the performance. Fine, fine. Less for her to worry about. Less likely for her to mess up.
“Thanks for your help, Betty,” Sebastian said, though looking only at Jaya. His face was so close, she could see the depths of blue in his gray-specked eyes that twinkled in amusement.
“Oh, of course. No problem,” the receptionist answered before skipping back upstairs.
He carried Jaya’s backpack on one side and offered the crook of his other arm. Without thinking, Jaya reached out. Now what? What d
id couples do? She no longer needed crutches, but the ankle support was far from conducive to dreamy hand-in-hand strolling. If anything, she was clumsier than ever.
They were walking up the stairs when he snickered, “Is it so shocking that I’m serious about helping you do your errands? Especially with you hobbling around like an old lady.”
“Yeah, actually it is. This is hardly a Friday night date,” Jaya retorted.
“So, what would you count as a Friday night date?” he asked while also gently squeezing her hand against his bicep, further ensuring her stability as she shuffled up the stairs.
“Ha! Not buying tampons, that’s for sure.”
He threw his head back and released a loud, unexpected belly laugh. He seemed to be surprised by his own mirth, though she noticed that his reaction wasn’t embarrassed or demeaning. “Whatever you need, sweetheart,” he offered with an easy smile.
She couldn’t help but smile in return. It turned out that Sebastian Beaumont was a rather decent fake boyfriend, all things considered.
On their way out, Betty waved them over. “I forgot to tell you, Jaya. Chloe was looking for you earlier.”
“What time? I was around all afternoon.” She frowned as she recalled Betty’s very recent opportunity to tell her.
“Right after school. I sent her to your office. That might have been when you were in a meeting.”
It wasn’t unusual for the kids to come by and chat with Jaya, but Chloe was the kind of kid that went with the group. She hardly ever sought attention for herself. Something about the unusual request, to seek out Jaya alone, nagged in the youth coordinator’s mind and tugged at her gut.
“Did she leave a message?” To this question, Betty merely shrugged and then reached over to answer the ringing phone.
Jaya took a piece of paper and jotted down her cell number. She didn’t make a habit of giving private contact info to the kids, mostly because she was so accessible during their frequent interactions, it seemed hardly necessary.
On top of her number, she wrote: In case Chloe comes back, pass this on please.
If Jaya learned one thing through the years, it was to trust her instincts when they told her something was off.
***
“This isn’t food, Jaya,” Sebastian said in dismay as he looked at the cereal and ramen in her cart.
“Just because you’re a good cook, it doesn’t mean you get to judge everyone else’s culinary preferences. Snob,” she countered and stuck her tongue out.
He sighed. “Eat some protein with those noodles. Just break an egg on the ramen. And can you get something less sugary than this cinnamon thing? Here.”
He reached over to grab a box that looked like it contained cereal of the same properties as the box. Fibrous and tasteless.
“Fine. You’re such a dad!” she teased. As she said that, she noticed two young women at the end of the aisle. They weren’t particularly subtle about their cell phones turning outward from lowered arms.
Jaya whispered over her shoulder so only Sebastian could see her lips. “Do you see your fans out there, hashtag hotbeau?”
Sebastian put his hand around her waist and gently pulled her closer. “They’ve been there for a while. I was wondering when you’d notice.” Jaya felt the firm thickness of his thigh against her hip. He held her casually when he whispered, “They’re your fans too, you know.”
“Ha, right!” she shook her head. Jaya took a deep breath. “Now what?” They were heading to the ice cream aisle—her favorite aisle in all the world—and she loaded up on a mango sorbet that reminded her of something her mom made on special occasions. And pistachio ice cream too because, of course.
Sebastian raised a brow at her food choices, and she stuck her tongue out in response. He held his judgment. Smart man.
“Well, if you were my girlfriend, this is about the time I’d give you a kiss,” Sebastian said, leaning closer. It was barely a whisper. “Wanna try it?”
She stiffened. This was the part of “practice dating” that she was unsure about. Exactly how much public displays of affection would be required to make this look real? One kiss? Two plus a boob grab? The thought was both funny and unsavory. Kind of like everything else about this scenario.
Jaya only ever had one boyfriend. The long-term relationship with Noah Rawlings ended so catastrophically after freshman year of college, she swore off dating for years. She didn’t actually know what was expected of two people in a proper, adult, romantic attachment. Though she went to a few blind dates arranged by friends this past year, nothing even went this far. A man’s hand on her hip and his breath against her ear. She swallowed hard.
He gave a light squeeze. “Hey, we don’t have to do anything you aren’t comfortable with. How about this?” he asked and gave a gentle peck on top of her head, his nose in her hair.
Jaya relaxed against him and slipped her arm towards his back, not wrapping it around his trim waist but landing a hand on the crevice between his shoulders. She moved her fingers down. The valley along his middle back, framed by muscles on each side, felt like sculpted stone against her palm. Jaya’s fingers trailed languidly, resting just above the edge of his pants. She felt, more than heard, his breath hitch.
“Jaya…” he said hoarsely.
“Oh! What? I’m sorry,” she stuttered, stilling her hand and widening her eyes as she looked at him with uncertainty.
Sebastian stared at her, seeming drawn to a mouth that expressed the embarrassment she felt. “I’m sorry,” he croaked, and her eyes traced downward where the ridge of his arousal strained against dark jeans.
“Oh,” she muttered and looked up with apologetic eyes. When color filled his cheeks, she almost felt sorry for him. Sebastian Beaumont blushed. Good to know.
She removed her hand from his back and with that arm, elbowed him to get his attention. She cleared her throat like she was about to ask him something very important. “You about ready to buy menstruation products, boyfriend of mine?”
He burst out a cackle and shook his head. As his arm draped over her shoulder, he whispered against her ear, “Congratulations, Jaya. You managed to start and end an erection in a span of ten seconds.”
“A record?”
He snickered as they started to walk together. “Yeah, a record.”
It was a few hours later, after they had dropped off her groceries, debated about where to have dinner, and placed food orders at the Mediterranean restaurant down the street from Jaya’s house, that they returned to the subject of dating.
“So…” he started. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Jaya, but how are you even single?”
She was taken aback by the question. “Is there a right way to take that?”
“I mean, you’re cute, but not vain. Good at a job that’s good for the community. Moderately funny. And you do know your hockey so you wouldn’t be useless in a fantasy league. That’s a catch in most guys’ books. Besides, since you’re not into casual hookups, I figure you would have snagged at least one of those guys by now.” He spoke nonchalantly, sinking into the cushion of the restaurant’s booth and taking a swig of beer.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she retorted.
“I’m not into guys,” he said regrettably. He only partially shielded himself from her playful shove. Sebastian continued, “You can ask me anything. I’m an open book. But I asked first.”
“Hmm, just haven’t had time to date. That’s all. And honestly, have you met guys our age?” she teased, although with a hint of genuine exasperation.
“So you like ‘em younger or older?” he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Neither. I just want someone who isn’t going to send a dick pic after the first date. Is that so much to ask?” He rolled his lips over his teeth as if holding back a retort. She snickered. “Let me guess. You’re a dick pic kind of guy, aren’t you?”
“Hey, don’t lump me with jerks who randomly send pictures of their penis. I wait for a minimum of
two requests before agreeing.”
“Like a gentleman,” she said dryly.
“Exactly,” he answered. She rolled her eyes. Sebastian placed his elbows on the table, rendering their conversation closer, more intimate. “Hey, I’m kidding. Never happened. I’m not an idiot.”
Jaya shrugged. “It’s your business. I don’t care where or what you’ve sent, Sebastian, but honestly, it should come with a warning text. I was in my parent’s living room visiting when I opened a dick pic from this guy I saw for like, two dates. Yuck,” she shivered at the memory.
“So you are dating.”
“Says the guy I’m dating,” she goaded.
“Well, what’s your type? Handsome and charming hockey player on top of that list by any chance?”
Her face hardened. Their banter was relaxed and easy before he said the one thing that triggered all of her insecurities and raised those walls so fast, she couldn’t hide her reaction.
“Shit. What’d I say?” he inquired, concerned.
“Nothing. I’m…it isn’t you.”
“I’m the only one here, Jaya. Tell me. You paled so suddenly, you’d think I sent you an unsolicited dick pic,” he attempted to tease.
At that point, their waiter approached with Greek salads, a side of hummus, and a large plating of falafels in pitas. The extra dinner entrée that Sebastian ordered, chicken souvlaki, was placed between them.
“Yum,” she said, quickly recovering from the flash of discomfort a second prior. She rubbed her hands together at the thought of digging in, remembering that she skipped lunch and that snacking on an apple on the way home from errands hardly made up for it.
“I take it you aren’t going to answer my question,” he said.
“Unless your question involves food, nope,” she declared, spooning some hummus into her falafel plate and licking her lips in anticipation.
He chuckled before relishing the food on his own plate. Jaya ate here frequently enough, but this was his first time in the restaurant. Sebastian’s appetite was impressive. Pleasure spread his features at the first bite. He had a way of eating that looked as if he was thinking while chewing. As if part of savoring the food was figuring out what was in it.
The Love Campaign (Romantic Revelations Series Book 1) Page 8
