Page 45 of Dance With Me
“Can I get you a drink, Seb? I’ve got anything you could possibly want. To drink, that is.” A gentle flush crept up Joe’s neck and coloured his face.
Seb would love it if he could offer anything he wanted, and he wasn’t just talking drinks. He wanted it all, the house, the husband, the dog… the perfect life. But that wasn’t what Joe was offering, and he was foolish to think it was more.
“I’ll have what you’re having,” Seb replied. “Or a beer might be good?”
“Beer it is then.” Joe jumped up from the chair and went into the kitchen.
Seb picked up his bag and followed him. “Great. Where do you want to do this? I have my accounts here”—he indicated his bag—“and the last lot on a memory stick. Is that all you’ll need?”
“Let’s sit.” Joe gestured to the dining table inside where he’d set up his laptop. “And I’ll see if you’ve got everything I need. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can relax.” Seb almost choked. He was more than sure he had everything Joe needed, and it would be nice to know if Joe did actually need it.
Seb checked again on Rocco, who was lying in the shade on the patio, his tongue lolling out of his mouth, panting after his exertion. He’d be there for a while in this heat.
Joe placed two chilled bottles of beer on the table. “When we’re done with this, I’ll give you the grand tour.”
“That’d be good, thanks.” He was looking forward to seeing the rest of the house, a little insight into Joe’s world. What made him tick.
Joe opened up his laptop and rubbed his hands together. “This will be a breeze.”
After two hours of watching Joe pore over the accounts and answering numerous questions, Seb was ready for a nap. He’d never enjoyed numbers, which was why he was happy for someone else to do them, but this was pure torture.
“Do you want another drink? I could get you one if you want.” Seb stood, moving towards the fridge.
“Nah, I’m good, thanks, but help yourself if you want another one.” Joe was still engrossed in the accounts and didn’t even look up as he spoke.
“Actually, do you mind if I make some tea? Three beers on an empty stomach, and I’ll be drunk off my arse if I’m not careful.” Seb was feeling a little wobbly and thought he might do something he’d regret if he continued drinking. Joe was looking sexy as hell. He’d put on a pair of dark-rimmed glasses, and clearly they did something for Seb.
“What time is it?” Joe checked his watch. “Wow, I didn’t realise it was so late. Do you want to help me start dinner?” He removed his glasses—much to Seb’s disappointment—stood and moved into the kitchen.
“You don’t have to,” Seb started to say. He really should go. His mood had turned to one of melancholy, and he wasn’t sure he could spend more time in Joe’s company without feeling some sort of regret at not being able to do anything with him.
“I’ve bought groceries to make something good for us. I thought we could have a stir fry. Want to help me prepare the veg?” Joe apparently wasn’t taking no for an answer and moved a chopping board in front of Seb.
“If you’re sure it’s OK.” Sebwasfeeling hungry, and he could have gone home to a frozen pizza, but a stir fry did seem a much better idea.
“Of course. I was expecting you to stay. I hope that wasn’t out of order.” Joe looked at him as if waiting for Seb to say no. Seb just shrugged; he could stay, he supposed.
Joe turned and got the food out of the fridge and handed Seb a knife. “You can be my sous-chef for the evening.”
Seb grinned at him—the beer had gone to his head a little—and as they started to prepare the food, Seb put on another of his playlists. He was feeling particularly relaxed at this point, enough to start singing and dancing around the kitchen.
“What are we listening to tonight?” Joe carried on chopping the chicken, laughing at Seb as he shimmied to the music.
“I thought we could go old school, so I’ve got some great eighties stuff to listen to,” Seb said, singing along with Boy George. “Come on, Joe. Surely you know this one.”
They both sang as they prepared the food, the music going from the obvious to the obscure, but they didn’t stop until the meal was cooked.
“I’ll quickly feed Rocco, then he won’t bother us whilst we’re eating.” Seb prepared his food and put it in the bowl on the floor. He sat opposite Joe at the table. “This smells great.”
They both tucked in, and Joe served a delicious white wine with the meal. “You can always stay over if you want. They might not let you get a taxi with the dog.” Joe lounged in his chair as he played with his wine glass.
Shit, Seb had forgotten about that, and he really had drunk too much to drive. He could maybe call Dom, but he knew that Natalia and Louis were out tonight.
“I’ll see how we go; I might be able to get a lift.” He was very tempted to stay, though.
“I could lend you something to sleep in if you want, but it might be a bit big for you.”
“Let’s just see how it goes, shall we?” Seb looked at him and swore he saw hope in Joe’s eyes.
