Strictly Come Dating Read online

  Tonight though? Yeah, tonight he wasn’t in the mood.

  Rising to his feet, he gave Sarah a mock salute and strode out of the room. He’d take a shower and head back out to the pub. A place where he didn’t feel judged. Where he could talk to guys about offside rules and penalty shootouts, rather than costumes, posture and hip movements.

  Chapter Two

  The show was over, the girls fast asleep on Sarah’s bed upstairs. Sarah had opened a bottle of wine, which Hannah and Alice were helping her drink. Maggie was tonight’s designated driver.

  ‘Do you think I upset Seb earlier?’ Sarah turned to her sister. ‘He’s been a bit, I don’t know, gloomy since he’s come back.’

  ‘You’d be gloomy if you’d been forced to ditch life in the Whitsunday Islands to come back here.’ Alice took a large swallow of wine. ‘He’ll soon settle down. And he’s an impossible guy to upset, you know that. Far too chilled to take offence at being told to get lost.’

  Maggie was intrigued by the man who’d parked himself on the sofa between her and Sarah and gone on to both annoy and entertain them all for a while. ‘Why is he back? Because of your dad?’

  ‘Yes.’ Alice glanced down at her glass, her face taking on a sombre expression. ‘His MI.’ She raised her eyes to the ceiling when Sarah coughed. ‘Sorry, for the non-medics, the heart attack was a major one. When I told Seb about it, I expected him to plan a visit. Didn’t realise he’d drop everything and jump on the next plane.’

  ‘That’s our brother for you. Impulsive. He’s never been afraid to up sticks and leave a place.’ Sarah gave them a wry smile. ‘Far more afraid of putting down roots.’

  ‘He seems nice.’ Hannah, who’d been quiet up till now, started to giggle. ‘Okay, what I mean is, he’s seriously hot.’

  ‘You think so, huh?’ Alice grinned at her. ‘You know what, he’s a pain in the arse but he is a good guy. You’re what, twenty-six?’ When Hannah nodded, Alice beamed. ‘He’s twenty-seven, so that works. As long as you don’t want anything heavy, mind you, because one thing’s for certain, he won’t be sticking around for long.’

  Hannah shrugged. ‘I just want a bit of fun. I mean, is it too much to ask for a guy who’s more interested in me than in taking moody selfies for his Instagram followers?’

  Maggie gaped. ‘Is that seriously what Giles did?’ Giles was the boyfriend Hannah had ditched two months ago.

  ‘Yep.’ She eyed Alice and Sarah. ‘Please tell me Seb doesn’t have an obsession with selfies?’

  The sisters burst out laughing.

  ‘Seb’s not even on social media, as far as we know. He’s more your outdoors type. Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, trekking through jungles, parachuting out of planes, that kind of thing.’

  Hannah’s eyes lit up. ‘He sounds way cooler than Giles.’

  ‘Anyone sounds cooler than Giles,’ Maggie countered. ‘You need to set your standards far higher than Instagram man.’

  Slowly Alice swivelled her focus towards Maggie. Her heart sank when she saw the glint in her friend’s eye. ‘Sound advice, yet don’t fall into the trap of Maggie here, who seems to have set the bar so high, nobody can ever hope to reach it.’

  ‘I told you before, I’ve got enough going on in my life with work and the girls. Why don’t you give Sarah a hard time, instead?’

  ‘I do, often, but she keeps telling me—’

  ‘I love my job more than I could ever love a guy,’ Sarah interrupted.

  ‘Exactly, and I respect that. Owning your own company, well, I guess it’s like being married.’ Alice’s eyes swivelled back to Maggie. ‘But you, dear Maggie, have been married for real, so you know how it feels to be in love. Don’t you miss that? Miss sharing your life with someone special?’

  Inside her chest, Maggie’s heart ached, just a little, at the memory of the life she and Paul had once had together. Before he’d decided he didn’t want to be her husband any more. ‘I miss someone to share the girls with,’ she admitted. ‘The pride in their successes, but also the constant worries. Am I doing the right thing by them? I also miss someone to share that precious time after they’ve gone to bed, and the house is quiet.’ Her mind filled with an image of her and Paul snuggled together on the sofa, glass of wine in hand, talking about everything, and nothing. But that had been before things had changed. ‘I don’t miss being berated for being late home from the surgery because my last patient needed to talk. I don’t miss being told I’m too anal and pedantic just because I like things done a certain way, or that I make too many lists.’ Fearing she was going down a depressing road, she forced a smile. ‘And I certainly don’t miss having to watch stupid action or comedy films on a Saturday night because,’ she used her fingers to mimic quotation marks, ‘“Strictly isn’t a programme a red-blooded male wants to watch.”’

  They all laughed, and Maggie hoped that was the end of the conversation, but no. Alice was like a bloody dog with a bone. ‘You know what you should do.’ Her friend didn’t give her the chance to reply. ‘You should go dancing again. I remember at uni you used to go to ballroom dancing classes, and even though we took the piss out of you, we were secretly envious because you’d come back all flushed and bright-eyed. You loved dancing.’

  ‘I did. God, that feeling of floating across the floor, of all the crap from the day ebbing away until there was nothing left in my head but the music.’ Even now, more than ten years since she’d last stepped onto a dance floor, tingles rippled down her spine at the memory. Dance lessons had been the highlight of her week. Protected time when, for a couple of hours, she forgot the seriousness of the career she’d chosen, the hard hours of study, and lost herself in something beautiful. ‘But Paul didn’t share the same passion, so…’ she trailed off, shrugging to hide the knot of emotion in her throat.

  ‘So what?’ Sarah’s expression turned fierce. ‘He shouldn’t have made you give up something you loved.’

  ‘He didn’t make me,’ she countered, then immediately wondered why she’d defended him. It was a habit, one she should have broken by now. ‘He let it be known he didn’t like me going.’

  ‘Which made it hard for you to carry on.’ Alice reached across and squeezed her hand. ‘We’re not blaming you for stopping. We just think it’s sad he couldn’t support you, instead.’

  And that kind of summed up her marriage, Maggie thought bitterly. Paul hadn’t been someone she could lean on, a partner who would look out for her best interests. He’d looked out for himself.

  ‘But don’t you see, the fact that you used to love dancing, and that you still love watching it, means you should definitely take it up again.’ Hannah almost bounced in her chair. ‘I can totally look after Tabby and Penny if you want to.’

  Could she? Dare she? Excitement hummed in her belly; butterfly wings dusting themselves off and learning to flap again. ‘I wasn’t good,’ Maggie felt the need to point out. ‘And it was a long time ago. I doubt I’ll remember any of it.’

  ‘You can learn again.’ Hannah grinned. ‘And then you can teach us. We could do some sessions when Strictly’s finished.’

  ‘Maybe.’ She was cautious by nature, and divorce had only magnified that. Still, she was talking about dancing again. And this time there would be nobody holding her back, nobody saying it was inconvenient. No annoyed husband to come home to afterwards. Hannah would look after the girls, so really there was nothing to stop her, except… ‘I don’t have a partner.’

  ‘So? I’m sure that’s not unusual,’ Sarah pointed out in that assertive, some might say pushy way she had. ‘Single people must sign up for dancing lessons all the time.’

  Alice waggled her eyebrows. ‘What’s to say there isn’t a tall, dark, handsome guy currently being forced to dance with… I don’t know… a mop, because he hasn’t got a partner.’

  Maggie spluttered with laughter. ‘Knowing my luck, I’ll get the blasted mop. Though I suppose it would at least keep its hands to itself.’

  Seb expec
ted to find the place silent when he opened the door to his sister’s house a few hours later. He definitely didn’t expect to hear wild, drunken laughter. Nor did he expect to find Alice, Sarah and Maggie still camped in the sitting room when he popped his head inside.

  ‘Me again.’ He deliberately looked over at the now black TV screen. ‘Do I take it talking is allowed now?’

  Sarah smiled serenely back at him. ‘Only if it’s about ballroom dancing.’

  ‘Very funny.’ She kept smiling at him. ‘Come on, you’re kidding me, right? What was that about a mop I heard when I opened the door? That’s not ballroom.’

  ‘It is,’ Alice asserted. ‘It’s Maggie’s new dance partner.’

  More laughter, though Maggie’s was quieter than his sisters’; a more refined, dignified sound. As if she didn’t really want to be laughing but couldn’t help herself. When he sought her gaze, she gave him a small smile. ‘It’s a long story.’

  How had he missed how attractive she was? With those grey eyes now gently amused, her mouth curved upwards… a zing of interest, sharp and hot, flashed through him. Pretending a casualness he didn’t feel, he leant against the wall and crossed his feet at the ankles. ‘Hey, I’ve got time.’ Especially to listen to you, he wanted to add, but not with his sisters gawping. Besides, he really did have days of the stuff. Maybe weeks and months of it. God knows what he was going to do with himself now he was back, in between seeing his dad.

  To his disappointment, Maggie shook her head and slowly rose to her feet. ‘You might have, but I’m afraid I don’t. It’s time I was in bed.’

  Okay, not a promising start. If he’d gone with the flirty addition, would she have knocked him back just as coolly? Really there was only one way to find out. With a nod he pushed back from the wall, and headed into the kitchen for a glass of water.

  ‘Seb, do us a favour and help carry the girls down and into Maggie’s car?’ Alice shouted over at him a moment later. ‘They’re asleep on Sarah’s bed.’

  ‘Sure.’

  He stepped into the hallway where he found Maggie, who gave him a small smile. ‘Just take care of Rebecca. I can manage my two.’

  She’s being protective, he reasoned. It wasn’t personal. ‘Worried I’ll drop them?’

  The look she gave him was steady and measured. ‘I’m worried they’ll wake to find themselves in the arms of a man they don’t really know.’

  Well, that shot his petty retort down in flames. ‘Fair enough.’ He indicated up the stairs. ‘Ladies first.’

  As he watched Maggie gently scoop up her eldest, Seb wondered what to make of her. She appeared distant, reserved, yet the way she was with her kids was quite the opposite. And there was no way his mouthy, larger-than-life sisters would be friends with a boring cold fish.

  Picking up his niece, Seb followed Maggie down. Her eyes fluttered open when he settled her into the back of the car next to Penny. ‘Sorry, Beccs, you’ll soon be home.’

  ‘Rebecca.’ Alice glared at him over her shoulder from the front passenger seat.

  His niece gave him a sleepy smile. ‘Night, Uncle Seb.’

  ‘Night, Beccs.’ Smiling, he kissed the top of her head, saying a silent prayer of thanks to the inventors of Skype. Without it, he’d never have managed to keep up a relationship with his niece and nephew.

  Straightening, he watched as Maggie walked out with Tabby in her arms. In what was clearly a well-practised move, she eased the little girl into the final seat in the back.

  ‘You look like you’ve done that before,’ he remarked after she’d put the seat belt round her.

  ‘You could say that.’ He received another small, careful smile before she opened the driver’s door and slipped inside.

  He wasn’t sure what made him hold the door, stopping her from closing it on him. There was just something about her calm presence, those cool grey eyes that captured his attention. Made him want to unsettle her, as she was unsettling him. ‘Well, it’s been great to meet you, Maggie. I guess I’ll see you around.’

  ‘I guess you will.’

  He continued to hold her gaze, not quite sure what he was hoping for, but whatever it was, his sister interrupted it. ‘Will you shut that damn door, Seb. You’re letting all the cold air in.’

  Dipping his head, he nodded over to Alice. ‘Catch you tomorrow at the folks?’

  ‘Sure. I’ll be the one with the humdinger of a hangover.’

  Laughing, he pushed the driver’s door closed. Within seconds the smart grey BMW eased away from the curb. Sleek and quiet, just like the woman driving it.

  ‘So what was with the mop then?’ he asked Sarah as he headed back inside.

  ‘Oh, it was just a joke. We’re trying to persuade Maggie to take up ballroom dancing again. She used to love it when we were at uni.’

  ‘Did she study with you or Alice?’

  ‘Alice. She’s a GP.’

  He thought of the woman he’d just seen carry her daughters into the car. Yes, he could see her as doctor. Patient and caring, yet with a tough no-nonsense streak. ‘Where’s the husband?’

  Sarah, who’d been clearing away, paused as she picked up a glass. ‘He’s now an ex-husband. They divorced three years ago, and wherever he is, he’s keeping it quiet. Paul’s no longer in her life, other than a few measly video calls to the girls now and then.’ She angled her head. ‘Why all the interest?’

  He shrugged off the question, though inside he was asking himself the very same thing. ‘No reason. Just learning about the people my sisters hang out with.’

  ‘Well, it’s Hannah you ought to be asking about.’ Sarah winked. ‘For some weird reason, she thinks you’re hot.’

  ‘Maybe because I am hot?’

  Sarah laughed. ‘Sure, maybe.’ Seb had always found Sarah the easier sister to get on with. She was less loud, less liable to ask the searching, difficult question. More likely to smile at his jokes.

  ‘What happened to Hannah tonight? Excitement of Strictly too much for her?’

  ‘Funny. One of her friends picked her up to take her to a party.’ She eyed him speculatively. ‘So, how about it? We could facilitate things with her if you’re interested.’

  The thought of his sisters brokering him a date… He shuddered. ‘It’ll be a cold day in hell before I need either of you two helping me with my love life.’

  ‘Okay, okay, message received.’ Sarah picked up the remaining plates and headed towards the kitchen. ‘But think about it. Hannah’s not looking for anything serious and you could do with something to look forward to, in between visits to Dad.’

  She wasn’t wrong there, and Hannah definitely had what he’d call cute appeal. Not a beauty, like Maggie, but probably a lot more fun. He just wasn’t sure he was in the right place to date anyone right now.

  His world had gone from waking up to the sun rising over the reef, his only stress finding enough barracudas, turtles and rays to give the tourists their thrill, to – what? England in November. Grey skies, damp and dismal weather. Oh, and let’s not forget his main role, helping to take care of an invalid. His life was on pause. He wanted to be back in the place where he’d found something he was good at, even if it was only entertaining tourists.

  But then he thought of his mum, and how dramatically she seemed to have aged since his father’s heart attack. Leaving now would be selfish. Like it or not, his family needed him, and he was damned if he was going to disappoint them. At least not any more than he had already.

  Chapter Three

  The week had flown by and now here they were again, preparing for another Strictly Saturday. This time at Alice’s.

  Maggie had barely stepped through the front door when Alice pounced on her.

  ‘Tell me you’ve signed up for some ballroom dancing lessons.’

  ‘Sort of.’

  The reply was never going to be enough for Alice, and clearly Hannah knew that too because she nodded towards where the girls were heading. ‘I’m off to the TV room with the
m. I’ll leave you to your inquisition.’

  ‘Traitor.’ Hannah just grinned, leaving Maggie to face Alice, who was looking at her with the expression she probably used on uncooperative patients. ‘Look, I’ve rung a few numbers but most of them are full, or they started in September so I’ve already missed two months.’

  ‘Most of them.’ Alice gave her arm a nudge. ‘See, I picked up on that.’

  Damn, she hadn’t meant to be so literal. ‘Fine. There’s one dance studio with vacancies on a Wednesday night.’

  ‘Perfect.’

  Alice, confident and spontaneous, would never understand Maggie’s preference for taking things slowly. Even when it was something as important to her as dancing. ‘I’m not fully convinced I should take lessons again. It means leaving Penny and Tabby—’

  ‘It’s a good job you’ve lots of willing babysitters then. Including their nanny.’

  Maggie sighed. ‘Okay, you’ve ripped through my cunning excuse. The truth is… damn it, Alice, I want to dance again, so much, but I’m also really, embarrassingly, scared.’

  Alice’s eyes flew open. ‘Scared of dancing?’

  ‘Scared of going to lessons. By myself,’ she qualified, feeling more and more foolish. ‘I know, I know, it’s dumb, but God, the divorce has really done a number on me. I want to be this smart, confident woman who can walk solo into a dance studio and look forward to dancing, with anyone. But I’m not that woman any more.’

  ‘Bollocks.’ Alice grabbed Maggie’s arms and stared fiercely back at her. ‘Paul was a dick who didn’t realise how lucky he was to be married to you. One day he will, but by then it’ll be too late because you’ll not only have realised the divorce was down to his inadequacies and not yours, you’ll have met someone who values everything about you.’ A lump of emotion lodged itself in Maggie’s throat and Alice smiled. ‘Even your need to plan things to death.’