Now he was older, well, he had more respect for and interest in learning. It was fascinating to be studying again, something that really held his attention this time. And he definitely hadn’t told his parents—or anyone else—that he was doing it.
But he knew his tinkering around the edges of academic study was nothing compared to Celeste’s career, so he didn’t mention it.
She still looked suspicious, though. Time to change the subject.
‘What do you think of the Winter Wonderland?’ he asked.
Celeste studied their surroundings thoroughly before answering the question, so Theo found himself doing the same. He took in the busyness, the noise, the lights, the music, the kids, the stalls, the rides... He had always loved the chaos of it all, but, seeing it through Celeste’s eyes, he found he could only see the things he knew people complained about in reviews.
Still, when he turned back to Celeste, she was smiling. ‘I like it,’ she said simply, and Theo felt something inside his chest relax. Then she turned that studious, assessing gaze onto him, and he tensed up again. ‘Now. You said we needed to talk?’
He had said that, yes. He was regretting it now, though. It was one thing to imagine that Celeste might toss another drink over him when he confessed that he’d hinted to his colleagues that they were actually dating. It was another entirely to facilitate it by confessing.
But it was the right thing to do. Well, the right thing was probably not to lie about it in the first place, but since that ship had sailed...
Theo took a long gulp of his glühwein and tried to think about the best way to broach the subject.
Celeste got there first.
‘Is this about all the theories about us online?’ she asked. ‘My brother tells me that his favourite is the one where we’ve secretly been dating for months, and were having a lovers’ tiff the day of the filming. And, I suppose, when we had lunch. Given the coffee incident,’ she added thoughtfully.
He watched as she finished off her glühwein. Perfect. He’d buy her another, if she wanted, after this. But first...
‘Is it so bad if people think we’re dating?’ he asked innocently.
Her gaze turned sharp, apparently totally unaffected by the alcohol. ‘Who did you tell that we’re dating?’
How did she know? ‘I didn’t tell anyone. I just...might not have corrected people when they assumed.’
Celeste tilted her head to the side as she studied him. Theo shifted uncomfortably, feeling like an artefact in a museum that she was trying to puzzle out. The Rosetta Stone, perhaps. Or one of those carvings that made no sense until you looked at them upside down.
‘Why?’ she asked finally. Apparently, she couldn’t read everything about him, after all. That was strangely reassuring. ‘I mean, I know you wanted people to think you were a nice guy again and everything, but that doesn’t mean you have to let people think you’re actually interested in me. It’s not like anyone is genuinely going to believe that I’m your type.’
Theo blinked at that. ‘Why wouldn’t they believe that? I mean, I’m not sure I really have a type. But you’re beautiful, intelligent, funny—’
‘I am not funny.’
Of course, that was the one she objected to. Theo grinned. ‘Yes, you are. You might not always mean to be, but I find you hilarious.’
It was just as well her glass was empty, he decided as she gave it a meaningful look.
‘The point is,’ he went on, reaching over to take her hand—partly for comfort, partly so she couldn’t make a grab for his still-half-full glass, ‘anyone would believe I’d want to date you.’
‘Even after that show?’
‘Especially after that. Did you watch it back? You positively sparkled that night. You were fiery and authentic—and you were right.’
‘I was wearing a Christmas jumper.’
‘That didn’t make you any less right. Or less passionate.’ He stroked his finger across the back of her hand, absently. As if it was the most natural thing in the world. And she was watching him do it, he realised. Not stopping him, just watching. ‘You had confidence in your knowledge, and in yourself. Trust me, that’s very sexy.’
Her gaze shot up to meet his at that, and he saw the astonishment in her eyes. He got the impression people didn’t call Celeste Hunter sexy very often. Probably through fear. Because whatever else she was, with those long legs and heeled boots, that dark hair pinned back to reveal her bright, smart eyes...she was definitely sexy. Or maybe Theo had some sort of academic fetish. That wasn’t impossible.
‘You think I’m sexy?’ she asked, in disbelief.
‘Who wouldn’t?’ he countered. ‘In fact, the much bigger problem is going to be convincing the Great British Public that you’re interested in me.’
She smiled at that. Then, without looking down, she turned her hand over under his, so their palms touched. ‘We’re really doing this, then? Pretending to date, just to improve our professional reputations?’
Theo lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. ‘You know, I think we are.’
* * *
Sitting in her office on Tuesday morning, Celeste stared at the photograph on her phone screen. Apparently, they’d been observed together at the Winter Wonderland, and by more than one person if all the different camera angles she’d seen on social media were anything to go by.
She wasn’t surprised they’d been photographed, not any more. Theo was a big name in the country, a national boyfriend, almost. People were interested in what he was up to—and, after their fight on TV, together they were a curiosity.
What surprised her was herself. Or rather, her image in the photograph.
She looked happy. Not in an ‘all her students turned in their essays on time’ way. Not even in a ‘knowing exactly how to end this next chapter’ or a ‘finding the primary source evidence to solidify her case’ way. But in an unguarded, relaxed, ‘having fun’ way.
It was weird.
Oh, she had fun, of course—but only with people she knew well. Which basically meant Rachel, Damon, and a few acquaintances from the university. She’d expect to see herself looking that way at a conference dinner, perhaps, where she was surrounded by people who cared about the same things she did, who were interested in what she had to say because of her reputation, her academic successes.
This wasn’t that.
The photo in question showed them sitting outside one of the Bavarian village chalets, drinking glühwein and chatting. But Theo’s hand was resting on hers, and he was leaning towards her as if what she had to say were the most interesting thing he’d ever heard.
It’s all an act, she reminded herself. He’s an actor. A faker.
But she wasn’t. And she knew the joy on her face was real.
She liked spending time with Theo, in a way she hadn’t enjoyed a new acquaintance’s company since...she couldn’t remember when. And that could get dangerous.
Celeste shook her head. She’d be careful. Besides, almost everyone in the world started to irritate her after a while; Theo would be no different, she was sure. Right now it was fun, but they didn’t actually have anything in common, beyond the fact they both wanted their TV projects to be a success. That was all.
And so, when her phone rang again, and Theo’s name flashed across the screen replacing the photo of them together, she took a breath, answered, and said, ‘So, what’s our next move?’
* * *
Of course, Celeste reflected a few days later, she hadn’t expected the next move to include wearing a swimming costume, outside, in mid December.
‘Are you sure about this?’ she asked, pulling the fluffy bathrobe she’d been given at the entrance tighter around her.
‘Absolutely!’ Theo’s own bathrobe was tossed over his shoulder, as if the cold didn’t bother him anyway. His surf shorts couldn’t be much warmer
than her one-piece, but they did show off his lightly muscled chest and broad shoulders nicely.
Not that she was looking.
Or was she supposed to be looking? If she was really dating him, she’d be looking, right?
She peeked over at him.
Yeah, she’d definitely be looking. There was a reason Theo was such a favourite on Saturday night TV, and it wasn’t all to do with his smile.
He wasn’t looking at her, though. He was striding ahead, along the deck of the boat he’d brought her to. It was more of a floating platform, really, Celeste decided. With a bar in the middle, some high cocktail tables, a sturdy rail around the outside, and, of course, the hot tubs at either end.
Celeste followed Theo as he stopped and spoke to people he passed, even posing for a selfie with a group on girls on a hen night. Then, as he reached the far end, he turned back to take her hand, his gaze not leaving her face for a moment.
Good. That was good. She didn’t want him ogling her anyway, even if she was mostly covered by her bathrobe.
Although it probably meant she should stop ogling him. Damn.
‘Ready?’ Theo asked.
‘As I’ll ever be.’ She paused by the edge of the hot tub.
‘You realise you have to take the robe off, right?’
‘Unfortunately.’
It wasn’t that Celeste was insecure about her body. It was just that it wasn’t something she often flaunted like this. Usually she was safely tucked up in her personal uniform of black jeans and boots, with a black top. She went a little different with her winter coat—that was white. But otherwise, her only colour tended to come from her bright lipstick. She wanted people looking at her lips and the words she was saying, after all, not her clothes. Plus, it made getting dressed in the morning a whole lot simpler when she didn’t have to worry about things going together.
She swallowed. It wasn’t as if anyone would be looking at her anyway. And her swimming costume was basically an extension of her normal wardrobe—boring and black. Nobody would even notice it next to the highly coloured and patterned bikinis on show.
Celeste let the robe fall from her shoulders and turned to place it over one of the loungers beside the hot tub. When she turned back, Theo’s gaze remained focussed firmly on her face, although she couldn’t help but notice that his jaw was clenched. Was that with the effort of not looking at her swimsuit-clad body?
God, I hope so. The thought caught her by surprise, and she slipped into the water quickly to try and wash it away.
She didn’t want Theo looking at her that way—unless it was to make her feel less bad about looking at him that way.
‘So, what on earth made you think that an outdoor hot tub on the Thames in December was a good idea for our next “date”?’ she asked as Theo handed her a glass of champagne.
Settling into the ledge seat around the edge of the hot tub, Celeste let the bubbles pop against her body, the warmth of the water welcome after the chilly winter air, and took a sip of the champagne, letting those bubbles pop against her tongue. Somehow, her shoulders already seemed less tense, as if the stress of hunching over her computer all day getting nowhere were seeping out of her into the water.
‘That.’ Theo sounded smug as he spoke. ‘That’s what gave me the idea. Wanting to put that look on your face.’
‘What look?’ Celeste scowled, but it only made him laugh.
‘Not that one. The one you had before, when you took your first sip of champagne. You looked like the worries of the world were lifting from your shoulders.’ He smirked at her. ‘You’re too tense, Celeste. I knew that the first moment you snapped at me in the green room.’
‘You interrupted me while I was working,’ she pointed out. ‘So what, now it’s your mission to destress me?’
‘Perhaps.’ Something changed in his smile. She couldn’t figure out what exactly, since she wasn’t even sure that his lips had moved at all. But suddenly it felt more secret, more private—and warmer, somehow. Maybe it was his eyes, or the lighting on the boat. That was it, just the lighting. Nothing to do with him, or her, at all.
Faker, she reminded herself, silently. He’s a faker.
She looked away—and in doing so, noticed that they were being watched.
It was hard to whisper to Theo without getting closer; making herself heard over the bubbles was a challenge, and doing so without the guy sitting on her other side hearing even harder. So she shifted a little under the water until she could feel Theo’s thigh pressed up against her own.
Glancing up, she saw him swallow, and his gaze flashed down, just for a moment, in the direction of her cleavage before it found its way back to her face.
‘Don’t look now,’ she murmured, ‘but there’s someone over by the railing with their camera out. I think they’re taking a photo of us.’
Of course, he looked. And then he waved. Because that was the sort of irritating man he was.
‘I said don’t look,’ she grumbled.
‘Ah, but if I don’t look, how can I be sure they’ve caught my best side?’ Theo asked. ‘Besides, they’re probably the fifth or sixth person to take photos of us since we got here. I’ve seen at least three.’
‘Is that including the hen-party selfie you posed for?’
‘Ooh, no, add that one in.’
Celeste shook her head. ‘You love this, don’t you?’
Theo shrugged. ‘It’s just part of the deal. It’s not why I got into it, if that’s what you mean.’
‘Why did you, then?’ she asked, suddenly curious. ‘Did you always want to be a TV star?’
He laughed at that. ‘Not a star, no. I suppose...maybe I did do it for the attention, a bit. I just wanted to do something that made people smile, made them stop in their busy lives and have a laugh, perhaps. Plus it was basically the only thing I was qualified for. Smiling and asking people questions like, “Where do you come from?” It’s an aristocratic thing.’
His smile was self-deprecating, but somehow Celeste got the impression that he wasn’t actually joking.
She wanted to ask him more about that, but she didn’t know how. Damon would have; he was the sibling with all the conversational ability. She’d never needed it before.
But now, she wished she’d spent a little more time on it.
Before she’d found a way to phrase her question, Theo had already moved on.
‘So. What are we doing this weekend?’
‘Together?’ Celeste furrowed her brow as she looked at him. ‘I’d sort of planned on staying in and working on my book...’
‘As fun as that sounds, it’s not going to get us seen.’ Theo shifted closer still, a conspiratorial smile on his lips. ‘Have you seen the press this thing is getting us both? My agent is over the moon.’
‘So is mine,’ Celeste admitted reluctantly. ‘Apparently raising my profile before the producers make a decision about my new show next year is vital, and this—’ she waved her hand in the tiny space between them, being very careful not to touch any of those wet, firm abs he was showing off ‘—is doing that nicely.’
‘There are still a few people on social media claiming we’re faking the whole thing, though.’
‘Which we are.’
‘Which is why we need a plan to convince people. Starting tonight, and continuing this week.’ Theo settled back against the edge of the hot tub, resting one long arm around her shoulder. He was only touching her ever so lightly, but Celeste still had to force her body not to shiver in response. To the rest of the boat—and the all-important cameras—he probably looked as if he were whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
He wasn’t.
‘I’m filming Monday and Wednesday evenings, and there’s a few meetings I need to attend during the weekdays, but there should still be plenty of scope for us to get together and be seen. I’ll send
you some calendar invitations once I don’t need to worry about submerging my smartphone in bubbly water. What have you got on this week?’
Celeste shook her head as she tried to remember. It was hard to focus when Theo’s warm voice was rumbling so close to her ear. ‘I have to take my brother Christmas shopping on Thursday,’ she replied. ‘Other than that... I’m mostly just working on my own. Term is over, you see.’
‘Ah, your brother. Maybe it’s time to meet the family—properly this time. What do you think? Lunch?’
CHAPTER SIX
THEO WAS STARTING to regret his suggestion of lunch with Celeste’s brother.
It wasn’t just that he was, yet again, sitting alone in a restaurant, being watched by people with camera phones, waiting for Celeste—who was late. Again.
It wasn’t even that he’d belatedly realised that an overprotective brother might not be all that keen on his plan to pretend to date Celeste for publicity—although that wasn’t making him feel any better about the lunch ahead, he had to admit.
No, his biggest problem was his own motives.
Yes, being seen with Celeste had gone a long way to rehabilitating his reputation: if she didn’t hate him, it made it slightly harder for everyone else to. There’d even been a couple of pieces about how Tania had moved on very quickly with her new fiancé for someone who’d been supposedly heartbroken and torn up by his abandonment. Oh, there remained a vocal minority complaining about him on social media, but those following his supposed romance with Celeste were happily drowning them out.
A Midnight Kiss to Seal the Deal Page 7