9. Theo
Theo drove Sarah home and parked out the front of her building.
Just as she was about to open the passenger door, he reached for her arm. ‘Wait.’
She looked at him questioningly.
‘I really enjoyed tonight, and I want to spend more time with you. Would you consider dating me exclusively?’
He realised he might be doing the too-much-too-soon thing again, but he didn’t care. He’d been away from the woman for six months. He needed her to know he was serious about her and that he was sticking around.
She smiled gently. ‘You’re so sweet.’
‘Is that a yes?’
She was silent for a moment, and Theo furrowed his brow. Something was going on with her, but she didn’t seem to want to share the details.
‘Is something wrong?’ he prodded.
‘Not exactly. I like you. A lot. But… I worry about the attention a relationship between us would attract.’
‘In what way? Are you worried about what Levi and Alexis would think? Because I’m pretty sure?—’
‘It’s not about Levi and Alexis. Have you forgotten that you’re now an internationally recognised celebrity?’
Theo snorted. ‘I wouldn’t go that far.’
‘Um, you are. You might think you’re protected here in Australia, but you’re not. Those women before were just the start. And the paparazzi here are just as bad as in the US and UK. As soon as they suspect the tiniest hint of you dating someone, it will be all over the tabloids.’
‘I really don’t think it will be as bad as you think. I’m not Hugh Jackman.’
‘But you might be soon. I’ll bet your social media following doubled since they announced you as a top influencer this morning.’
‘Ah. You saw that?’
‘Of course I saw that. Half the country saw it. Today, you probably got more coverage in the news than Hugh Jackman.’
‘But it means nothing. Everyone will forget by tomorrow, and I’ll just be boring old Theo again.’
She laughed. ‘You have never been just boring old Theo.’
‘You know what I mean. It’s only me. I’m not special just because I appear in a few photos online.’
‘Sorry, Theo. As much as I like you, I don’t think I can date someone in the public eye.’
She looked unusually troubled, and he wondered if something else was going on.
‘Is that really the problem?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean, you don’t seem like the kind of person who would shy away from a little attention. You’re a social person with a social job… you work with Brisbane’s elite, so you’d be used to mingling with people who have a name about town.’
Sarah looked out the window. ‘I just… life is complicated enough without bringing that extra scrutiny. And a new relationship doesn’t need that pressure.’
‘What if we kept it secret?’
‘What?’
‘We don’t have to tell anyone we’re together.’
‘Why do you look so excited by this?’
He grinned as he warmed to the subject. ‘I’ve always been into a bit of roleplay. It adds an element of the unknown to a situation.’
Sarah shook her head, smiling. ‘You’re kind of nuts, you know that?’
‘Yeah, I do know. But I also don’t want to let you get away again. I thought about you every day while I was in Europe.’
She looked sceptical. ‘Even when you were parading around with a bunch of supermodels?’
‘They weren’t as pretty as you.’
She laughed. ‘Wow, that was cheesy.’
He grinned. ‘Did it work, though?’
She held up her thumb and forefinger. ‘Just a little.’
‘So, what do you say?’
‘You’re serious about this?’
‘If I can be with you, I’ll agree to anything.’
‘Anything?’
‘Anything.’ He pulled her face back so that they could make eye contact again. ‘Please say you’ll give me a chance.’
Her expressions turned serious, and he could see her contemplating the logistics.
He was a little worried that hiding their connection could be more problematic than if they just went public, but he had to try something to keep her.
After a moment, she nodded. ‘Okay. Yes, we’ll keep it secret for now.’
‘What about Alexis and Levi?’
‘I don’t think we should tell them yet. I’d like to get to know you without them pushing for us to get married or something.’
He chuckled. ‘Levi is not the kind of person to push someone into marriage, but if this is how I can spend time with you, I’ll do it.’
She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his forehead. ‘Thank you.’
She opened the passenger door and climbed out. Before she disappeared, she turned back and winked at him.
‘See you ’round, not-boyfriend.’
He dragged his hands down his face. ‘I think I’m already regretting this.’
‘It’ll be fun.’ She waved and then closed the door.
What had he just suggested? Theo had never found himself in a situation where a woman was ashamed to be seen with him. Not that he thought Sarah was ashamed, exactly. But the outcome was the same.
He drove home, wondering how he was supposed to conduct himself in her presence when all he wanted to do was touch her. And there was the not-so-small problem about where they could go to spend time alone in private. Sarah lived with her brother, so they couldn’t hang out at her place, and Theo lived with his mother, so they couldn’t hang out there either.
He figured he’d better get moving and find a place of his own, otherwise they’d be limited to late-night car trysts in abandoned lots.
Which, while that actually sounded kind of hot, would probably get old quickly.
He parked under Evelyn’s building and took the elevator to the top floor.
His mother was thankfully already asleep, but Tofu came over to see who had arrived. He knelt down and gently patted the cat.
‘You have it easy, don’t you? Spending half your life sleeping in a warm dark room with someone feeding you whenever you get hungry. You don’t have to worry about playing complicated games to find a partner.’
Theo retreated to his room, propped himself up on his pillows, and opened his laptop.
He loved living in the city, so he browsed through several apartment listings. It had to have a view, so he scrolled until he found apartments on higher floors or with a view of the river.
Since he wanted to pay cash and not use up his life savings, he’d probably have to find something a step down from Evelyn’s penthouse. But there were still quite a few attractive options.
He paused on a listing in Teneriffe. The apartment, while not a penthouse, was actually larger than his mother’s.
The main living area faced east, and there was a perfectly framed view of the Brisbane River from the main bedroom. The other one could be used as a study or guest room.
Would Sarah approve? He groaned, catching himself. He must have it bad if he was considering making real estate choices based on her opinions.
Even so, he sent her a text.
Theo:
Would you like to go apartment hunting with me tomorrow?
Sarah:
I’ll be working, but I can come on my lunch break. Should I bring Alexis too?
He sighed. That wasn’t exactly what he’d had in mind. He’d hoped Sarah might make an exception about their arrangement if it was just the two of them with a single agent. He could have asked the agent to sign an NDA before their appointment, and then they’d be free to behave as they pleased.
Theo:
If you think that’s best.
Sarah:
OK. Send me the address and we’ll meet you there. I’m looking forward to trying out my acting skills.
Theo:
You seem to be enjoying this a little too much.
Sarah:
I just can’t wait to see you again.
Theo:
Right answer. All right. Sweet dreams.
Sarah:
You too. xxx
He bookmarked the apartment and closed his laptop.
He wasn’t sure what his life would look like over the coming weeks and months, but one thing was for sure.
It would not be dull.