Cedric had given Sebastian an hour off to collect Jessica’s pictures, and had even allowed him the use of his car so that he could get back to the office quickly. He almost ran into the gallery.
“Good morning, sir.”
“‘Good morning, sir’? Aren’t you the lady I had supper with on Saturday night?”
“Yes, but it’s a gallery rule,” Sam whispered. “Mr. Agnew doesn’t approve of the staff being familiar with the customers.”
“Good morning, Miss Sullivan. I’ve come to collect my pictures,” said Sebastian, trying to sound like a customer.
“Yes, of course, si
r. Will you come with me?”
He followed her downstairs, and didn’t speak again until she’d unlocked the door to the stock room, where several neatly wrapped packages were propped against the wall. Sam picked up two, while Sebastian managed three. They carried them back upstairs, out of the gallery and placed them in the boot of the car. As they walked back inside, Mr. Agnew came out of his office.
“Good morning, Mr. Clifton.”
“Good morning, sir. I’ve just come to collect my pictures.”
Agnew nodded as Sebastian followed Samantha back down the stairs. By the time he caught up with her, she was already carrying two more packages. There were another two left, but Sebastian only picked up one of them, as he wanted an excuse to come back downstairs with her again. When he reached the ground floor, there was no sign of Mr. Agnew.
“Couldn’t you manage the last two?” said Sam. “You are so feeble.”
“No, I left one behind,” said Sebastian with a grin.
“Then I’d better go and fetch it.”
“And I’d better come and help you.”
“How kind of you, sir.”
“My pleasure, Miss Sullivan.”
Once they were back in the stock room, Sebastian closed the door. “Are you free for dinner tonight?”
“Yes, but you’ll have to pick me up here. We still haven’t completed the hanging for next Monday’s exhibition, so I won’t be able to get away much before eight.”
“I’ll be standing outside the door at eight,” he said as he put his arm around her waist and leaned forward …
“Miss Sullivan?”
“Yes, sir,” said Sam. She quickly opened the door and ran back upstairs.
Sebastian followed, trying to look nonchalant, and then remembered neither of them had picked up the last painting. He shot back downstairs, grabbed the picture and quickly returned to find Mr. Agnew talking to Sam. She didn’t look at him as he strolled past her.
“Perhaps we could go over the list once you’ve dealt with your customer.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tom was placing the last picture in the boot when Samantha joined Sebastian on the pavement.
“Like the wheels,” she said. “And a chauffeur to go with them. Not bad for a guy who can’t afford to take a shop girl out to dinner.”
Tom grinned and gave her a mock salute before getting back into the car.
“Neither of them is mine, unfortunately,” said Sebastian. “The car belongs to my boss, and he only said I could borrow it when I told him I had an assignation with a beautiful young woman.”
“Not much of an assignation,” she said.