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Sebastian gave her a sleepy but skeptical look that made her wonder how long he’d been awake last night while she’d been in the midst of her panic attack. A vague memory flashed, of rain and his hands stroking over her damp shoulders, her hair, him soothing her with wordless noises. He was a good guy, she realized with a twinge of guilt. He deserved better than her. She was all fucked up.
“We need a story,” Chelsea prompted again. She needed a distraction, too.
“You could tell her that from the moment I saw you, I decided I had to have you,” Sebastian said in a soft voice.
For some reason, that made Chelsea’s pulse flutter. She pulled away from him in her chair, pretending to look out the window. “I’ll think of something.”
“Well, let me know what you decide.” When she looked over, he had put down his notepad and held up his phone. “Hunter’s texting me, too. My guess is that Gretchen put him up to it.”
She paused, thinking, then began to type again.
Chelsea: It was just sort of a thing. He looked at me and I knew. And he says he felt the same way. So we decided not to waste any time.
Gretchen: Omg. I can’t decide if that’s harebrained or incredible. Sebastian never struck me as the romantic type.
Chelsea: Really, how did he strike you?
Gretchen: Will you kill me if I say ‘aimless’?
She glanced over at the man idly texting next to her.
Chelsea: No, but now I’m intrigued. Why aimless?
Gretchen: I’ve only met him a few times, mind you. But he just sits on family money and like . . . doesn’t do anything. Doesn’t have a business of his own. Doesn’t run the family business. He’s just rich. He and Hunter work out together but I don’t know what he does with his time other than avoid his crazy family.
Chelsea: I’m sure he has a plan. :) I gotta go anyhow. Lunch tomorrow?
Gretchen: Girl, yes. Now go kiss your new husband for me and I’m gonna go gossip at Hunter. And read more tabloids about you, but mostly gossip at Hunter. XO
Chelsea: XO
Chelsea looked over at Sebastian speculatively again. Aimless, huh? She didn’t think Gretchen meant it in a cruel way. Gretchen was blunt and sometimes thoughtless with her words, but was never cruel. And how could anyone be mad at Sebastian? He was gorgeous, polite, funny, and utterly charming. Heck, she was immune to men and still found herself getting girlishly excited whenever he gave her one of those sleepy smiles.
It seemed they both had things to work on.
He looked over at her and gave her a wary glance. “You’re staring.”
She held up her phone and changed the conversation. “I just told Gretchen that it was an immediate attraction sort of thing and we acted on it.”
Sebastian gave her a small nod. “I can work with that. And anyone who sees you knows that it’s not off the mark.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means if this wasn’t platonic, I’d be all over you like peanut butter on jelly.”
“Peanut butter on . . . jelly?”
“Is that a bad one? How about sand on a beach.”
“Sand on a beach ?”
“Terrible simile, I know. I’m really bad at them.” He grimaced. “You won’t hold it against me, will you?”
“Hold it against you like . . .” she teased.
“Like . . . an alien face hugger in those horror movies?” He gave her a hopeful look.
“You’re right. You are terrible at this.”
“Told you.”
Chapter Eleven
When they got off the plane, Sebastian pulled Chelsea close to him and whispered in her ear. “Just try to act casual, okay? Nothing sells hotter than a picture of someone totally upset.”
“Okay,” she said, but her fingers tightened on his arm.
“And I want to apologize in advance.”
“For what?”
“For the hell airports are about to become.” He grimaced. “Seriously. I’ll give you hazard pay for this.”
She laughed and shook her head. Surely he was exaggerating? “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“I hope so,” he said, but he didn’t sound convinced. “You want sunglasses?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Your call.” His arm went around her waist and he pulled her closer to him as they walked across the tarmac.
When they got into the airport proper, it seemed busy but not ridiculous. As she looked over at Sebastian, she noticed he put on a pair of sunglasses and ducked his head. His arm was tight around her waist, urging her forward.
