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I’m still discombobulated when the two men shake hands. Something strange happens to Sebastian’s face—a narrowing of his eyes, a clench of his jaw. Cameron smirks.
Drawing my attention from the strange interaction, Simone touches my arm. “Can I leave the candles in the office? Unless you don’t want them…”
“No, no!” I shake my head, glancing once more at the men who are still locked in odd eye contact. “Party favors are an incredible idea. I can get some gift bags and wrap them up nicely. Let’s store them in the office, and I can grab the final version of Cameron’s contract to sign.”
Simone beams. I help her tilt the dolly onto its wheels and make my way to the office, glancing over my shoulder to see thunder on Sebastian’s face right before the office door closes behind me.
Simone parks the dolly, then whirls on me. “You didnotmention that Cameron Fuller has the hots for you, missy.” Her eyes sparkle. “And it doesn’t look like you told Sebastian, either.”
27
SEBASTIAN
This isthe fucking landlord all over again. I take a step sideways to block the view of Georgia from this swine’s view as she disappears into the office. I’ve never met the guy, but I see the look on his face. I saw how close he was standing to Georgia when I walked in, and the peek he took down her shirt when she wasn’t looking.
Then I stew in my rising rage as he smirks.
“You and Georgia, huh?” he asks, crossing his arms.
I don’t like his face. He’s a pretty-boy, with those stupid long lashes women probably go crazy for. A sensitive, beautiful artist. Yeah, bet he milks that for all it’s worth. Pouts prettily and the ladies throw their panties at him. He’s so used to getting his way that he doesn’t even see me as competition. Idiot. He needs to go next door and shave that scruff off his face too, but I wouldn’t want him speaking to Mia, either.
When I don’t answer his question, his smirk widens to a full-fledged smile. “How is she?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” I understand exactly what he means.
“In the sack,” he clarifies. “Bet that sweet ass of hers feels good bouncing on top.”
I bristle. Blood begins pounding in my ears, and my feet widen into a fighting stance. It happens almost unconsciously. My hands clench into fists, and I just barely hold myself back from lunging. “You’d be a smart man not to say that kind of shit in front of me.”
He arches a brow, peering around my shoulder. “Oh? Why’s that? Want to keep her all to yourself?” His gaze returns to mine, sharper this time. “Georgia doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who can be tamed.”
Pain lances my heart as the barb lands. He’s right—she can’t be tamed. I learned that lesson when she walked away from me the first time.
That doesn’t mean this asshole can talk about her like she’s a piece of meat. He’s either trying to see how serious Georgia and I are, he’s staking some misplaced claim on her, or he’s itching for a fight. Either way, he needs to stop before he regrets it.
She won’t like this, a voice says in my mind. Georgia isn’t impressed with this kind of male posturing. She’ll be angry if I let my temper get the best of me. She already thinks I’m some hotheaded pig—she won’t like it if I intimidate one of her new business’s clients. Especially not her featured artist.
“Ass like that,” Pretty Boy muses, “looks damn good in a pair of tight jeans. Bet she knows it too.”
Heat rises to the surface of my skin, and everything from the top of my head down to my toes starts tingling.
“Don’t do that,” I say quietly.
His smile needs to get punched right off his smug face. “Do what?”
Deep breaths. Calm down. This is Georgia’s place of business.
“Speak Georgia’s name. You don’t have those privileges.”
He throws his hands out, playing the bewildered victim. “Hey, man. I’m just saying. She’s a good-looking woman.” He drops his hands, his body loose. I can almost smell the fight in the air, and judging by the light in Cameron Fuller’s eyes, so can he.
Why is he pushing me? My eyes narrow, my muscles coiling tighter with every breath I take.
“Plus,” he continues, “Georgia and I work together. I’ll have to speak to her. You sure she wants to know you’re trying to talk to me like that? I’ve been telling all my friends about her new gallery, but that can all go away. Things don’t work out between her and me, well, there’s not an artist in a hundred-mile radius that’ll want to have their work displayed here.” He looks me up and down. “Unless she wants to display some redneck lawn ornaments.”
I wrestle my temper under control, but I’m all but shaking. I know—Iknow—that I should just walk away. Georgia was put off by my reaction to her landlord, and all I did was give him a little shove. If I give this guy what he deserves—which is a mouthful of knuckles—Georgia will not be happy.
But he’sthreatening—
