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“Fine,” she says glancing from me to Andrew.
Andrew gives me a quizzical look. I shrug. Who put sour milk in her cornflakes? Had something gone wrong with a patient? Or perhaps things have taken a bad turn with her boyfriend? I saw her earlier today and she seemed in good cheer.
She finds a table not too far from ours and sits down rather noisily.
“You want to join us?” I offer.
“I’m good,” she says in an uncharacteristically clipped tone, glaring openly at us.
Okay. I think. “Just as well,” I say, rising from the table and taking my coffee with me. “I need to be heading back anyway. Thanks for the coffee.”
“Sure,” Andrew says, looking a little bewildered.
It’s Friday and my shift ended at 4 p.m. so I’m pulling into our garage at 4:28. I wave at Dmitri and his brother before the garage door glides shut. Sebastian is coming through the door carrying our overnight bags to load into the Jag.
“Hey, babe,” I say, as I climb out of the car and greet him with a kiss. “You’ve already got us packed up and ready to go.”
“Yep, I’d like us to be on the road by five, if possible,” he says, placing our bags in the trunk. He glances up at me. “Think you can be ready by then?”
“I just need a quick shower, I promise I won’t be long.”
He glances anxiously at his watch. “Ok, but please hurry.” He shuts the trunk and follows me inside.
The wedding is tomorrow evening, but Bash wants us to spend some time alone in the East Hamptons where he bought the oceanfront home we stayed in during our last trip. It’s an English country house with French provincial style. All the modern amenities are present, including an infinity pool and jacuzzi, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen, and a private boardwalk. It’s truly quite spectacular. Even on a doctor’s salary, it would’ve been out of my price range. As a medical resident, it was inconceivable.
So, I’m excited about going to see the place again, not as a holiday renter, but as the guest of the owner. Bash calls it “our” place, but he’s just being sweet. I slip out of my scrubs and into the shower.
As I lather up, I wonder if I can truly see a future with Sebastian. I mean, I’m crazy about the guy and can’t get enough of him. But can I really reconcile his chosen life with the one I’d planned to lead?
And what of my actions thus far? Particularly on the night of my abduction. I’d lost my temper and severed a man’s genitals. Granted the bastard in question was planning to rape me and had committed vile acts in my face. Besides, I didn’t kill the guy, the scorpion sting took care of that for me. But still.
I’m shocked to feel my mouth curving into a small smile. Did I enjoy that? Not enjoy as in I find pleasure in mutilating people but getting revenge against a sick pervert trying to do me harm…hell yeah!
There are a thousand different cuts that I could’ve made to really make the bastard suffer. There’s the—
“Babe, can you get a move on?” Sebastian calls to me. “I’d like to get on the road soon.”
“Yeah, just rinsing off.”
“All right, everything’s packed and your outfit’s laying out on the bed.”
“Thanks, babe.” Jeez, he’s certainly eager to get on with this trip. Traffic’s going to be a bear at this hour, but it’ll be good to get out of the city. And I’m truly looking forward to spending some leisurely time with Bash before the wedding. My stomach clenches at the prospect. This will be my formal introduction as Sebastian Petrosky’s girlfriend.
Maybe that’s what has him a little anxious and just ready to get the whole thing over with. Second to meeting the family, this is as big as it gets.
I turn off the water and reach for my towel. I quickly dry off and begin blow-drying my hair. I check the time, it’s 4:55 p.m. I slip into my bra and underwear and then hurry into the bedroom to get dressed.
I hear Bash downstairs talking to Tessa about Nick’s care while we’re gone. Thankfully, Nick’s up and around recovering beautifully. In another week or so, he’ll be able to return home in time for the start of the spring semester at Cornell University.
I pull on a pair of black fitted slacks and a cream-colored cashmere sweater that Bash bought for me. I apply a bit of mascara and lipstick before slipping into some socks and pulling on my ankle boots.
At 7:01 pm Bash enters the room giving me a slightly impatient look.
“Okay, okay, I’m ready,” I say, brushing my hair as I head for the door. “Let’s go.”
He leans against the doorframe and smiles at me. “You look gorgeous.”
I melt at that devilish grin. “Right back at you, handsome.”
