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“I love you, buddy,” he choked. “No matter what, you have to promise me you will never forget that, okay?”
“I don’t want to go,” Christian whimpered, still trying to cling to him as Sebastian rocked to his feet.
“I know. I don’t want you to go either, but your mom’s not feeling well and she has to take good care of your baby sister. You get to sleep early so Santa can come.” He ruffled the boy’s silky hair. “I’ll send your presents from us home.”
“I want to stay here with you…”
“Aw, little man,” Sebastian released a sorrowful laugh and gathered the child in another tight hug. “I love you. Remember that for me and be a good boy, okay?”
Tears rolled down Taylor’s cheeks as Sebastian turned away. She wanted to throw things, to scream, to do anything—anything in her power to erase his pain and make them stay. In the end, all she could do was watch them leave, knowing they had just ripped out a huge part of his heart and taken it with them. Monique sniffled at the other end of the table, her slender body shaking as she fought to hold her emotions in. The blonde glanced up with misery and pleading in her eyes as Josh laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, his big fingers giving it an affectionate squeeze. Numbing silence still gripped the table even after Sebastian took his seat. Taylor prayed it would all just end.
“I apologize,” he stated softly. “For everything. Please let me know if I can warm your plates.”
“Fuck that,” Josh said with a snort. “I’m starving. Let’s eat.”
A loud round of laughter exploded from the table as his teammates nodded their heads in agreement. For the first time since dinner began, the tension lifted and conversation started to flow.
After clearing the table, Taylor rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher with Monique. Between the two of them, the work went fast, and at times, it even bordered on fun. Her mind was distracted though, her thoughts never straying from Sebastian. The moment they finished she made a quick round, giving refills where necessary, before padding through the house in search of him. She found him in the foyer, a half empty bottle of whiskey dangling from his hand as he stared at the tree. Frowning, she crept up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He pressed against her. For a moment, they just enjoyed the stillness and the comfort of being near.
Sebastian lifted the bottle and took a long swig. She couldn’t help but giggle against his back as he shuddered with a growl of discomfort. Wrapping his fingers around her wrist, he lifted his other arm and tugged her around to the front of him. Her eyes searched his face, hating the raw pain still etched there. Reaching up, she stroked his chiseled features. There was no need for words. Even if there had been, there was nothing she could say. This was something he had to process and deal with in his own time, in his own way. Instead, she leaned up and claimed his mouth in a tender kiss. His arms wound around her, squeezing her tight as his lips moved against hers with acceptance and hunger. Several long minutes passed before he pulled back.
“I love you, Taylor,” he murmured, brushing her cheek. “I’m sorry dinner was ruined.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“I do. I wanted tonight to be special.”
“Sebastian, nothing matters to me but you. Are you okay?”
His face itself seemed to shrug. “I will be.”
“That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement.”
His shoulders lifted with a humorless snort. “If you want one of those, darling, you’re going to have to take me to bed.”
“I’m not abject to that idea.” Smiling, she snaked her arms around his neck and leaned into his body. A rumbling noise of approval rose from his throat as he used his free hand to cradle her ass and grind her against him. She peered up at him. “Those things she said…were they…” She couldn’t even bring herself to say the rest of it, as if somehow speaking the word might make it true.
Sebastian stared down at her. His jaw tightened as he shook his head. “Don’t, Taylor. I don’t know what she thinks she knows, but that woman has always hated me. Nothing would give her more pleasure than to fill your head with doubts and poison you against me. Don’t give her that satisfaction.”
A sad, forced smile twisted her features. “Yeah,” she said nodding. “Okay. Is your brother really going to go along with this?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he stated flatly. “It’s bad enough he let his wife berate me, but when he turned his back on his family I lost all respect for him. Lucian made his choices, and it would be best for all involved if I didn’t think about him or his faithless cunt of a wife again.”
Taylor’s face blanched, and she bit the insides of her cheeks. An old saying fluttered through her mind, speeding up the forceful hammer of her heart. Sometimes it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. If he had yelled or snarled, his anger might have been easier to process. But that wasn’t Sebastian. He remained as calm and soft spoken as always. It was that forced civility and the low silken whisper of his voice that chilled Taylor the most. Especially when his eyes told a different story. She searched for something to say, some way to ease the turbulence, but Sebastian spared her the agony. Giving her cheek an affectionate caress, he then turned on his heel and strode away.
Blowing out a shaky breath, she followed the sound of laughter into the kitchen. Most of the men had assembled in the great room, drawn in by the masculine leather and the inviting glow of the fire. The smell of alcohol hung heavily in the air. It mingled with the crisp scent of aftershave, cologne, and food. Her stomach rolled with the combination, and Taylor reached for a fresh bottle of wine with shaking hands. A tense knot of dread still coiled in her stomach, no matter how much she tried to forget about the dinner disaster. One could only pray the nightcaps and dessert went better. Seeking some form of familiarity and comfort, she scanned the faces in search of Monique but came up empty.
“If you’re looking for your friend, she’s talking to her brother and laying the kids down.”
Taylor sagged with relief and flashed Josh a thankful smile. Winking, he reclined his solid body against the counter beside her. His keen gaze studied the room as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. A sweet amaretto fragrance rose from the crystal. Sensing her perusal, he lifted the cup in offering. Taylor blushed, declining with a polite shake of her head.
“Suit yourself.” He took a leisurely sip and sighed. “Try not to be too hard on yourself, kid. What happened tonight wasn’t your fault. That twat has had it in for Sebastian since day one. She’s always been a jealous and vindictive bitch.” Taking another drink, he shrugged. “Either way, he’ll be alright. Baas is one of the toughest bastards I know. Take him upstairs later and let him fuck his brains out. It will make him feel much better.”
Not knowing what to say, Taylor’s mouth opened and closed around an embarrassed laugh as she shook her head.
“You’re laughing, but it’s true, kiddo. I don’t know what you did to the man but he’s got it bad.”
“Apparently it’s my just my mad skills between the sheets,” she retorted.
Taylor stumbled away as Josh choked and his drink blew past his lips in a widening spray. Eyes flared, she patted his arm as he pounded his chest and sputtered for breath. Still coughing, Josh inched away, warding her off with a dismissive wave of his hand as several people turned in their direction.
She grinned as Monique sauntered into the room giving them both a bemused expression. Approaching his side, the blonde stroked one of his biceps in supplication.
“Don’t die before dessert, hero. We need someone to help carry in the trays.”
“Great,” Josh rasped, giving his chest a final thud. “She tries to kill me and you want to work me to death. Can’t a guy catch a fucking break around here? Where’s your brother at anyway? He’d never stand for this kind of treatment.”
Monique laughed at the teasing sparkle in his eyes. “Sebastian will be down in a minute. He’s saying goodnight to Mia.”
&nbs
p; “How’s he holding up?” Josh asked, sobering.
“As good as can be expected. I just spent the last ten minutes soothing him and reassuring him I would never try to take his niece away.” Hanging her head, she rubbed the faint red marks circling her wrists. “He’s a little on edge, but he’ll get through this.”
Draping his arm around her neck, Josh tugged her close and kissed the side of her head. “We all will. I’m gonna go peek in on Aiden and say goodnight. I think it would be best if we got dessert going and cleared the house. I’ll see about bringing Baas down.”
Taylor frowned. Her gaze kept traveling to the marks on Monique’s wrists. She waited until Josh left before turning to the blonde.
“What happened?” she whispered.
Monique paled slightly and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
Touching her shoulder, Taylor’s face twisted with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Shrugging out from under her fingers, Monique nodded. “I’m fine. I’m much more worried about my brother.”
With that, she turned and started pulling a stack of dessert plates from the corner cabinet. Taking the hint, Taylor rummaged in the cupboard beneath the sink and pulled out a bottle of cleaning solution. The last thing she wanted was a bunch of people stepping in Josh’s drink and tracking the sticky liquor through the house. Snagging a roll of paper towels, she watched as Monique headed down the hall to start setting the dining room table. Most of their guests took her lead and followed suit.
Brushing her hair out of her eyes with the back of her arm, Taylor straightened with a quiet grunt. It had been a long day, and the outbreaks of tension had made it that much more exhausting. Moving to the tall stainless steel trash can in the corner, she stepped on the pedal and popped the lid open with her foot. She was just about to drop the dirty paper towels in when two hands closed over her ass, giving the globes a forceful squeeze.
