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Sebastian pulled the sleek Mercedes S550 to a stop and double-checked the address. Unfortunately, it was right. Plowing a hand through his hair, he sighed and took in the rundown apartment complex. Clothes billowed from the makeshift clotheslines people had erected across their balconies, and a small cluster of children no older than six played on the railroad tracks that ran behind the squat building and through the center of town. He shook his head in disgust. It was exactly that kind of lax parenting and supervision that lead to accidents and the myriad of other problems plaguing society. Forcing his attention back to the apartment, he studied the thin, grimy layer of soot that clung to everything in sight. Whatever it was, it made the neighborhood appear even more dismal and depressing.
Movement shifted behind him and he glanced up, watching his rearview mirror as a group of thugs eyed his car and then sauntered away from the street corner in search of a safer place to peddle their wares. His hands tightened on the steering wheel and, for a moment, he considered whipping the Benz around and giving chase. People like that were nothing but wasted space in an already overpopulated world. Growling, he scrubbed his hands over his face and then flung the car door open. The sooner he got out of here, the better.
He took the rickety wooden steps two at a time and, peering around one last time, pounded on Taylor’s door. His head cocked as her husky voice called out from the other side.
“It’s open!”
In this neighborhood? Was she serious? Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose and counted to ten before pushing open the door. The smell of lemons and freshly baked cookies greeted him upon entrance. Her apartment was like a burst of fresh air compared to the outside. At least in here, the surfaces were clean and the walls were a cheerful shade of off-white. He smiled as Taylor popped her head around the corner with a grin.
“I’m almost ready. Make yourself at home.”
Shrugging, he dropped onto the edge of the plaid couch. A battered coffee table, a few potted ferns, and ancient ends completed the spread and gave the room a rustic, lived in feel. There weren’t any knickknacks or magazines lying around. None of the girly frills he would have expected, lace curtains aside. Her home, at least what he could see of it, was clean and clutter free.
“I’m sorry for the wait,” Taylor said, rounding the corner. “I couldn’t decide what to wear.”
His eyes followed her hands as they traveled over her hips in an attempt to smooth her maroon sweater dress down. Black leggings and a pair of matching faux fur lined boots topped off the outfit. He had to give it to her. She knew how to compliment what God had given her. It was going to be hard to concentrate on anything besides her body. He smiled, still slightly amazed that this was the same woman he’d encountered in the woods wearing face paint and camouflage. She was a versatile creature to say the least.
“You look wonderful,” he said. “Good choice.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she offered up her dazzling smile. “I made some cookies this morning—peanut butter chocolate chip. They’re not exactly homemade. They came out of those refrigerated packages, but they’re really good. Would you like one?”
“I would, but let’s save them for dessert. Wrap them up and we’ll take them with us.”
“Okay.” Taylor giggled and regarded him with a curious tilt of her head. “Where are we going?”
Sebastian stood and crossed the room to chuck her chin. “That, my cheeky little minx, is a surprise.”
The ride across town had been amusing. Taylor had spent the first ten minutes exploring the Mercedes’ interior, and the look on her face had been one of sheer bliss when he opened it up on the highway and the soft, throaty rev of the engine flooded the inside. To him, it was just a vehicle. Albeit the built in massage made long stakeouts a little more bearable, but it was just a car nonetheless. The way her fingers stroked the rich wood and leather, one would have thought the Benz was a work of art rather than a means of transport. Watching her from the corner of his eye, Sebastian smiled to himself. He was going to enjoy opening her up to new experiences.
Taylor sat up with a gasp as they rolled up to the huge wrought iron gates guarding his premises. Her gaze darted in wonder over the plush green grounds and rocky landscaping before shifting slowly to the left as he pulled to a stop. He felt her curiosity as he pressed his finger against the black pad of the scanner and the gates swung open in a fluid arc.
“What is this place?” she asked. A hint of trepidation rode on the lilting notes of her voice.
“I live here,” he admitted.
Stunned, she blinked and dropped back against her seat. “I really need to get a new job.”
Sebastian fought a chuckle as he steered the car around the semicircular drive and pulled to a stop. Shutting the car off, he yanked the key and turned to her with a pointed expression. “You need to stop being so careless about your life in a lot of ways, Taylor.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Do you always leave your doors unlocked?”
“I was running behind and I knew you were coming,” she stated defensively.
“What if it hadn’t been me? What if it had been one of those hoodlums you have lurking on the corner? What then? Have you ever even been with a man before?”
Her mouth fell open and snapped shut. The dark, finely shaped arches of her brow furrowed in a brief show of anger and insult. “What kind of question is that?”
“A very simple one.”
“That is none of your business.”
Sebastian pinned her with a blistering stare. “I’m making it my business.”
Her cheeks colored and the first glint of tears started to build in her eyes when she looked away. He shook his head.
“Do you really want your first time to be rape at the hands of some stranger? Start paying attention, sweetheart.”
“I’m not as innocent and naive as you think,” she muttered.
He offered a humorless smile and popped open the car door. “Then prove it.”
By the time he made it around to the other side of the vehicle, a cross frown had worked its way across her face. His jaw tightened as Taylor folded her arms, her attention focused on whatever lay beyond the windshield. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he reminded himself that she was still young and learning. Sebastian drew a deep breath and rapped on the passenger window.
“Come on,” he said. “Get out.”
“I think I want to go home.”
He opened her door and leaned down, bracing a forearm against the interior frame. Sebastian studied her for a long minute before reaching in to brush the slope of her cheek. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Taylor. For what it?
??s worth, I’m only trying to look after your best interests. I see bad things happen every day, and I don’t want you to see you end up being one of those statistics.”
She sighed and hung her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t look at it that way. I just hate feeling like you look at me as some helpless kid.”
He chuckled and took the plate of cookies from her lap. Using his other hand, he tugged her out of her seat and pulled her against the front of him. “Believe me, Taylor,” he murmured. “I see you for what you are.”
“What’s that?” she whispered.
“An incredibly trusting and beautiful woman.” He smiled and released her. “As much as I hate to break this moment up, I’m becoming an incredibly hungry man.”
She laughed as he rubbed his stomach. “We can’t have that.”
“No we can’t,” Sebastian agreed.
Offering her his arm, he led her up the wide stone steps and into the brick alcove housing the front doors. Taylor glanced around, her tense expression once again shifting into one of awe. He watched her take in the wide paddled ceiling fans on the porch with a slow shake of her head. For a moment, he considered telling her he wasn’t that frivolous and the house came built that way, but he decided to leave it alone. After unlocking the wooden double doors, he gestured for her to step inside. Following on her heels, he turned to disable the alarms.
She stood frozen in the two-story foyer, hugging herself, as he stepped around her.
“Jesus,” Taylor whispered, eyeing the gently curving staircase leading upstairs and the open sweep of the house beyond. “How big is this place?”
He glanced upstairs with a shrug. “Four bedrooms, four baths.”
“And it’s just you living here?” she asked incredulously.
He nodded, prodding her past the living room, study, and dining room while Taylor gaped, peering around like she had just stepped into a foreign country. “My nephew and niece each have their own bedrooms for when they stay, and I keep a separate guest room open for adults. The master suite is all mine,” he murmured, leaning over to nuzzle her neck. “If you’re good, maybe I’ll show it to you someday.”
