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“Oh, Tay, that is gorgeous!” she exclaimed, lifting it in her fingers.
“I know. Plus he gave me the boots I was wearing earlier, some naughty lingerie, and my car. He claims the lingerie was more for his enjoyment than mine,” she confessed with a giggle, “but Sebastian spoils me. He really does. In fact, we just got back from a three day mountain retreat at the most incredible hotel I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re so lucky. All I got from my last boyfriend was a DVD and a funky tee shirt.” The redhead laughed, her eyes still skimming her surroundings. “Damn, honey. I had no idea the FBI paid so well. Does he have any single friends? You seriously need to hook a girl up!”
“I don’t go around asking him if his friends are available. Jesus, Irene!” Laughing, Taylor wadded up a dishtowel and threw it at her.
Turning for the fridge, she pulled the stainless steel door open and kept it propped with her hip while she rummaged through the bin. She grabbed the selection of cold cuts and cheeses and placed them on the counter before seizing a crisp head of lettuce. Irene wandered through the sprawling open area taking in the décor while Taylor rinsed the head and chopped off a few fresh slices.
“He has impeccable taste,” Irene mused, trailing a finger over the back of the leather couch and the cashmere throw draped across it. “Between you and this house, I’d say the man’s done quite well for himself. He must be something else. After all, he did whisk away our star employee. I believe this was also the same girl who claimed there wasn’t a man in a hundred miles radius worth dating.”
Taylor couldn’t help but laugh. “I might have been a little hasty with that assessment.”
Walking to the pantry, she pulled out a loaf of multigrain bread and stopped at the cupboards to grab two plates. She set her bundle down and focused on making their sandwiches. Her mouth watered in anticipation of smoked turkey and Swiss. Taylor’s brow furrowed as her stomach rolled again. As hungry as she was, just the thought of eating was making her queasy again. She frowned, wondering if she’d picked up some kind of bug at the hotel. Covering her mouth, she slapped on the top layers of bread. Refusing to meet her friend’s inquisitive stare, she pushed one of the plates across the island and gathered everything back up to put it in the fridge. Grabbing two cans of sweet tea out of the door, she wandered over to the table in the morning room where Irene had moved their plates.
“Are you sure you’re okay, sugar? You’re looking awful pale again.”
Taylor nodded, picking at the corner of her bread. “I’ll be fine. I probably shouldn’t have skipped breakfast this morning. I just didn’t feel like eating without Sebastian.”
“Oh my god, girl!” Irene exclaimed, chucking a piece of crust at her. “You have got it bad!”
Her cheeks warmed with the accusation. Smiling, she lowered her head. “I know. I can’t help it. I love him. I really do.”
“It shows,” Irene said, flashing a saucy wink. “Hell, your face lights up like a damn Christmas tree every time you say his name.”
“Huh.” She tamped down a giggle. “If it lights up now, I can only imagine what my face must look like when I’m screaming his name in the throes of passion.”
“It is quite a sight.”
Taylor startled at the all too familiar voice. Her face burned with embarrassment as her and Irene both whirled in their seats to find Sebastian standing behind them. She swallowed, pressing her lips together as his gaze locked with hers before shifting to her friend. His expression held no clue as to where his thoughts or moods lie. Only a hint of curiosity rode his stoic features. Her stomach cramped as she wondered how long he’d been standing there. Long enough. That much was obvious.
“Oh, Taylor. He’s a hottie. Look at that uniform,” Irene declared in a stage whisper as she surged to her feet. She strolled around the table and grinned.
“Hi. You must be the Sebastian I’ve heard so much about. I’m Irene. Taylor and I worked together at the diner.”
His gaze flickered to her outstretched hand. Giving the redhead a slight nod, he accepted her shake. “Hello, Irene. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise, honey. Taylor speaks so highly of you. I almost feel like I am getting to meet the king or something.”
Sebastian’s soft chuckle flooded through the room as he lifted a brow. “Does she now?”
“Oh yes. She’s smitten, and now I see why. She’s very lucky. I was just admiring your beautiful home. I love the way you’ve decorated.”
He gave a strained smile. “Thank you.”
Sebastian sidestepped her and crossed the room, stooping to pick the piece of crust up off the floor. Leaning over Taylor, he kissed the top of her head and winked before straightening. “I missed you, darling. I don’t mean to be rude, but I need a shower. You ladies behave and enjoy your lunch,” he said, giving Irene a curt nod of departure on his way past.
“Would you like me to make you a sandwich or something for when you come down?” Taylor asked.
He paused at the bottom of the steps and gave a slow shake of his head. “No, baby. I ate before I came home and I have some work to do. Thank you though.”
Irene gaped after him before turning her incredulous stare on Taylor. Her ivory cheeks flushed, making the freckles beneath her makeup stand out in bright contrast. “Okay. All I am going to say is it’s no wonder you quit! Holy shit! And those manners! Look at you all shacked up with Mr. Charming.”
Giggling, Taylor lowered her head and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Stop it. He’ll hear you.”
“I don’t care,” Irene said with a laugh. Her pointy elbow jostled Taylor in play on her way back to her seat. “I don’t know who is hiding who now. Are you sure he doesn’t have any single friends?”
“I told you before, I’m not asking that.”
The waitress shrugged and took a leisurely drink of her tea. “Suit yourself, sugar, but if you don’t I will,” she teased, giving a lecherous wiggle of her brows.
Sebastian rolled his neck in an attempt to shake some of the tension knotted below the surface. Straining his ears, he listened to the chatter filtering up from downstairs and gave a soft snort of disgust. He winced as their houseguest’s high-pitched laughter wafted up the steps and down the hall. Company was the last thing he’d wanted or needed. After the day he’d had, all he’d wanted to do was shower, change, and lose himself in Taylor’s embrace. He flexed his fist in experimentation. The battered knuckles sent a low throb of pain through his hand, and he shook his head. If what he’d seen and heard so far were any indication, the woman downstairs would benefit from a little corrective discipline of her own. He wasn’t sure what her angle was, and even less so that he wanted that type of crass demeanor rubbing off on Taylor. What kind of person threw food in someone else’s house? Then there were the comments and the way her eyes kept roaming over him
, just little things that wormed their way under his skin. She was trouble waiting to happen.
He sighed and made his way into the bathroom. It was time to unwind. Let go. The tension and anger still thrumming through his system had him on edge. It was times like this when he needed Taylor the most. Her touch, her love, served as a soothing balm. It helped erase the ugliness, the parts of him he needed to be outside the sanctity of their home. Their home that was currently being defiled by over perfumed trailer trash. It was going to take hours to get rid of that smell.
Turning on the water, he then stripped down and stepped beneath the massaging spray. Sebastian braced his hands against the wall and leaned forward, tilting his head down as he savored the hot needles pelting his back. It was as close to a massage as he was going to get. Annoyance burned like a smoldering ember in his gut. The scent of violence and blood still clung to his skin. Then there was the added issue of Todd. Target S—the sudden thorn in his side. Was he still out there? Was his relationship with his brother really estranged? Did this sudden amassing of weapons have to do with what had happened to him, or was this ex Special Forces agent up to something else?
He growled, shaking the water from his head. In the end, it really didn’t matter. Rabid dogs needed put down, and that’s what he got paid to do. By the time he’d finished washing and slipping into a pair of jeans and faded cotton tee, Sebastian’s mind was still whirling. It had shifted gears, centering on what he needed to do to protect his family and keep them safe. Taylor wasn’t going to like some of those decisions, but they were for the best.
He padded down the stairs and into the kitchen. The women were still sitting at the table, conversing over their cans of tea. Sensing him, Taylor turned and offered an uncertain smile. His stare travelled to her friend before shifting back to her. He didn’t miss the flicker of appraisal in the redhead’s eyes or the way her attention seemed to keep gravitating below his waist. Sebastian felt his own gaze narrow in response.
