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“That was so generous of you,” she said once they were alone again. “That’s probably more money than she’ll see after waiting on five tables.”
His face flushed with his uncomfortable shrug. “I have it to spare. Are you ready to get out of here?”
“Not yet. Just listen to me for a second, please?”
Frowning, he nodded and met her stare across the table.
“You saved my life that day, Sebastian. Since then, you’ve given me everything that I could’ve ever possibly dreamed of and more. You love me with a fierceness, passion, and honesty that I’ve never known. Yes, you can be scary at times, and what you do for a living terrifies me, but I love you. The man I know is sweet, and generous, and strong, but he also has this boyish grin and these amazing moments of vulnerability that make my heart ache. He’s not a monster. Don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise.”
He blew out a shaky breath. His entire face softened for a moment. Blinking, his mouth flattened into a grim press and he gave a slow shake of his head. His eyes locked with hers, and his lips curved with a gentle smile as he reached across the table to cup her cheek.
“You’re going to have to keep reminding me of that,” he murmured, stroking her cheekbone with his thumb. “Those things you see aren’t what they want or expect me to be, baby. You know that.”
“I know.”
“Regardless, I’m a lucky man. A lucky man whose butt is starting to go numb from these plastic seats. Let’s get out of here.”
Giggling at his comment and brief bid of humor, she turned to grab her purse from beside the window and froze. Grey locked with jaded hazel and her breath caught. Time hung suspended as she stared at the familiar face peering back at her. Hurt and displeasure stamped her uncle’s grizzled features. He looked like he’d aged an entire decade since she’d last seen him. Unable to move, unable to speak, she forced a strained swallow.
“Taylor?” Sebastian asked softly.
Her gaze darted in his direction just in time to see him frown and scan the outside with narrowed eyes. His attention swung back to her, his face questioning.
“What is it, baby? What did you see?”
She shook her head, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly around the words. Peeking back outside, she saw no sign of her uncle. He was gone. Her brow furrowed with confusion. Had she imagined him? Biting the inside of her cheeks, her expression tightened. If so, why now? She tucked her hair behind her ears. Her scalp felt hot and sweaty beneath her hat.
“I don’t know,” she finally managed. “I thought I saw something, but there’s no one there.”
Sebastian studied her for a moment. “You’re shaking.”
“I just want to go home,” she whispered. “Please.”
He finished pulling on his gloves and stood, holding out a hand to help her out of the booth. She closed her eyes as he pulled her close and enveloped her in a hug. His lips pressed against the top of her head. The warm strength of his body made her feel safe and protected. She rubbed her cheek against the soft wool of his coat before tilting her head back to peer up at him. Sebastian curled his fingers around her chin with a smile.
“Better?” he asked.
“Much.”
His grin deepened and, tucking her under his arm, he led her outside. Icy wind assaulted her the second they stepped onto the sidewalk. It coiled through her lungs, robbing her of her breath. Thick, heavy snowflakes battered and blinded her. Choking down a cough, she shivered against the winter assail. Sebastian hugged her tighter against his side as he steered her toward the car.
“Wait!” a gruff voice shouted behind them, breaking the silence.
Her heart skidded to a painful halt and leapt into her throat. Knowing what was coming, Taylor dropped her chin to her chest, her body sagging with a rueful slump. She could hear her uncle’s heavy footfalls as he jogged down the sidewalk after them. Thick, gnarled fingers brushed the back of her coat, fueling her panic. Twisting, she lurched in front of Sebastian, almost tripping him. He stumbled with a curse. Uncle Roy’s gravelly voice drowned out the rest of his words, but his annoyance was clear.
“What the hell is wrong with you, girl? I know good goddamn well you hear me!” her uncle snapped, reaching for her.
She flinched away. Raw fury stamped Sebastian’s face as he spun.
“Excuse me?” he asked coldly. Recognition flashed in his eyes before they narrowed into reproachful slits. The muscles along his jaw corded and whitened as he regarded the man in front of him. “Get away from her.”
“What do you mean get away from her? That’s my niece. Who the hell are you?”
Sebastian shook his head. “Who I am is not important, Roy. I’m not going to ask you again.”
Her uncle’s eyes darted to hers. Confusion and anger warred for control on his weather-beaten features. His jaw jutted in a show of stubborn pride. “Taylor?”
Giving a sad shake of her head, she looked away. Her heart wrenched with guilt and fear. Fear for herself, fear for her uncle, and guilt about the way she was treating him, despite what he had done. Biting her tongue, she fought the rising sting of tears.
“Taylor, please. Let me explain things…”
She glanced up as Sebastian shifted, taking another step toward her bewildered uncle. The old man was drunk again. She could smell the sour whiskey rolling off his breath from where she stood. Somehow, the thought filled her with an even greater sorrow. He wasn’t a bad man, just sick. Sick and desperate.
“Roy,” Sebastian scolded with a soft tsk. “You aren’t listening. Do yourself a favor. Think about what’s best for your situation and walk away.”
Her uncle sniffed with disdain. His face balled up into a grimace as he sucked in a sharp hock of phlegm and spat at Sebastian’s feet. Horrified, Taylor watched while her lover tensed and regarded her uncle with a questioning tilt of his head. She was glad she couldn’t see his expression. It was bad enough feeling the raw fury that rolled off him. Pressing against him, she tentatively stroked the back of his arm.
“Sebastian, please,” she whispered. His lean form trembled with rage beneath her touch. “Let’s just go.”
“You must be the Fed my niece shacked herself up with,” her uncle scoffed. “Let me tell you something, G-man. You don’t get to tell me what’s best for me and my situation. Your fancy clothes and alphabet titles don’t impress me, and this is none of your business. This is a family concern.”
Sebastian’s shoulders shook in a dry acknowledgement. “I don’t care what impresses you, Roy,” he stated softly. “Taylor is my family now, and I assure you that makes her my business as well as my concern. You lost any claim you had on her.”
“Claim? She ain’t a piece of property!”
“No,” Sebastian agreed, prowling forward. “But she is a scapegoat for you and your son to lie to and use as you see fit?” He shook his head. “No, Roy. Not anymore. Those days are done.”
“Taylor? Is that what you think? You know that’s not true! Money was tight. You know that, little girl. I only made that moonshine to help put clothes on your back and food in your mouth. I did what I had to do to take care of you! The least you can do is help your cousin and me out of this mess. I took you in when no one else would. I gave you a home when no one else wanted you.”
Tears froze on her cheeks. Shaking, she clamped her eyes shut and smothered a miserable sob. It was so hard not to talk to him. She ached to make things right, to tell him it was okay and she forgave him, but Sebastian’s warning of what would happen if she did still rang loud and clear in her mind. He’d been so furious when her cousin had been busted driving her truck and the BATF had hauled her in. She had no desire to relive that anger again—and family or not, Sebastian was the one she had to go home with. Her head snapped up at the sound of his livid growl.
“Don’t you dare blame this on her,” he rasped, seizing her uncle and wrenching him up by the front of his coat.
Taylor shook. Bereft of e
ven the comfort of Sebastian’s back to press to she was afraid her knees would crumble. Her uncle’s ruddy face purpled under the pressure of Sebastian’s hold. His watery stare darted to her.
