Page 3 of Sebastian

“Yes, I am. I just have this one case we’re working, and then I’ll come home. I want to finish this. It’s a series of bank robberies, and I want to catch these guys and end my career on a high note.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said, exhaling.

Em twisted her body to the side, taking a seat on one of his thighs. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly. When she pulled back, the sweet, innocent seventeen-year-old was gone. In his place was a hard, wide man. His face had a scruffy growth of hair, his eyes intense with longing and burning.

“Come to my cottage,” she whispered. He stared at her, holding her tightly to his own aching body.

“Em, you need to be sure, babe. If we go back to your cottage, we’re declaring to everyone that we mean something to one another. They all know our business.” She looked at him, grateful that he understood her need for privacy.

“You’re right. They will know.”

Hand in hand, they walked out of the maze and toward her cottage. They could feel the eyes of everyone on them, but neither turned back to acknowledge it. Inside her cottage, the nerves were eating her alive.

Now, all she had to do was tell him.

CHAPTER TWO

Emelia Stanton looked across the big Mardi Gras tent, staring at Sebastian Vernon. He was beautiful. She knew that you weren’t supposed to say that men were beautiful, but he was beautiful.

“Just go talk to him, Em. You know that he likes you too,” said Hex. He adored the Stanton girls, but it was this one, shy little Emelia that had his son’s attention. They were identical, so he wasn’t quite sure why this one stood out for Sebastian. But she did.

“Oh, hi, Mr. Hex,” she said quietly. Hex laughed, shaking his head.

“It’s just Hex, Em. I’ve known you since the day you were born. Just Hex.” She smiled at him, a soft pink blush covering her cheeks.

“I don’t know if he really likes me or not. He doesn’t say much.”

“Neither do you,” he said, grinning at her. “That could present a problem for the two of you. Someone has to be brave enough to speak first.”

“We’re so different. I mean, look at me. I’m so small and he’s so big. He might not like that.”

Hex tried not to laugh out loud. The Stanton girls were all brilliant. They did exceptionally well in school, but he noticed that they were somewhat naïve about other things in life, and boys were definitely one of those things.

“Honey, if he likes you, he won’t care that you’re smaller than him. I have a little secret for you. Most men like a woman who is a bit smaller. It makes us feel protective of them. We want to be known as the person in their life that will save them. It’s silly, really. Very neanderthal ways of thinking, but it’s inside of us. We can’t help it.”

“What should I do?”

“Maybe just take a walk,” he said, grinning at her. “He’ll follow. I guarantee it.”

Emelia stood and started to walk away, then turned back to Hex. She bent down and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you, Hex.” He just chuckled, nodding at the young girl. He felt the womanly hands of his wife on his shoulders and turned to smile up at her.

“You’re a big softie at heart, Hex Vernon. It’s one of the many reasons I love you.”

“I know the biggest reason you love me,” he growled, standing to pull her into his arms. “Why don’t we dance, and I’ll remind you of that.”

“Let’s dance.”

Emelia told herself not to turn around. She didn’t want him to think she was doing this on purpose, even if she was. She headed toward the maze, hoping that if he followed, they could have alone time.

She loved her sisters dearly. But they were like having three identical little mothers always hovering, telling her what to do. They all seemed to be in one another’s business, and she wanted this to be between her and Sebastian. Just the two of them.

“Em! Em, wait up!”

Emilia took in a deep breath and turned, smiling at him as she wrapped her arms around herself. The wind was starting to pick up, and she could see flashes of lightning in the distance. It was cold, and they were about to get wet. Not very romantic.

As Sebastian approached, he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. His fingers squeezed her flesh, and a sizzling heat went through her body.