by Celia Aaron
“You can’t tell that by looking.”
“You can’t.” He grinned. “I certainly can.” He waved a hand at me. “If that was the end of your weekend tale, I am very disappointed in you.”
I chewed my thumbnail while I debated whether I should tell him about Sebastian.
“Ah ha!” He pointed at my thumb. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“Whenever you go Bucky Beaver on your thumbnail, something’s bothering you. Out with it.”
“That’s not true.” I dropped my hand to my lap where it joined its sister in a death grip.
“It is.” He dropped the rest of the mail he’d been holding on the corner of my desk and crossed his arms over his navy blue sweater vest. “Spill.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
He glowered as much as the Botox allowed. “My last boyfriend was a liar, and you know what happened to him.”
“I was there, remember? I’m the one who helped you hide sardines under his driver’s seat and Saran wrap his car.”
“Keep that in mind. Now tell me your tale before Headmaster Grinsley notices I’ve been gone too long and orders me back to be her little bitch.”
“It’s nothing.” When his frown deepened, I hurried along, “Well, there was this guy.”
“Yes.” He fist pumped. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Go on.”
“He’s the CEO of the forestry company where Link works.”
Gregory rubbed his palms together. “Money, money, money. Continue.”
“We danced. He was, I don’t know…” How could I describe the murky feeling? “There was something about him.”
“Good looking?”
“Yes, in a dark sort of way. But there was more. Like he has secrets bubbling beneath his surface.”
“I love a man with a past.” He sighed. “How old?”
“I don’t know. Probably early thirties.”
“Mmm. He sounds tasty. Are you thinking of ditching Link for this guy?”
“Whoa.” I held my hands up. “Your imagination is running wild. It was one dance with Link’s boss. No. Link and I are—”
“Not doing the deed.” He crinkled up one side of his mouth in disapproval. “That says a lot.”
“No it doesn’t. And I intend to take that step soon, but not until I know I’m ready.”
“When will you know?”
I leaned forward and began flipping through my mail. “I just will.”
“Sure. Sounds legit.”
“Your sarcasm is noted.” I pulled a letter from the stack. “Interesting.” Rainforest Fund was stamped at the top, and my name and address were written in a bold hand.
“I’ve got to finish my deliveries.” Gregory scooped up the rest of the mail as I slid my finger down the flap. “I’ll see you after school for some much needed liquid refreshment and Mexican food. La Conchita’s at six.”
“All right. See you there.” I slid out a letter, the paper heavy in my hands.
The door clicked closed as I unfolded the paper. I read each word, my eyes growing wider as I went. When I finished reading, I sat back and stared at the cream paper and matching envelope. My dream expedition had just landed in my lap. An offer to work as a staff biologist on a mission to the Amazon rainforest that would focus on a particular area of the canopy. It even included airfare, thanks to some extra funding from big pharma.
With shaking hands, I re-read the letter. Dr. Weisman had recommended me so highly that the expedition’s lead scientist had “no choice” but to hire me right away. I squeed so loud that Dr. Potts paused in his lecture next door before resuming his monotone.
This was it. My chance. The one I’d been waiting for. And there was nothing that could stand in my way.
5
Camille
“Why do you always dress like a schoolteacher?” Veronica pranced around her bedroom in a thong with a matching red bra. Her long blonde hair flowed down her back in an unruly mane of waves and curls.
“Because I am a schoolteacher.” I sat on her bed as she walked into her closet. “And I’m not going out to find a date. I already have one.”
“Sure, but you dressed like that before you and Link even got together.” Her voice floated out of her closet and into her bedroom. “You dress like your mom.” She cursed quietly, then poked her head out of the closet. “I’m sorry. That was stupid. I was just trying to make you laugh. You know I always thought Freesia had a great sense of style, perfect for an older dame like her.”
“It’s okay.” My mother, Freesia, had passed a year ago from cancer, and my father just six months after. He’d always been so tangled up in her, their love one for the storybooks, that he seemed to fade a little more each day after her funeral. One cold fall day, he disappeared, too.
I’d mourned them in my own way, and I still thought of them every day. My mom’s green thumb was the main reason I became interested in plants when I was a child. Link and Veronica had been my support system since their passing. Veronica’s worried eyes spurred me to add, “Mom did have her own brand of style. Cornered the market on vegetable-print scarves.”
Relief washed over her face, and she ducked back into the closet. “She was a one-of-a-kind.”
“No doubt.” I stared out at the fading sunlight over the tops of the buildings across the street. Veronica and I had been roommates in college, though she focused on partying more than anything else. After a few fights over missing food and her late night booty calls, we’d managed to become best friends. Once we graduated, she’d moved to the city to work as an editorial assistant at Vogue while I settled in at Trenton.
She reappeared wearing a short black dress with slits along the waist on either side. I glanced down at my modest cream top, gray skirt, and black flats.
“Yeah, are you sure you don’t want to change?”
“I’m sure.” I lay back on her bed and followed the ducts of the heating and cooling system with my eyes. “You’re going to freeze your lady bits off in that outfit.”
“It’s Friday night, and I want to have some fun after we get done with Link and his pals.” She bent over and zipped up some stiletto-heeled boots. “I’m still single, ready to mingle. How are things with Link, anyway?”
“They’re fine.” I drummed my fingers on my stomach.
“Fine?” She sat next to me. “That’s what people say when I ask them how their trip to pick up dry-cleaning went, not what you should say when I’m asking about your boyfriend.”
Guilt cascaded through me. “I meant they’re great. Things are going well at his job, and we spend time together whenever we can. He’s been really patient with me on the whole sex thing, so that’s good.”
“Why are you still holding out?” She lay next to me, both of us staring at the ceiling.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged.
“Don’t you want to do it?”
“Yes. We’ve gotten pretty hot and heavy a few times. He’s gorgeous and kind…”
“But? There’s definitely a but in there.” She grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong per se. I just don’t want to make a mistake. If I take that final step, I feel like he’ll turn up the pressure on me moving to the city and giving up my job at Trenton.”
“That’s a valid concern.” She squeezed my fingers. “Once he gets a hit of that pussy, he’ll want it all the time.”
I laughed. “Thanks, V. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I guess I’m just being too cautious.” There was no way I was going to tell her about Sebastian. Though she was hiding it, she never cared too much for Link. Any possibility—even one as remote as Sebastian—would flip her busybody switch.
“You do you. If you’re not ready, then he can wait. He’s done a good job so far.”
“Right. Do you think he’s going to get mad about the Amazon trip?” I’d already told Veronica all about it. We talked at least twice a week and text
ed constantly. She’d encouraged me to fill out the expedition forms and return them so that I’d be all set to make my dream come true.
“Maybe, but if he loves you, then he’ll want you to go.”
Do you want him to love you? I swatted the unwanted thought away. Of course I wanted it. “I’ll talk it over with him tonight.”
“Good. Winter break will be here before you know it. I can’t wait to go shopping and buy all the shorty-shorts in this city for you to wear on your tropical vacay.”
I snorted. “I’ll be working the entire time. Maybe climbing trees, maybe providing analysis on the ground. And have I mentioned all the bugs? I’m not sure shorty-shorts are a wise choice.”
“Wrong.” She sat up. “Shorty-shorts are always the perfect choice.”
“Would it do any good for me to argue?”
“None.” She slapped my thigh. “Now let’s get going. I need liquor in these veins stat.”
The Slush Bar was already buzzing by the time Veronica and I walked in. Only one block from Link’s office building, the spot was perfect for after-work drinks. Patrons sat on benches along the mirrored walls and at the high-top tables scattered through the dark space. Music bumped and whined in the background to a techno beat. The bar was crowded, but Link waved us over to where he and Hal were stationed.
Link pulled me into his arms, his familiar aftershave washing over me. “I feel like it’s been months since I’ve seen you.” His hands roved to my ass and squeezed.
I jumped and stared up into his eyes. “Are you drunk?”
“Nah.” He pointed to a stack of empty shot glasses on the bar. “Just a little pre-gaming before you ladies arrived.” He glanced over to Veronica. “Nice to see you.”
“Sure.”
“Holy smokes.” Hal grinned. “Who do we have here?” He gave Veronica a once-over.
“Nothing for you.” She slid past Link and whistled to the bartender.
“Spicy, I like it.” Hal slid his credit card to the bartender. “Whatever she wants, man.”
Link leaned down to my neck, his warm lips leaving wet kisses. “Missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” I stood on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear. “Let me talk to Hal for a minute?”
“Right, the plan.” He slid his hands to my waist and dropped a final kiss on my lips. “I need to hit the head,” he announced far more loudly than necessary, then walked toward the back of the bar.
I slid onto the stool next to Hal.
He pried his gaze away from Veronica. “If I’d know you had friends like that, I would have insisted on taking you all for drinks a lot sooner.”
I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment, so I just smiled and nodded. Veronica slid a cocktail in front of me—something in a martini glass with curls of lemon and orange hanging along the sides.
“How are things at Trenton? Did you tell Mint I said hi?” He yanked down his wide tie and undid the button at his thick throat.
“I’m glad you mentioned him. Can I ask you something?” I sipped my drink. It wasn’t bad, just a bit tart.
“Shoot.” He clinked his lowball glass to mine.
I decided to cut to the chase. “Has anything changed over the past few months? Maybe with Mint’s parents?”
He set his glass down before taking a drink, then twisted it in a circle. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” I kept my tone light. “Just anything going on at home.”
“No.” He took a big swallow, then held up his finger to order another.
I leaned closer, though I didn’t enjoy getting in his space. “I was just curious. Mint is a particular favorite of mine, and I want to make sure he’s getting the best education possible at Trenton.”
He smiled, though the look was strained, and shook his head. “No, nothing I know of. Everything’s fine at home.”
“Okay. I was just curious.”
He fumbled his glass. “I mean, his parents are busy. My brother is out of the country a lot. So, Rhonda gets left alone here in the city.” His wide cheeks started to flush, and understanding dawned in my mind. Hal and Mint’s mother must have been having an affair.
He looked away. “Why do you ask? Did he say something?” His fingers tightened around his glass.
“No.” I leaned back. “I’m probably being over-protective. I sometimes go overboard when looking out for students. Sort of an occupational hazard for me.”
“Right.” He seemed to relax. “Yeah, Mint’s fine. Don’t worry about him.”
I sipped my drink. Mint must have found out somehow, which led to his falling grades and bad attitude.
Link reappeared and clapped Hal on the back. “Let’s get another round.”
Hal’s mood lightened, and he drained his glass. “I’m all for it.”
6
Sebastian
Camille turned to speak with the blonde she’d come in with, both of them easily the prettiest pair in the entire bar. The blonde was tall, leggy, and wearing a dress that didn’t leave much to the imagination. I ignored her and focused on the real prize. Camille wore a demure skirt and top, nothing as flashy as her dress at the gala. Even so, the top hugged the curves of her breasts, the narrowing of her waist, and the flare of her hips.
Link ran his hands along her waist, and bloodlust darkened my vision. Why had I come here? When I’d overhead that moron Hal bragging about going for drinks with Link and his girl, I wanted to shake him and demand the information of where Camille would be and when. Instead, all I had to do was wait for him to give all the details about the bar and their plans during his loud boasting. I’d left work early and claimed a seat toward the back of dark bar, which gave me an excellent view.
I catalogued every move she made, from the way she pulled her hair over one shoulder to the slight jut of her hips when she favored her left foot. My need to possess her thrummed along with the steady beat of my heart, but I counseled patience. The trap was set and couldn’t be sprung until the appointed time. So I had to wait. But time couldn’t stop my growing obsession. I gave myself this little morsel of her until I could devour her completely. It would have to be enough.
But it wasn’t. I watched her—a butterfly unaware of my web—as she disentangled herself from Link and made her way toward the restrooms at the back of the bar. She skirted past me, only a few feet away, and her eyes were troubled. I needed to sit still, to meld into the crowd of social drinkers and drunks. Instead, I stood and followed her into the back hallway.
I caught the flutter of her cream blouse as the ladies’ room door closed. Leaning against the wall, I pulled my phone from my pocket and waited. I typed a message to my secretary about my father’s upcoming trip to the Pacific Northwest, but my true attention was focused on the door that separated me from my prize.
The door opened and she stepped out. About to walk past me, she paused.
“Sebastian?”
I glanced up from my phone and smiled. “Hello…” I let the word trail off, as if I was having trouble placing her.
She didn’t miss a beat. “Camille, from the gala.”
“Right.” I shook my head. “Sorry about that. It’s been a long day.”
“No worries.” She stepped closer as a pair of women in short skirts pushed past us and into the restroom. “What brings you here?”
“I was supposed to meet a friend, but he had to cancel at the last minute.” Playing to sympathy had always resulted in positive outcomes. “Since I was already at the bar, I figured I’d have a drink and call it a night.”
“Do you want to sit with us at the bar?”
Yes, I want to keep a hold on you. “No, I couldn’t impose.”
“It’s not imposing, unless you don’t want to socialize with employees or something. Link and Hal are with my friend Veronica and me. I’d understand if that wasn’t your thing.” She shrugged, then squeezed my forearm. “But I’m certain we’d all love to have you.”
Her touch was just what
I needed. The devil inside me roared to life, greedy for more contact from the angel standing in front of me.
“Well.” I drew out the word as if this were a tough decision for me. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips as she stared up at me, doe-eyed and completely unaware of the danger I posed.
“Come on. Let’s get a drink.” She tugged my arm, and I let her pull me toward the bar.
We maneuvered past several people, and I enjoyed the view of Camille turning her hips to slide through the crowd ahead of me. She was like a Christmas gift that needed to be unwrapped and enjoyed. I’d take my time with her when the moment came.
Link saw me first, his mouth turning down at the corners as his eyes deadened. He plastered his fake as hell smile on his face to try and hide it. Unlike Camille, he sensed the threat.
“Sebastian, what are you doing here?” He held his hand out and we shook, his grip telling me that he wanted supremacy. He would never get it. I had an inch and maybe twenty pounds on him, and I would fight dirty.
“Just getting a drink before heading home.”
“He was meeting a friend who ditched.” Camille leaned into Link, and he slid a hand to her waist. Touching my property right in front of me.
“Mr. Lindstrom.” Hal’s meaty palm met mine.
“Hal.”
“Hello there, tall, dark, and handsome.” The blonde spun away from the bar and eyed me like a hungry predator.
“Veronica.” Camille’s sweet voice turned stern. “This is Sebastian, Link and Hal’s boss.”
“What are you drinking?” Veronica held up one finger, and the bartender walked right over.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.” I smiled, feigning interest as Link stared daggers at me. I needed to throw him off, make him think my interest lay elsewhere.
Veronica nodded. “Good choice.”
“I think I’m going to call it a night.” Hal stood and retrieved his credit card from the bartender.
“So soon?” Link clapped him on the back. “We just got here.”
Hal glanced to Camille and signed his tab in a hurry. Interesting. “I’ve got a tennis lesson set first thing tomorrow. I forgot about it.”