“I’m a chef. Food is life. I’m always eating.” It wasn’t a pretty statement. Or the kind of thing most women would say to a man on a date, but it was true. To drive the point home, she tore off a piece of the focaccia bread the waiter had put on the table and dipped it in oil and herbs. “And I’m not scared of bread,” she added before taking a bite.
“I like it.” He took a piece of bread for himself. “So how do you stay so slender if you aren’t pathologically afraid of carbs?”
She hardly thought of herself as slender, but she would accept the compliment. “Stress, for one thing. I’m on my feet for hours in the trucks. When the trucks aren’t open, I’m shopping, prepping, catching up the books and inventories. My pedometer tops twenty thousand steps most days. I also have an elliptical I try to get on regularly to get my heart rate up and burn off the day’s overindulgences.” She raised up the glass of red wine she’d chosen. “Like this. After all this Italian food, I will have to do an hour when I get home or in the morning for sure.”
“I sit at a desk all day,” he admitted. “Or I did practically from college graduation until now. Now I just sit around the house at a loss of what to do with myself. I used to swim, but the pool was taken with the family home. I play golf or tennis from time to time, but it’s not enough to really count. Thankfully, a good metabolism seems to run in my family. We’re all fairly slim.”
“Lucky. I have to work at it, but it helps that I’m also incredibly picky when it comes to food. I’ll eat almost every fruit, vegetable, grain and meat known to man, but if I don’t care for the way it was prepared, I’ll spit it out and waste the calories on something better. Processed, canned boxed junk usually isn’t worth it to me. I grew up on that stuff and now I can’t stand it. But give me a beautiful slice of imported cheese, some crusty artisan bread, some ripe fruit and good wine, and I’ll eat every last crumb without fail.”
Sebastian smiled another wide, genuine smile. She was getting used to seeing those out of the more-relaxed version of him. “I like it. You cook and you eat. You’re beautiful. Smart. Sexy.” He reached out for her hand and ran his thumb over the back of it before bringing it to his lips. He pressed his mouth to her skin, his gaze never leaving hers. “And you’re dating me.” He seemed surprised somehow by that fact.
Lauren’s mouth fell open and she nearly groaned aloud at the feel of his lips against her skin. She managed a nervous laugh and pulled her hand away while she still had the willpower to do it. “I-I don’t get it,” she stuttered. “You flatter me while piling on yourself. Why wouldn’t I be interested in you?”
He sighed and sat back to take a large sip of his wine. “This isn’t exactly the greatest year of my life. Things are different now, but there was a time where I was downright arrogant. Cocky, even. Women were lucky to catch my eye and more than once I’ve had women fight over me. The Wingate boys have always been a hot commodity in Royal.”
“You have a brother?” she asked.
Sebastian seemed to stiffen in his seat for some reason. “Yes,” he said. “I have a younger brother, Miles. He’s off the market now, however. He’s lucky to have found Chloe. Now he doesn’t have to look at a woman and see that look in their eyes.”
Lauren flinched. “What look is that?”
“Like I’m tainted somehow. I don’t know how closely you’ve followed what’s going on with my family, but it’s not good. I’ve gone from the CF—I mean CEO of my family business and living on a huge estate to losing everything. My job, the company, our family home... It’s all gone. I’m not sure we’ll ever fully recover. At this point, I’m going to be lucky not to end up in an orange jumpsuit.”
She hadn’t realized their situation was as dire as all that. No wonder he was so serious and uptight when she showed up at his door. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to trust anyone if she were in a mess like that. “Prison? Wow. That is serious stuff. I’ve heard a little bit, but I haven’t paid much attention to it all. I’m usually too busy to focus on town gossip.”
His jaw tightened as he nodded. “Are you going to look at me that way, now?”
There was the slightest flicker of vulnerability in his green eyes as he asked the question. Everyone must have turned their backs on Sebastian and his family. It made her heart ache to think of that. But she understood how it felt. She’d never been truly accepted by the elites in this town. Most of them ignored her and the ones that didn’t were downright cruel. She only fit in when she was wearing a mask. Her dreams of having a successful, high-end restaurant in Royal were just that. Dreams. Unless she could find a way to make them love her food enough to overlook her lack of social pedigree.
She was a great chef, but she wasn’t a miracle worker.
Lauren looked him straight in the eye. She was known for being brutally honest, although it usually involved food critiques. She wouldn’t lie to boost his ego, but he would have to be honest with her, too. “Are you guilty of anything you and your family are being accused of?”
“No,” he said sharply, and his spine straightened defiantly as he spoke. Every inch of his body suddenly seemed to tighten with the audacity of the allegations. “Someone has gone out of their way to ruin us all and I don’t know why.”
“I believe you,” she said softly. And she did. She didn’t know much about Sebastian, but she trusted the man sitting across the table from her. Maybe she shouldn’t, she had a bad habit of being too naïve when it came to men, but she did. “Then no, I won’t look at you like you’re tainted. As long as you give me the same courtesy.”
“Of course. Why would I look at you that way?” He seemed genuinely surprised by her stipulation.
Apparently the tale of the infamous school dance at the club hadn’t reached him. He was older and perhaps hadn’t heard about Dunk Tank, or at least didn’t realize Lauren was one and the same. He didn’t see her as an outcast or an interloper into his world. She was grateful for that. He was one of the few that saw her just as she was.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the waiter coming with the arancini and squash blossoms. The perfect way to end the current line of conversation.
“No reason,” she said with a dismissive smile. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Seven
Sutton had never been so elated to read a piece of paper in his whole life. He supposed he could only be more relieved to read the charges against his family were dropped. But since that wasn’t likely to happen, he would be happy enough with this.
Lauren Roberts’s background check came back sparkly clean. Miles had gone above and beyond researching her and hadn’t come up with anything questionable. She had no contacts with their company or competitors. Nor had she received any large payments from a mysterious source. Which proved she wasn’t a spy or out to ruin his family, best anyone could tell.
It was a huge weight off his shoulders. He liked Lauren. A lot. He’d been enthralled by his mystery lover, but surprisingly enough, getting to know the woman behind the mask was just as exciting. If this background check had held adverse information about her, he would’ve been extremely disappointed.
But now that he knew for certain, he was faced with an ugly truth. He was the only liar in this relationship. Sebastian’s suspicions were based on a lack of chemistry, but that hadn’t been a problem for Sutton because Lauren was his masked lover. Sebastian’s girl was still out there somewhere, so they had no real reason for switching places on Lauren.
It was time to come clean. And he would do it at dinner tonight. Not only because he had to, but because he wanted to. He told himself he couldn’t seduce her while she thought he was Sebastian. But he wanted her. Badly. And the only way he could have her was to explain who he really was. And then, if she didn’t hate him when he was done, maybe they could take their relationship to the next level.
It was a risky prospect, but he didn’t have a choice if he wanted to
see Lauren again. Simple as that.
Sutton made reservations that night at The Glass House. He knew Sebastian had already taken her there, but he was limited on options in Royal. Unless they wanted to go to the Silver Saddle Bar or the Royal Diner on Main Street, it was The Glass House or eating at the club. Lauren really should open a place here in town. Royal needed another great dining option and she was the perfect person to do it. If he wasn’t in such a pinch, he’d bankroll it himself.
But considering all he really had left to his name was his white Audi R8 Coupe, he’d have to wait until all the crap with Wingate Industries blew over.
Tonight, he dressed like Sutton, not his brother. He chose his favorite gray suit and a navy silk shirt. No tie. He hated wearing ties. Then he fixed his hair in the messier style he preferred and wore his cologne of choice. It was a relief to finally step out the door as himself. Being his brother was frustrating and frankly—a little boring.
When he pulled up in front of Lauren’s house, he watched her step outside with a wrinkle of confusion between her brows. He got out and opened the door for her to get inside.
“What happened to the BMW?” she asked. Then she turned to look at him. “And what happened to you?”
Sutton grinned. “I decided to let it all hang out tonight,” he said. “I’ll explain more at the restaurant.”
She looked at him curiously, but got into the car without any more questions. “I’m surprised you suggested we go back to The Glass House,” she remarked as they drove toward the Bellamy Hotel. “But then I noticed their seasonal menu has completely changed and I didn’t mind so much. They’ve added a few amazing new dishes.”
Lauren continued speaking with enthusiasm about the food and what she was going to order tonight. While Sutton appreciated the excitement that emanated from her when she talked about her passion for food, he barely heard a word she had to say. All he heard, all he could think about, were the worries in his own head. How would he tell her? When should he do it? Right away? Maybe wait until dessert? Was he only delaying the inevitable demise of this relationship?
Probably. But every moment he got to spend with Lauren was a gift. And she looked especially lovely tonight. She was wearing a sexy little black dress that clung to her delicious curves and showcased her shapely legs. It was like a sucker punch to the gut the moment she opened the door. And if she’d worn it alone, they might never have made it to the restaurant. But it was a cooler night, so he waited as she put on a demure cream sweater with shiny pearl buttons. It covered a lot of skin, but also drew his attention to her exposed collarbones, long neck and bare earlobes. He immediately wished he could buy her a strand of pearls and matching earrings to wear with that outfit. The old Sutton wouldn’t have thought twice about making that purchase. He might even take a detour on the way to the restaurant to buy it on the spot at the local jewelry store.
But this Sutton just pasted on a smile, swallowed his irritation and walked her to his car. The situation with his family wouldn’t last forever. And when they were vindicated and things went back to normal, he would buy her that necklace. Even if she wasn’t speaking to him any longer.
“Sebastian?” Lauren asked after they’d been driving for a few minutes.
He snapped out of his thoughts, realizing that for now, he was still answering to his brother’s name. “What?” he asked.
“I asked you what you thought about the red snapper.”
“Fish isn’t my favorite,” he said.
“Didn’t you get the grouper when we went there last time?”
Damn it. This charade needed to be over so he could stop worrying about every word that came out of his mouth. “I did. Grouper is fine. I just meant red snapper. I’ve always thought it smelled too fishy to me,” he said, hoping that would patch his mistake for now.
“It’s actually a very mild fish, a little nutty and almost sweet. You should try it.”
“Maybe,” he said, dismissing the conversation as they pulled into the hotel parking lot. Sutton opted to valet the car, tipping extra to keep it close. He didn’t need the valets going on a joyride in his baby. And once he told the truth, the date could end sooner than he expected. Might as well keep it on hand, just in case.
Once they were settled into the restaurant, food ordered and wine in hand, he decided it was time. He couldn’t put this off anymore.
“Lauren, I need to talk to you about something.”
Her eyes widened slightly as she set down her wineglass. “What is it?”
This was it. He just had to say the words out loud the way he’d practiced them in his head. “I told you the other night about how volatile the situation is with my family right now. Lately, we’re not sure who we can really trust.”
“That’s reasonable,” she murmured.
She was being too understanding. Normally that would help, but now it just made him feel worse about lying to her. He held up his hand before she said anything else that would make this harder. “When you came to the house that first day, it was because you thought you’d had a one-night stand with Sebastian Wingate. But you didn’t.”
Her gaze narrowed at him. “I don’t understand.”
“You saw the photo in the paper and assumed you’d been with Sebastian because of the mask. But there were two men at the party that night with the same mask. I was the other man.”
She searched his face as though she were looking for the answers she needed, shaking her head. “What are you talking about? You are Sebastian Wingate.”
Sutton took a deep breath. “I’m not. I’m his identical twin brother, Sutton. You’ve been going out with me while I pretended to be Sebastian, since I visited you at the food truck.”
Her jaw dropped. He could almost see her running through the last week, thinking about all the signs she’d missed. Dread pooled in his gut, and he gave her a moment to process it all before he dared to say anything else.
“So, you’re just like the others,” she spat after the long silence.
That stopped him short. That wasn’t what he expected her to say at all. “What others?” What was she talking about?
“All you rich snobs in Royal are the same. Do you just sit around your clubhouse, celebrating how much money you have and thinking of amusing ways to mess with people that don’t fit in? Do you enjoy making them feel like you accept them into your little clique, then pull the rug out from under them just for fun?”
Where was this coming from? “No, Lauren.” He reached across the table to take her hand. “Of course not. It isn’t like that at all. We just weren’t certain we could trust you.”
“Trust me?” she said with her voice hovering on the edge of hysteria. Her face had flushed red with anger and her eyes were glassy with unshed tears as she untangled her hand from his fingers. “You’re the untrustworthy one, Sam. Steve. Whatever the hell you said your name is.”
“Sutton,” he repeated. “Please don’t be upset. I can explain everything.”
“I—” she hesitated “—I have to go.” She pushed up from the table and tossed her napkin into her seat.
“At least let me take you home,” he insisted. This hadn’t gone the way he had hoped, but even if she never wanted to see him again, he still wanted to take her home. That was the least he could do.
“No, thank you. I’ll call an Uber.”
“Lauren, please.” He reached out for her arm as she turned to leave.
“Don’t touch me,” she hissed with a fiery gaze. The tears were gone now, replaced with pure anger and betrayal. He’d never seen a look like that on her face and he never wanted to see it again. She jerked her arm from his grasp and spun to make for the exit.
Every eye in the restaurant was now on the two of them, so as much as he wanted to chase her out of the restaurant, he held up his hands in surrender and let her go. Instead, he could only watch as Laur
en slipped through the tables to the door and disappeared into the Bellamy lobby.
He’d screwed up. Bad.
* * *
“What’s wrong with you today?”
Lauren sighed, but didn’t turn to face Amy. She’d been avoiding having this discussion with her all day, but now they were cleaning up at the end of the night and without any customers to distract them, Amy always got chattier. “Nothing is wrong. I’m just tired.”
“I’ve seen you tired. This isn’t tired. Did something happen with Sebastian?”
You could say that. And yet, not exactly. Nothing much had happened with Sebastian. But everything had happened with Sutton, who she hadn’t even known existed until last night.
Identical twins. Really? When had her life become so melodramatic?
“Hey look, it’s Gracie.” Amy opened the window to the food truck and shouted out the window. “Gracie!”
Lauren turned to see Gracie Diaz walking down the sidewalk past the truck. But she didn’t stop when Amy called out to her. That was odd. She opened the back of the truck to intercept her. “Gracie?”
She stopped short, looking at Lauren as though she wanted to escape instead of chat. “Um, hi, Lauren. I’ve got to go.” She turned to start back down the sidewalk.
“Are you okay? Is something wrong?” Normally even if she wasn’t hungry, she would pop in to say hello. They hadn’t seen her in days, now. It wasn’t like her at all.
Gracie hesitated a moment and then returned to the truck where Lauren was waiting. “I’m fine,” she said. “How are things going with you and Sebastian?” Her tone was unusually cold when she said it.
That wasn’t the question she was expecting. Aside from Amy, she hadn’t spoken to anyone about Sebastian. Or Sutton, either. “How did you know about Sebastian and me?”
Billionaire Behind the Mask Page 8
