by Marie Harte
“And I’m that muscle?” Seb chuckled and stood, going to lean on the desk. Crossing his arms over his wide chest, he looked more amused than anything. Was he going to help her or not?
“I know you can be intimidating and forceful.” Did she ever. Seb in the bedroom was a dominant force of sensuality she’d never gotten over. “Are you on the developer’s side? Are you one of those people that think we’re standing in the way of progress?”
“No, I am not,” he replied smoothly. “I’m not any more fond of those cookie cutter condo developments than most people. However, if he offers a fair price, then who am I to say what should be built?”
“But he’s not,” she protested, “He offered below market.”
“What if I speak with him and he makes a new offer? What if it’s generous? Are you willing to entertain it?” Seb leaned forward, his palms flat on the desk. “I need to know what you really want me to do, Mandy. If you just want me to scare him, that’s fine. If you want me to get a better offer, I can do that too.”
Her entire body stiffened and a bolt of electricity shot through her spine. Seb was the only person in the world that called her Mandy, and she hadn’t heard it from his lips in thirteen years. Hearing it again brought too many memories rushing back and she had to take a few breaths to control the pain taking root in her heart.
“We’d have to sell at a premium to make it worth our while,” Amanda answered stiffly. “We would of course look at any fair offer, but first he needs to promise to stop harassing people.”
“I’ll talk to him then, but it won’t be today.”
Seb straightened from where he was leaning on the desk and she stood as well. She needed to get out of here. As she had feared, seeing Seb hadn’t been a good idea. All it had done was resurrect a past that she’d spent years trying to bury.
She reached into her purse and pulled out a business card. “This is the contact information he gave us. I appreciate your help on this.”
Seb’s fingers briefly brushed her own as he took the card from her hand. The skin tingled and burned where they had touched and Amanda snatched her hand back as if an actual flame had licked at the flesh. Tucking her arm behind her, she tried to compose her features so he wouldn’t see how he affected her all these years later. It was pathetic how she was allowing this to happen.
“I’ll be in touch after I talk to him.”
Seb placed the card on his desk as she backed toward the door. The urge to flee was strong and if she stayed here much longer she was going to do something she would later regret. She checked her watch as if she had a pressing appointment.
“I need to fly. Thank you, Seb.”
Amanda fumbled with her keys and sunglasses, not realizing Seb had moved from his spot behind the desk. Before she was able to strengthen her defenses he was standing right next to her, a smile on his gorgeous face.
“It was good seeing you, Mandy.”
She shoved her sunglasses over her eyes before he could see them bright with tears. “It was good seeing you too, Seb. Take care.”
Somehow she managed to walk out of the office and to her car, the oppressive Florida heat and humidity wrapping around her immediately. Starting the engine, she flicked the air conditioner on high until the cool air was blowing her hair back and drying the sweat that had gathered at the nape of her neck. A stray tear fell down her cheek and she brushed it away with a trembling hand.
She’d already cried too many tears in her life. They didn’t change a thing.
Chapter Three
‡
SEB AND CHRISTIAN sat down at the back of the bar where it was slightly more quiet. They were supposed to meet Lance Poplin, the real estate developer that was hassling Amanda, and Seb wanted to be able to concentrate on the conversation, not on the myriad of televisions that lined the walls. Lance had chosen the location of the meeting, squeezing it in between his other business. Christian was tagging along as they planned to have a few beers when Seb was done with the meeting.
“You don’t have to do this, you know.” Christian nodded his thanks to the waitress as she took their order.
“I do. I promised Mom.” Even to Seb’s own ears it sounded like a lame-ass excuse.
“The fact that this is for Amanda has nothing to do with it?” Christian persisted. “Don’t even try to lie to me.”
“You know how I feel about her.” Seb sure as hell didn’t want to discuss it. Seeing Amanda yesterday after all these years had changed everything. All that he thought was in the past had been resurrected. He’d barely slept last night as thoughts of her haunted him, making sleep impossible.
“What are you going to do about it?”
“I think I forfeited the right to do anything about it when I practically left her at the altar. I can’t imagine she’s forgotten that.” His words came out more bitter than he’d planned.
“She knows why you left, why all three of us left. Hell, we’d just gone through 9-11 and the country was in turmoil.”
The waitress slid two beers in front of them with a smile before bustling to the next table.
“Amanda was twenty years old. So fucking young—not that I was much older at twenty-five. I doubt she really gave a shit about my need to do my patriotic duty and defend our country. All she knows is that I joined the Army and cancelled the wedding.”
“You could have gone through with it. Lots of married men go into combat,” Christian replied, taking a drink of his beer. “You never talked to her about it, did you?”
“I told her that I couldn’t do what I needed to for Uncle Sam and be her husband at the same time. That wasn’t a lie.”
“It just wasn’t the whole truth, either,” Christian shot back. “She’s a grown woman now and I think she can take it.”
Seb didn’t want Amanda to know the truth. He never wanted her to know what a coward he truly was.
“Drop it.” Seb took a long drink of his beer. He loved Christian like a brother but going over and over the past wasn’t going to change a damn thing. Seb had ruined the best thing he’d ever had. He’d long ago realized he wasn’t going to get some magical second chance. Life didn’t work that way.
“For now,” Christian conceded. “Is that your guy?” He jerked his thumb at a medium-height man with dark, slicked-back hair and a slight paunch that was still visible despite his blue business suit. Seb nodded and waved his hand in the air to get the man’s attention. He recognized Lance from the picture on his business card.
Seb and Christian shook hands with Lance as he joined them at the table. Christian signaled to the waitress who came over to get Lance’s order.
“Thanks for meeting with me.” Seb wanted to get this over and done with so he didn’t waste any time. “I’d like to talk to you about a property you’re trying to purchase. The women’s shelter?”
“Ah yes, the shelter. Good piece of land and a solid resale value neighborhood. Plus there are stores nearby and quick access to main roads. The school district is up and coming to boot.” Seb ignored the fifteen-second commercial even as the waitress brought Lance’s iced tea. “Sorry I can’t join you in a beer but I have some clients to meet with after this. Real estate is twenty-four-seven, you know.”
Seb cleared this throat and leaned forward. “I’m speaking with you today purely off the record. Professional to professional, if you will.”
The man grinned and nodded. “Man to man, eh? I can appreciate that. It’s just as well to keep the girls out of this. I’ve found females to be way too emotional during negotiations. Ms. Rosemont seems to have a certain attachment to that house that could blind her to the benefits of selling.”
What a misogynistic jerk. No wonder Amanda didn’t want to deal with him. He needed to be taken down a peg or two.
Ignoring Lance’s opinion of females in general, Seb continued. “Negotiations are one thing, but harassment is something else. I won’t tolerate you showing up at the house unannounced and uninvited. If you have somet
hing to say, then you say it to me.”
He kept his tone calm but firm and Lance’s friendly visage seemed to disappear within seconds. Seb had obviously hit a nerve. Amanda hadn’t been exaggerating.
Lance patted his mouth with a paper napkin before he spoke. “I take it that you are now representing Ms. Rosemont?”
“We are representing Ms. Rosemont,” Christian interjected. “And unless you have a better offer than below market, there really isn’t anything left to say.”
Lance’s face went red and he slammed down the napkin. “That was a fair offer. That woman has an inflated sense of what the market will bear.”
“It was a lousy offer,” Seb said flatly. “I checked with a few real estate people I know and they showed me the comps. You low-balled the offer and you know it. My colleague is correct. Unless you have a better offer we don’t have anything else to discuss.”
Lance stood and dug angrily into his pocket but Seb shook his head. “Your tea is on us.”
“Fine.” The man balled up the napkin and tossed it on the table. “It’s a good offer and your client should take it.”
“Let me know if you have a better one.” This time Seb stood and held out his business card, wanting to make sure his point was driven home. “Until then this discussion is over.”
“Gladly,” Lance huffed before shoving Seb’s card in his pocket and striding out of the bar. Seb sat back down and took a drink from his beer as Christian eyed him from over the rim of his glass.
“I didn’t realize you had done that much research regarding the property values. Very well done.”
Seb chuckled and signaled for the waitress. “I didn’t do shit, actually. But I can see this guy is slimy. He gives honest real estate developers a bad name. I took a shot and it paid off. Besides, Amanda has never been one for drama. If she says he’s been harassing people and he offered less than market, then he did. Period.”
“Maybe she’s changed?” Christian countered. “People do, you know.”
“Not about this.” Seb shook his head, knowing who she was deep down was still the same. The waitress came up to their table and Seb ordered a platter of wings and another round of beers.
“Then maybe how she feels about you hasn’t changed either.”
Seb didn’t even bother to respond and he was pretty sure Christian didn’t expect one. There was no point going around and around about Amanda. The only thing he could do was live in the present and try not to think too much about his empty future.
Chapter Four
‡
“I CAN’T BELIEVE I let you talk me into this.” Amanda’s fingers tightened nervously on the delicate crystal flute as she sipped the bubbling champagne. “I could run into him here.”
“Here” was a lavish party being thrown by the Welchel family in their rambling beachside mansion. Rich fabrics, marble floors, and an intricate chandelier highlighted a decor that screamed conspicuous consumption.
They had obviously spared no expense in either food, booze, or decorations. The large ballroom that spilled onto a balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico sparkled with beautiful people bedecked in satin, silk, and diamonds. While the home was lovely, Amanda preferred the view from the terrace where she could listen to the waves and smell the salt air.
“You’re not going to run into Emmett. Didn’t you say he’s living in New York?” Darby Spellman asked. Darby was one of Amanda’s best friends from way back. With golden brown hair and dark blue eyes, he was handsome, smart, charming. Amanda loved Darby like a brother, not a lover though. They’d kissed once when they were both thirteen and realized they were destined to be friends only. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t drag her out of the house on occasion to play his date for the evening and tonight was one of those nights.
“Emmett is living in New York. In a Fifth Avenue apartment my trust fund paid for. But he does come back to visit his family and he’s very close to the Welchels. I can imagine him flying in for the party. The last thing I want is to see him. He was livid last time I talked to him.”
Emmett Bardner was a sometime financier and full-time asshole. He was also her ex-husband—emphasis on the “ex”. She’d been young and on the rebound when she’d met him. He’d been handsome, smooth, and a great actor. After they’d married, he’d laid it on the line that he wasn’t planning on working for a living. He’d already burned through his own inheritance so he started in on hers. Five years later she’d divorced him. He had been an expensive mistake, but she did learn.
Darby chuckled, clearly delighted at the thought of Emmett being angry. They’d never got along, taking an instant dislike to one another that had placed Amanda firmly in the middle. But then Darby wasn’t a man that made male friends easily, preferring the spotlight for himself.
“That’s what happens when he makes a grab for more of your family’s money and gets his hand slapped. He must be desperate.”
Amanda didn’t want to think about Emmett. “I doubt it. He remarried money and his parents still fund him as well from time to time. No, he simply wants to make life difficult for me. I had the nerve to divorce him and he’s never going to let me live in peace.”
“He’s just a nasty piece of work,” Darby declared. “You’re well rid of him. When I think about how you were when you came back from London–”
“Let’s not talk about it,” she interrupted, placing her fingers over Darby’s lips and shaking her head. Bad memories. “It’s in the past. Let it lie there.”
“It’s not in the past apparently. You let it interfere with your life now.”
“I’m not going to discuss this with you, Darby.” Amanda sipped at the golden liquid and looked out over the crowded room. “I don’t know who did the event but they did a very nice job.”
Darby laughed and grabbed another glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “Says the girl who runs her own party planning business. Are you mad that they didn’t ask you to do it?”
“I don’t think most people take my ‘little business’ as my parents call it very seriously. They think I’m bored,” Amanda sighed.
“Only boring people are bored,” Darby declared outrageously. “And baby, you are not boring. Maddening, yes. Stubborn, yes. Boring, no.”
“Pot calling the kettle black.”
The orchestra struck up a new song and Darby tugged at her hand. “Let’s dance, you wild woman. I long to feel you in my arms.”
“Liar. You long to feel that cute waitress in your arms.”
“True, but right now I’m with you.”
Laughing at his natural exuberance, she let Darby set their glasses on a table and then lead her out onto the dance floor. Full of natural rhythm, he moved to the music easily and Amanda found to her surprise that she was having fun. She hadn’t wanted to come tonight, her mind and body exhausted from not sleeping. Since seeing Seb a few days ago, every time she closed her eyes she was tortured with visions of the past. It made for a long, lonely night.
“You can talk to me, sweets. You know that, right?”
Darby’s puppy dog eyes were looking down on her, full of sympathy. She shook her head, knowing what he was talking about. He knew she’d met with Seb.
“There’s nothing to talk about. I saw him and I’m fine. End of story.”
“Are you sure?” Darby’s expression was one clearly of disbelief.
“I’m sure.” Maybe if she kept saying it she’d actually start believing it. “Everything is okay. Nothing happened.”
“That’s good, sweets, because Sebastian is here and heading right for us.”
Darby had somehow navigated them to the edge of the dance floor and she could clearly see Seb striding toward them. His blond good looks were striking against his all black tuxedo right down to the shirt and tie. Her heart thumped in her chest and her stomach did somersaults in her abdomen as he moved closer. By the time he tapped Darby on the shoulder, she was a mess inside and praying it didn’t show.
“May
I cut in?”
That voice. It never ceased to stir her arousal. She remembered as if it was yesterday how he would take command of her body with only a few words. It hadn’t mattered what he said, really—it had been the timbre so deep and dark.
“Of course.” Darby stepped back with a wink and a smile and Seb took his place, his fingers tangling with hers and his palm at the base of her spine. “I’ll find you later, sweets.”
Her knees had turned to jelly at his touch and she had to concentrate so she wouldn’t step on his toes. They didn’t speak but she could smell his aftershave and feel the heat from his body. A deep longing swept over her, almost painful in its strength. This wasn’t fair or right. She had moved on, dammit. She had buried the past and now he was digging up the graveyard.
She couldn’t let this happen.
As the last notes of the song were played, she tried to pull away but his arm didn’t budge from where it was wrapped around her waist. She looked up into his brown eyes and the all too familiar passion was still there. She’d recognize that expression anywhere and it shook her to her very core. Nothing had changed. At least physically. She wanted him and he wanted her.
“I need to find Darby.” Her voice sounded strange to her own ears.
“Not yet,” he cajoled with a charming smile. “One more dance.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Are you afraid?” he asked lightly. “I don’t bite.”
“You do bite, and I am afraid.”
*
SEB DIDN’T WANT her to be afraid of him.
“I don’t bite much,” he replied finally. “Let’s dance.”
He’d walked into the party tonight reluctantly, wanting to be anywhere but here. He’d had a long day at the office, and a pizza and some television had sounded better than putting on a tux and pretending to be having fun. But as he’d scanned the crowd his gaze had immediately zeroed in on Amanda. She’d stand out anywhere but tonight she practically shimmered under the soft lights.
