by Cynthia Eden
When he burst out of the building, the limo was at the curb. The driver jumped to attention. “You’re…done early?”
“Get me to the Langley Theater.”
The guy rushed to open the door for Sebastian.
“I’ve got it.” Sebastian yanked open the door himself. “If you can get me there in ten minutes, there’ll be a big bonus waiting for you.”
Moments later, the limo screeched away from the curb. Sebastian pulled out his phone. Stared at the text one more time.
Cover blown.
Oh, shit. This was bad. Very, very bad. He fired a quick text back to Antony. Are you safe?
He waited for a response. Waited…
But during the ten minutes it took to cut across Asheville, North Carolina, no response came.
Dammit. But at least he’d deliberately used some of Antony’s own words from the text in the announcement to the press. Even if Antony had needed to ditch his phone and go dark, Sebastian’s announcement would be broadcast everywhere. Antony would see it and pick up on the deliberate language. He’d know that Sebastian had received his message.
He would also know…
Don’t worry about Alyssa. I’ve got her.
***
The date had been a serious mistake. Oh, so bad. Dinner at the restaurant had been a long, painful affair. Turned out, Isaac Swain was way more interested in Alyssa’s brother than he was in her. Because during the whole long, boring dinner? The dinner that never seemed to end? The guy had been spouting question after question about Antony.
It was downright insulting.
Alyssa’s shoulders hunched as they sat in the company’s theater box. At least the show would start soon. Then Isaac could stop talking her ear off about—
“Your brother is a genius.”
“Um.” She forced a smile. Like she hadn’t heard that line about a time or twenty from people who were awed by what her brother had accomplished. She was awed, too. Alyssa thought her brother was awesome, but she didn’t want to talk about him on her date.
“I mean, the way he developed the company from the ground up. Turned into a major player in the industry…”
She tuned him out. Why, oh, why had she thought going on a date with one of the Shark Gaming and Design employees was a good idea? Sure, okay, yes, Isaac was attractive. A transfer from California, he had the whole blond-hair, beach-boy thing going on. Bright blue eyes. Perfectly straight and white teeth. And his body screamed, I like to work out! So, yes, okay, fine, maybe she’d agreed to go out with him because he was attractive. Sue her. She’d met him in her brother’s office last week when she’d dropped by and—
“He did it all single-handedly, and that is something that most people can’t—”
She stiffened, and her attention flew back to Isaac. “That’s not correct.”
He blinked. His brows—perfectly shaped—Did he pluck them? Wax them?—lifted. “I think I know what I’m talking about.”
Now she straightened in the chair. Her voice flattened as Alyssa responded, “I think I know my brother’s business.”
“Yes, well, you don’t actually work there, though.” He waved one hand vaguely toward her. “You play with your jewelry design.”
Oh, the hell, no. He’d just said she played? Her back teeth clenched. “My brother didn’t create his company alone,” Alyssa gritted out. “He has a partner, one you know very well about.”
Isaac laughed. She didn’t like his laugh. It was high pitched and nasally, and it totally ruined the whole beach boy look. “Please.” Isaac shook his head. “You’re talking about Sebastian.”
“I’m obviously talking about Sebastian Ridgeway. As an employee of the company, you should know who you work for.”
He blinked. “The so-called ‘bad boy of tech’ didn’t build the company. He’s just the flash. Everyone knows your brother is the real talent.”
She could feel her cheeks burning. “Sebastian hates that nickname. If he hears you calling him that, he’ll fire you on the spot.”
Isaac licked his lips. “Well, good thing he’s not here, huh?”
She almost wished he was.
Wait. Do I think that being with Sebastian is better than being with Isaac?
“Where is your brother now, Alyssa? I bet he’s off researching a new design. I wish I could see how he comes up with his ideas. I would love to know—”
“You should date him.”
Isaac blinked.
Whoops. Had she said that last part out loud?
Isaac’s perplexed expression told her that, yep, she had.
“Excuse me?” He laughed again.
“You know, Isaac, I think I’m getting a headache.” Alyssa glanced around, looking for an escape. She needed one desperately because the idea of spending more time trapped with Isaac was enough to make her shudder. She causally slid the small strap of her purse onto her shoulder. The better to make a fast getaway.
“Did I tell you that I moved from California just because I wanted to work for Shark Gaming and Design? I wanted to be just like—”
“Antony?” she finished.
He nodded eagerly and his hand reached for hers. He had a very sweaty hand. “Exactly. I wanted—”
Please, someone save me.
But, of course, no one was there. They were alone in the company’s theater box. She’d foolishly offered up the box when he’d asked what she’d like to do on their date. Oh, if only she could go back in time and—
The curtains behind Isaac’s head flew open.
“I wanted to be like Antony, not like Sebastian. Because come on, who wants to be like that selfish prick?” Isaac laughed his nasally laugh again. “Guy is some kind of Bruce Wayne wanna-be. Trolling around town in his limo. Freaking playboy. What do you think? Does he have a bat cave hidden somewhere?”
OhmyGod.
Sebastian was there. He’d just shoved open the curtains. She blinked, wanting to make sure she wasn’t imagining things, but no…still there.
Sebastian had obviously caught Isaac’s comments because one eyebrow lifted up. And he smiled.
It was a killer smile. The kind of smile that a great white shark probably would give to his prey right before his teeth opened up, and he took a big, juicy bite.
“The selfish prick is right behind you,” Alyssa whispered.
Isaac seemed to choke. His hold tightened on her hand.
“I’m going to need you to let go of me,” Alyssa told him.
He didn’t. His fingers did move to curl around her wrist.
But his head swung around toward Sebastian and he sputtered, “I-I—”
Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest. “I know you.”
“I—yes.”
“You work for me.”
Isaac still had his fingers wrapped around her wrist. Was she gonna have to pry them off? Sighing, Alyssa stood up.
Isaac rose, too, but didn’t let go of her. “I…do,” he agreed. “That is, I work for you and Antony. I’m in Research and Development—”
Sebastian stalked forward. “Alyssa, we’re leaving.”
Any other day—literally, any other day—she would have told Sebastian to go screw himself. She never took orders from him. Not from him, not from any man. But today—this poor, unfortunate day—she almost jumped for joy. “Right. I’m ready.” She almost added…Why the hell are you late? But she managed to hold that part back because he’d have zero clue what she meant.
Sebastian blinked at her. Then frowned in suspicion. Probably because she never, ever agreed with him on anything. Fighting with him was one of her favorite hobbies, and everyone needed a really good hobby. Driving Sebastian crazy was her hobby.
She stepped toward him. Realized that Isaac was still touching her. Enough. She jerked her wrist free of his fingers.
Sebastian’s gaze fell to her wrist. “Did he fucking bruise you?”
She looked down. There were faint red marks on her wrist.
“You
sonofabitch!” Sebastian grabbed for Isaac.
Alyssa stepped between the two men. “No.”
Sebastian’s glittering green gaze could have scorched anyone else.
She met his stare without flinching. “He didn’t bruise me. He just wouldn’t let go, so I yanked my hand free. That’s all.”
“Right. That’s all. That’s too fucking much. He shouldn’t have been touching you.” A muscle flexed along Sebastian’s jaw. “Why the hell are you dating this idiot?”
“Hey, now! Hey!” Isaac stepped around her. Moved closer to Sebastian and puffed up his chest. “Listen, Mr. Ridgeway—”
“Oh, now I’m Mr. Ridgeway?” Sebastian reached for Alyssa’s hand. His fingers trailed carefully over her wrist, as if he wanted to soothe the skin. “Because a moment ago, I’m sure I was a selfish prick. Or maybe I was Batman.”
“I think it was a selfish prick and Bruce Wayne,” Alyssa clarified.
Sebastian flashed her a smile.
Isaac’s mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
He didn’t quite manage speech, though.
Alyssa bit her lower lip as her gaze darted over Sebastian. Tall, sexy Sebastian. The devil in the flesh. “I thought…wait, weren’t you supposed to be doing your big presentation tonight?”
“Something else came up.”
Something else…? She cast a glance at Isaac. He’d closed his mouth again. She wanted to push Sebastian and find out what was happening, but she also didn’t exactly want to have this conversation with Isaac watching. Time to leave. “Good night, Isaac.”
Sebastian turned away. His fingers were still caressing her wrist, and, as always when he touched her, a surge of warmth spread over her skin. She started to follow him—
“It’s like that, huh?” Isaac demanded. “I heard the rumors, but I ignored them.”
She dug in her heels. Turned her head around and locked her eyes on Isaac. “Excuse me?” Ice dripped from her voice.
“I was warned that I shouldn’t go out with you.”
Whoa. Whoa. Isaac had been told not to go out with her? Why the hell didn’t someone tell me not to go out with him?
“I was told that your…interest…was somewhere else.” Isaac’s eyes darted to Sebastian.
And this is not happening. “You were misinformed.”
“Was I?” Isaac puffed out his chest. He seemed to do that a lot. It didn’t make him look strong. It made him resemble a rooster. “You were just defending him to me!”
Yes, she had been defending Sebastian. “So what?”
“Now you’re running away with him! Stories have circulated around the office about—”
“Okay, I don’t have time for this shit.” Sebastian had turned back around, too. “Let’s cut to the chase. You think I’m screwing Alyssa? That what you’re talking about?”
Isaac’s mouth opened. Closed. Opened.
Did he know that he looked like a fish when he did that?
A big shark is gonna eat that little fish.
And the big shark gave his killer grin before he said, “You’re right. I am screwing her. Guilty as charged.”
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
But Sebastian wasn’t done. “I’m overcome with jealousy at the thought of her being with such a dumbass like you, so I stormed in here tonight. I’m going to carry her out, and I will never, ever let her out of my sight again. I’ll spend the next eight to ten hours making wild, passionate love to her, and I’ll make sure Alyssa screams my name until she’s hoarse.”
Oh, dear Lord.
Sebastian’s voice had been loud. So loud that the people in the next box had turned to gape at him.
Alyssa shook her head. “That’s not—”
Sebastian stepped closer to Isaac. “And if you ever fucking leave a mark on her again, I will end you. Are we clear?”
There were lots of whispers around them. She was pretty sure someone was even filming with a phone. Because, of course, Sebastian had been recognized.
Everyone else was all fancy for the theater. Isaac was in a suit and tie. She was in her favorite slinky black dress and her red heels because she did love a splash of color, while Sebastian—he looked all rough and dangerous and sexy, dammit—in his jeans and t-shirt.
“I-I didn’t mean to hurt Alyssa. That was never my intention.” Isaac wilted immediately. No more puffed-up rooster chest. “My apologies.”
“Good job,” Sebastian praised. “You get to keep living.”
“Stop it,” she snapped at Sebastian. What was his deal? He was even more out of control than usual. And that was saying a lot. So much for actually being relieved to see him. She tugged her hand free of his hold.
He immediately let her go.
“I am going home. Alone, gentlemen.” She sniffed. As if they were gentlemen. Not likely. “I’d love to say it’s been a fun night, but it hasn’t. Isaac, I don’t think we’re meant to be.”
His brow furrowed.
“And Sebastian…” Her gaze dipped back to him.
He smiled at her. Flashed his sexy dimples.
She ignored the way her stomach dropped. She’d learned—long ago—to ignore her reaction to him. “I’ll just skip out on the screaming orgasm tonight, but thanks so much for the offer. Instead, I think I’ll go binge watch something.” With that, she skirted around him, left the box, and headed for the stairs.
She did not need this level of drama in her life. Alyssa kept her spine straight and her chin up as she exited with what she thought was pretty good composure. Sure, her cheeks were no doubt flushed bright red, and her breathing was way too fast—
I’ll spend the next eight to ten hours making wild, passionate love to her, and I’ll make sure Alyssa screams my name until she’s hoarse.
She swallowed. Her knees did a jiggle.
Great. Now she was going to have Sebastian’s words replaying in her head all night long.
***
Sexy as hell.
Sebastian watched as Alyssa walked away with the grace that he’d always admired. The dress slid over his favorite ass ever, and then his gaze darted down the long expanse of her legs to—
Dammit. She’d worn her red heels? For this bozo?
“Am I fired?” Isaac’s voice cracked.
“I don’t have time for you right now.” Alyssa was pissed. He’d have to smooth that over, fast. He bounded after her.
“Are you mad because I called you a selfish prick?”
Sebastian spared a glance over his shoulder. “I am a selfish prick, but, no, dumbass, you don’t get to say those things about your boss.”
“I—”
“I’m mad because you will not fucking touch Alyssa again, understand? Don’t come within ten feet of her.”
“Oh.” A nod. “So you are screwing her—”
“No, I’m not,” he snarled. It’s just a super, super frequent fantasy.
“But you said—”
Alyssa was gone. Shit. “I don’t have time for you now.” He rushed after her. As soon as he shot out of the theater box, Sebastian looked to the left, toward the stairwell.
He saw the top of her dark head as she hurried down the stairs. “Alyssa!”
She didn’t stop. He was pretty sure she sped up.
If she fell on those stairs…hurrying in her heels…
He wasn’t going to chase her down the stairs. That would make her hurry all the more. So he raced into the open elevator and stabbed the button for the first floor. The doors slid closed, and for a moment, he stared at his own reflection.
Selfish prick.
Guilty as charged. But he did have one or two soft spots in the world…
Okay, maybe one…
The doors opened. He saw his soft spot. He surged out and stepped right into her path. Alyssa staggered to a sudden stop, and her hands flew out to curl around his shoulders. A quick, startled cry escaped her lips.
“I got you.” His fingers closed around her hips.
She huff
ed out a breath. “Why do you have me?”
“Because you were wobbling on those way too high heels.” The sexy heels that she’d wasted on that jerkoff.
Her eyes narrowed.
If looks could kill.
His hold tightened on her. “I was worried you might fall.”
“Hands. Off.”
“Yours or mine? Because I hate to tell you your business—”
“Since when?”
Damn but her eyes were gorgeous. When she was angry, the flecks of gold in her eyes went molten. He wondered if they did the same thing when she was turned on.
“You are always telling me my business! You are always up in my business! Just like you are tonight!”
Her lips were red and slick and that full lower lip of hers made him want to take a bite. Nope. Focus. “This might shock you, princess, but you’re holding pretty tightly to me. I think I can even feel your nails biting into my shirt.”
Horror flashed on her face right before she snatched her hands away from him.
He let her go, too. “You’re not going to fall? Because I can steady you.”
She stepped around him. Double timed it to the exit. Her heels went all click, click, click. The doorman hurriedly opened the door for her.
Sebastian followed right behind her. “Alyssa, we need to talk.” He nodded to the doorman. The warm air hit Sebastian as soon as he stepped outside. “Look, this is very important and—”
She was already at the corner and attempting to hail a cab.
He sighed, admired the view of her for a moment, but said, “You don’t need a cab.”
“I do. Isaac picked me up. Since I don’t plan to get in his vehicle again, I need a ride home.” Her hand kept waving.
“I have my limo waiting.” Just steps away. “I can take you home.”
A cab slowly headed toward her.
Her suspicious stare darted to Sebastian. “Why did you interrupt my date? Wait, how did you even know where I was?”
He didn’t like all the darkness around them. Most folks were in the theater, and the street was too deserted for his piece of mind. “Your brother wanted me to—”
“Ugh. Why does everyone want to talk about my brother?” Alyssa shook her head. Took three fast steps away—
And bullets tore through the metal sign behind her, ripped right through it, leaving small holes before they pounded into the bricks that lined the theater’s outer wall.
