Page 75 of Release Me

I force a nervous smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Talia.”

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine, Nadia,” she purrs. “Sebastian has told me so much about you. It’s a shame he’s just allowing us to meet. We could have had so much fun when I was in New Haven.”

There’s no mistaking the note of flirtation in her tone, but I still look to Sebastian for confirmation. He gives me a subtle nod to let me know I’ve read it right, which sends a small shock wave down my spine. I don’t know how I expected this meeting to go, but this isn’t it.

“Talia,” Sebastian says, and there’s caution tape wrapped around the one word. “Stop flirting with my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Her eyes light up, and I can see she’s genuinely happy for him, which makes me relax a little. “Congratulations, Seb!”

He looks at me, pride swimming in his eyes. “Thank you.”

“Nadia, trust me when I say I know what a handful that man can be. If you ever need a break, just have him send you to Antigua. You would love the Cerros resort here.”

During our gossip session on my first day here, Elle told me about the Cerros resorts and how Talia oversees both international locations but spends the majority of her time in Antigua. In my head, I imagined that the resorts were just like the hotel but on a larger, more exotic scale, but when Talia’s invitation pulls a displeased grunt from Sebastian, I realize I must have missed something.

“Goodbye, Talia.”

He ends the call with an abrupt stab of his finger, and Talia disappears. The screen goes dark, reflecting my stunned expression back at me.

“That was rude.”

Sebastian sits back in his chair and pulls me with him, tucking me into the curve of his body. “She knew it was coming.”

“Because she invited me to the resort?”

“Because she flirted with you, then invited you to a resort that caters specifically to hedonism and is known for group sex sessions she regularly leads.”

“Oh.”

His rumble of a laugh vibrates against my cheek. “Yeah, it’ll be a cold day in hell before I leave you to fend off Talia and Blue on your own.”

“Who’s Blue?”

“Talia’s fiance.”

I sit up, so I can see his face and make sure he’s serious. “She’s engaged?”

“Yep. She told me about it the last time she was here.”

“Are they in an open relationship or something?”

“Every relationship Talia is in is open in one way or another.”

“Even your marriage?” I ask, finding myself wanting to hear him say it even though Elle already told me as much.

He nods, but there’s no bitterness or anger in his eyes. “Yeah, but that happened without my consent.”

“That must have been hard for you.”

I can’t imagine that it was easy. In the short time that we’ve known each other, he’s demonstrated himself to be extremely protective over what he considers his. He must have torn the world apart piece by piece when he found out Talia was cheating on him. I shudder at the thought, hating the idea of him being jealous and possessive over someone else even though I know it doesn’t make sense because she was his wife and, at the time, he didn’t even know I existed.

“No,” he says, pulling me out of my thoughts. “It wasn’t.”

His answer shocks me, but it also makes a lot of sense. Most men wouldn’t be able to be business partners and friends with a woman they resented for cheating on them.

“Why? Didn’t you love her?” I regret the question as soon as I ask it because I don’t want his answer. I shake my head, trying to walk it back. “Never mind. You don’t have to tell me.”

Sebastian pulls me back down to him, and I tuck my head into the crook of his neck, forcing myself to focus on my breathing so I don’t pass out when the man I’m pretty sure I’m in love with tells me how much he loved his ex-wife.

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