Page 10 of Sebastian

Sebastian walked from the window to the desk, gently picking up the note. She watched his face turn cold, his eyes reading the words, then flying to search her face. Her throat suddenly felt tight, and her lungs revolted at the idea of breathing.

“Sit.” Sebastian walked towards her, gently touching her elbow as he led her to a chair in front of his desk. He then slipped into the chair next to her. It didn’t escape Emma’s notice that his hand lingered on her arm, and his touch did something strange to her belly. Nope. No. She was not going there.

“Tell me about how you found this note?”

“Why? So you can get off on how scared I was?”

“Emma…” his tone was deadly, and she tried to swallow her anxiety down her suddenly dry throat. There was something comforting in the teasing way he used her nickname. The concern when he said her actual name was overwhelming, and she didn’t like that one bit.

“Fine. I was in the back of the shop, maybe a half hour ago now. I needed to pull some frosting I had made earlier from the fridge in order for it to be the right consistency when I work on cake orders later tonight. The front bell rang, and I thought there must be a customer, so I left the kitchen. But there was no one there. I wanted to pick up the counter by the register, it tends to get messy during the day. And, well, that’s when I saw the note. I knew you must have sent it because it mentions selling the shop.”

She sat with a rigid back and tried to project her voice with a hard edge to show she was serious about what he had done. Her uneven breathing was giving her away, and she knew it. He was about to deny sending the note, and just from the look on his face, one filled with concern, she knew he hadn’t been the sender.

“Emma.” His voice pulled her out of her own mind, back into the office. “I certainly did not send that car this morning, and I also did not send you this threat. I take my business very seriously, but I also respect business owners and their own visions for where they want to take their businesses. It was my job for a very long time to protect people, and I still like to think that I’m honorable enough to keep that reputation. You told me you weren’t interested in my offer. I respect that. And while I have been told I am ruthless in the pursuit of what I want…” did she really just see him look her up and down as he said that? “I would never threaten someone’s life over their decision to keep running their own business.”

His eyes searched hers, but she didn’t know what to say. She wanted to believe this gorgeous man. Lord, her heart was practically screaming at her to say something to not push him away, but it had to be from him. The alternative was too painful to think about.

“Is there someone else? Anyone else you can think of who might have sent this to you?”

“No.” Emma stood, turning on her heels and practically sprinted towards the stairs. “I’m sorry to have barged in like that.”

As she placed her hand on the railing, a warm hand slid over her wrist, stopping her from walking any further.

“Where are you going?”

“I-I need to get back to my shop. I have orders I need to finish for tonight.”

She heard a growl escape from his chest.

“You walked over here, in the dark, by yourself, after receiving a threat?”

“Yes. I guess I did.”

“Well, I’m not going to let you go back by yourself.”

“You’re not letting me?”

“That’s right, Sprinkles.”

“Why?”

“Maybe because you came in here with your cheeks a shade of red I didn’t know existed in real life, acting like you were about to karate chop me in half. And as soon as you knew the note wasn’t from me, all the color drained from your face.” His hand moved to her face, thumb gently tracing her cheek while she tried desperately not to sink into the warmth that radiated off of him. “I want to make sure you’re safe.”

Snapping out of the haze his body seemed to always put her in, she pulled away from him.

“I am safe. It was probably just some kid goofing off. Someone who heard you and I talking about the bakery and they decided to pull a prank on me. I’ll take it to the sheriff’s department tomorrow and see what they say. I’m sure you’re busy, I don’t want to take up more of your time.”

“I want to walk you back.”

“No. I’ll be fine. I’ll lock the door, and you’re more than welcome to watch me cross the street from your office window.” She wanted to yell out like I’ve caught you doing several times now, but refrained.

“Okay. Give me your phone first.”

“My phone?”

“Yes. I gave you my business card, but I’m thinking you probably just threw it into the trash.” A small smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and she found herself suddenly licking her own, very dry, lips as she handed her phone over. “I want you to call me if anything else happens, okay?”

“I don’t think?—”

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