Page 28 of Sebastian

“I turned off your alarm. You heard what the doctor said. Rest, and stay off your leg for at least the day. You barely slept for five hours, Em. There’s no reason for you to be awake right now. Just close your eyes and get back to sleeping. ”

“Jake just has to say things like that. I’m perfectly fine. I need to be at the bakery. What if that man comes back and hurts Melissa?”

“First, I’ve had an associate of mine sitting over at the bakery since it opened monitoring things, and Hank’s had a deputy stationed out front all morning.”

“Oh, well, thank you.”

“Now, there is the minor matter of the new security system we need to install. As the property owner, I’ll need you to sign off on some paperwork before we can legally get started installing the new surveillance system and upgraded locks.”

“Sebastian, is that all really necessary? I have a super tight budget already, I’m not sure I can afford what you are thinking of installing.”

“You’re going to sit here and tell me it’s not?” She didn’t move a muscle, even when he sighed. “Someone broke into your apartment last night, waited for you, and told you they were going to take you to whoever hired them after assaulting you. Don’t worry about the cost, I’m covering it all. I just need you to sign off on the installation.”

Her arms wrapped around her body as her gaze hit the floor.

“You don’t have to do that for me. I don’t want to owe you anything.”

“Sprinkles, you don’t owe me a damn thing. Although, I wouldn’t say no to a second date.”

She smiled. “Still thinking you were charming enough on our first date to win me over?”

“Well, that, and I didn’t hear you complaining about our cuddling once we were in bed.”

“We cuddled? I didn’t know that.” She was lying with everything in her, and the tiny crease that appeared in between Seb’s eyebrows made her want to take it back. Emma knew she never would have been able to sleep if she hadn’t been wrapped in his arms. Why was it so hard to admit that to him?

“If that’s the case, I’m looking forward to making that memory with you, again. In the meantime, I really would like for you to say yes to the new security.”

“I know you’re right,” she sighed. “I just don’t want to live in fear.”

The mattress sank down as Sebastian sat next to her. His thumb lifted her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his.

“Then don’t. The measures I’m proposing will give you a buffer. But you need to be smart.”

“You’re right. I’ll sign whatever you need me to.”

* * *

“What has you glued to your phone over there?” They’d spent the whole day on Sebastian’s couch, movie marathon running in the background. Emma wanted to stare out the window at her bakery to see how everything was going, but Sebastian refused to let her walk on her leg. He’d even taken to carrying her to the bathroom and waiting just outside the door for her to be done. Talk about earth-shattering embarrassment.

At least she’d been able to finally look around and see what he had done to the top story of the beautiful brick building. Honestly, his renovations were stunning. The ceilings in his apartment were exposed, lending to the industrial feeling of the building, but the fixtures and finishes he’d chosen were warm and cozy. She hated to admit it, but she could easily fall in love with the space.

“Sorry, just business things.”

“I’ve taken up too much of your time. Why did you have me stay here all day if you had things you needed to take care of?”

“You are more important than anything on this stupid piece of technology. And besides, I’m just answering emails and moving meetings around. It’s nothing.”

“I should go.” Emma grabbed her dinner off the coffee table and walked to the kitchen sink. As soon as she started washing it, the hot water from the faucet splashed onto her shirt and she swore under her breath.

“What are you doing?” Sebastian pressed his body into hers, gently removing the plate from her hand. “You need to stay off your leg.”

She turned, still stuck in the cage his arms made around her. “You’ve made sure I’ve stayed off my leg all day, Seb. It’s okay, I promise. I need to get back to my place and sort through the wreckage.”

He stepped back, dropping the plate into the sink. “Okay, Sprinkles. If that’s what you need, let’s get you home.”

She busied herself with gathering up her phone and purse from the coffee table in the living room. When she looked up, she saw Sebastian standing with his arms extended towards her.

“What are you doing?”

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