Page 8 of Sebastian

“She will be. She’s got a pretty nasty scrape down her arm from when I got to her and threw her out of the way of the car.”

“I don’t know how it all even happened. I was talking to my husband on the phone and just happened to see the car driving right towards her. My heart nearly stopped!”

“I need you to contact Gage Walker and send him all the security footage from outside the building over the past six hours. He should be able to find something we can hand over to the sheriff’s department.”

Sebastian winced as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other.

“Are you alright, Mr. Montgomery?”

“Yeah, just tweaked an old injury. I’m not as young as I once was.”

Natalie smiled and even let out a little laugh. “I totally understand that. Addie is running circles around me lately and all I want to do is nap. Oh! It looks like Emma is okay.” Natalie waved and Seb turned to see Emma getting out of the ambulance, a white bandage now covering a large part of her arm. “Do you want to see one of the EMTs about your leg?”

“No. There’s nothing they can do.” He turned to walk towards Emma. “Have Gage send me what he finds, okay?”

“Of course, Mr. Montgomery.” Natalie walked back across the street to Montgomery Equities as Sebastian found Emma talking with Hank.

“I’m honestly fine. Look, I’m not sure what happened with that driver, but I’ve got a bunch of orders I need to get ready for this weekend and I’d like to finish some time before midnight so I can get some sleep.”

“Why don’t you close up the shop for today?” Seb interrupted.

The scowl on Emma’s face could have burned through solid stone. “Oh, is that how you made your billions? Just closed up shop whenever a little inconvenience came up?”

“No. My brothers made my billions for me while I was off at war, sending them money to invest in their startup. But that’s besides the point. I don’t think you being almost hit by a car and then passing out because you saw blood is a little inconvenience. Jesus, Sprinkles, just learn when enough is enough.”

“Enough is enough, Sebastian. Thank you for saving me, but please, go back to your business and leave me to mine.” Emma turned to Hank, pointed her finger at his chest and said, “Don’t you dare breathe a word of this to your wife,” before walking back towards her bakery.

“She can be real stubborn when she’s scared.” Hank’s hand landed on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Thank you for keeping her safe.”

“I would have done it for anyone,” Sebastian replied. And he meant that, he really did. But he also knew it was more with Emma. He wasn’t just being a good citizen. And he hadn’t wanted to let her out of his arms once he’d known she was safe.

Four

The store’s front door bell chimed as Emma grabbed a large tub of frosting from the refrigerator. The day was never going to end. Never mind the fact that the throbbing in her arm was making her cranky, but the pure exhaustion she’d felt from the adrenaline dump that morning was enough to make her want to fall asleep for a week.

“Do you want me to see who is out there and take their order before I head out?” Melissa asked.

“No. You’ve already stayed an extra two hours when I know you need to be studying for your AP History test. Go before I have to tell you not to come in this weekend. I won’t be the reason you don’t get a five on that final exam in a few weeks.”

“Thanks, Em.” The teen headed towards the back door. “You really are the best boss. I’ll take the trash out with me.”

“Sounds great, Mel. See you tomorrow after school.”

Melissa hauled the garbage up over her shoulder and waved on her way out.

Emma stretched her neck and gathered up the energy to go see what a customer that late in her shop could want. There was a unsettled feeling churning in her stomach, almost like the one that had come over her earlier that day before the car had careened into her path, but she did her best to shove it down as she plastered a smile onto her face.

Setting the container of frosting on the counter, she wiggled her fingers back and forth as an attempt to shake out her nervous energy. Walking through the kitchen door to the store front, she paused, scanning the tables and the check out counter. That unsettled feeling grew stronger.

No one was there.

Maybe the person popped out thinking the shop was closed? Walking to the register to tidy up, her heart caught in her throat. There, next to the register, was a black envelope.

No, no, no, no, no.

She had been so careful. It had to be something else. Someone else. He didn’t find her, she was still safe. Her fingers shook as she flipped open the card.

I’m watching. Sell now and run.

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