Page 16 of Sebastian's Secret

“What happened to you?” Sebastian stared at the woman opposite him, her face even more beautiful by candlelight.

An hour had passed since Sebastian had found her in a heap on the ground. An hour where the sky had turned dark with evening, and he’d taken her to a family-run Italian restaurant he knew. An hour where he’d tried to explain himself without breaking the confidence of his father, but in that window his urge to wrap her up and protect had swelled. He didn’t know what it was about the redhead. She was hardly diminutive by nature, but his every instinct spoke of defending her.

“What do you mean?” Catching her lower lip between her white teeth, her gaze flitted around the cozy restaurant.

“Who was that who pushed you on the ground?” Sebastian’s hand curled into a fist as he replayed what he’d witnessed in his mind. Some asshole had come storming after Rebecca before shoving her to the ground and leaving. What kind of a person would do that, and who was he to Rebecca?

“Are you… jealous?” One thin eyebrow cocked at the idea.

“What?” he answered. “No.” A lie. “I’m worried. What sort of a person would do that?” And whose face was it he needed to rearrange?

“Don’t worry,” she smiled, her shoulders relaxing for the first time since they’d taken a seat at their table. “He’s not competition; he’s family.”

“Family?” Somehow, that made the situation seem worse to Sebastian.

“That brother I told you about.”

She inhaled, glancing down at her palms. Sebastian had offered to take her to his doctor and get her checked over, but Rebecca had refused. She’d cleaned up her hands in the ladies’ room, insisting she was fine.

“That was your brother?” And Sebastian thought Draco was a jerk.

“Yep.” Her brow rose. “He’s a charmer, all right. I do my best to stay away from him but today it was unavoidable.”

“I’m sorry.”

He was. As much as his siblings drove Sebastian mad, he couldn’t imagine how he’d have gotten through the last few years without them.

“It’s okay. She sounded resigned, which only magnified the regret in his chest. “Are you sure I’m not underdressed for this place?” Her gaze traveled around the intimate décor once more. “I feel it.”

“You look wonderful,” he told her.

“You’re lying.” Her lips curled. “I look ghastly, but I appreciate the self-esteem boost.”

“No, really!” Sebastian’s palms rose into the air. “It doesn’t matter what you wear.” Or what you don’t wear. “You’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” She reached for her wine glass, fingering the stem. “It is nice to see you, even though you royally pissed me off.”

He chuckled at her frankness, respected it. “I know and I have apologized.”

Her nose twitched. “I know.”

“Am I forgiven?”

“I still don’t really understand,” she admitted, lifting the glass to her nose and inhaling its bouquet. “Why does not wanting marriage mean you can’t go on dates?”

“It doesn’t.” Shit, it didn’t make sense when she put it like that.

“I mean,” she went on. “Who says I want to get married?”

“No one.” Sighing, he reached for his own glass. “It’s complex. All I can say right now is that I made a mistake and I hope I can make it up to you.”

Her sapphire eyes shone at the prospect. “I suppose you can.”

“Oh, come on,” he goaded. “I bet you know all sorts of ways to make me pay, Rebecca.”

“Maybe.” Her smile widened. “Okay, yes I do, but more important than any of that is being able to trust you.” A line appeared in her brow as she focused on her wine. “I have to know that you won’t gaslight me again.”

“Okay,” he replied.

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