Page 85 of The Very Naughty List

“Bye.”

I hang up, grinning at the way I can already hear her rushing out the door. She has a sort of love/hate relationship with her boss, with maybe a tiny bit of lust thrown in there too. I’m honestly waiting for the two of them to just hate fuck once to get it out of their systems.

When my phone rings again a second later, I figure that Lorelai forgot to tell me something. But as I swipe across the screen to answer, I realize it’s my mom calling instead.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hi, sweetheart. I have a favor to ask you. Any chance that you can cover a shift at the diner this evening? Your father and I have to get some paperwork done, and Pippa can’t work tonight. We’re applying for a grant, although it feels like a bit of a long shot. But it’s worth trying, I guess. Anyway, I know you’ve been helping out a lot, but this would be a full shift, with closing duties and everything. Would you feel comfortable?—”

“Of course,” I say immediately. “Yeah, I can do that. No problem.”

“Oh thank you. You’re a lifesaver! Jacob will be here too, but he’s just not fast enough to be able to work on his own yet. So I’d feel better having two people here in case it gets busy.”

“I get that. I can totally come in. Just let me know what time.”

She does, and I promise to be there before we hang up.

It’s not how I was planning on spending my evening, but I know how hard my parents have been working, and I really meant it when I said I wanted to help in any way I can. I’m still really worried about their business going under. The least I can do is pick up a few shifts as needed—especially if it gives them a chance to look for ways to save the diner.

It’s late afternoon by now, so I don’t have a ton of time before I’ll need to head out. I reluctantly peel myself off the comfy couch, earning a sad look from Bruno, which I soothe by rubbing his scruff. Then I head upstairs, singing under my breath as I put away some laundry I started earlier. It feels oddly domestic, folding up my clothes and putting them away after grabbing them from the guys’ dryer, and I try to ignore the fact that I kind of like it.

Sebastian is the first and only one of the three brothers to get home before I leave to head out to the diner. I didn’t expect any of them to be back yet and am pleasantly surprised when I walk downstairs and see him coming in through the front door.

“Hey!” I grin as he stomps a little snow off his boots on the mat. “Early day for you? Not enough broken cars to fix?”

“Nah. I got all my work done, and I could’ve stayed late to start another project but decided not to. Instead of servicing cars, I figured I’d much rather come home and spend my time servicing other things… likeyou.” He winks, then shrugs. “Besides, after dicking around all morning and getting a late start, I honestly just wasn’t in the mood to work.”

“Me neither.” I scrunch up my face. “But unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay here and hang out with you tonight. My mom called, and they need me to come in and help cover a shift at the diner tonight. Apparently, she and my dad are working on applying for some grant, and Pippa is unavailable to cover theshift. They have the new guy working tonight, but my mom says he needs my help.”

“New guy?”

“Yeah. You’ve probably seen him around. He’s younger, kind of tall, maybe early twenties. Blond hair, cute smile.”

Recognition flashes in Sebastian’s eyes, and then he frowns. “So it’s just going to be the two of you working at the diner tonight? Alone?”

“Yup.”

He was just starting to take off his boots, but now he bends down and laces them back up. “I’ll go with you.”

My eyebrows pop upward. “Really?”

I’m surprised he wants to come do a shift at my parents’ diner with me, especially since he just said he doesn’t really feel like working. But he nods decisively.

“Yeah, I’ll go. Actually…” A slow smile spreads across his face. “Wait here a second.”

He turns on his heel and strides out of the room, heading upstairs for a few moments. I do what he asked, waiting for him with curiosity burning in my chest.

When he returns, there’s a glint in his eye that I don’t quite recognize, and he walks toward me without breaking stride. As soon as he reaches me, Sebastian boxes me up against the wall, and a thrill races through me as the heat of his body radiates into mine. His starving eyes rake over me, and I feel like he’s already stripped me naked, even though we’re both fully clothed.

He reaches around to his back pocket and holds something up between us, and when I realize what it is, my breath catches.

“A wearable vibrator?” I arch a brow, keeping my tone teasing even though my heart is racing. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as the type, but if that’s what you’re into…”

Sebastian chuckles and shakes his head. “Oh no, don’t get it twisted. This is all for you, shortcake.”

Desire rushes through me at his words, my stomach fluttering at the thought of walking around with the vibrator inside me and it being our dirty little secret.

Maybe I’m reading into this all wrong, but I feel like this is his way of claiming me. Of making sure that even if I’m working with another man all night, I’ll be thinking of Sebastian every second of the evening. The possessiveness of it touches something primal inside me, making goosebumps spread over my skin as arousal floods my veins.

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