Page 8 of Treasure and Tarot

“Yes. It’s a little intense. Please, come into the sitting room and have a seat. I’ll send him to you. Do you need tea? Coffee?”

“Coffee would be amazing. Just black.”

“Of course.” She beamed at him, and he thought maybe she approved of him. He had no idea why, but there it was. He levered himself down into a chair, his leg spasming for a moment, but she’d left him to his own devices, so no one saw.

He could hear voices, and then Sebastian came in, carrying two cups of coffee in shaking hands.

“Hey.” He tried to stand up again, but Sebastian shook his head.

“No, sit. It’s fine.”

But it wasn’t fine. Sebastian was pale, his eyes huge in his face, his lips pressed together.

“Is that what’s been happening a lot?” He cut off the “honey” that tried to come out. Seb wouldn’t appreciate it.

“Yes. I’m hoping to get to the core of it.” Sebastian looked as if he’d aged twenty years.

“That’s pretty intense.” He pursed his lips, thinking hard. “Maybe you should come stay up at the lodge while we do this filming.”

“No. It’s my house, and I can’t just let strangers be in there.” Sebastian took a deep draught from his coffee. “And I don’t think you should be in there at all.”

“Well, you signed a contract.” And he would fight Seb every step of the way.

“Vargas didn’t tell me it was you. He knew we have…history.” Sebastian didn’t even hesitate.

“Oh.” Sure, he knew Hank was aware that he’d come to meet Sebastian before, but he hadn’t been sure Hank knew they’d had a romantic attachment. “Well, he obviously let me come in for a reason.”

“Obviously. Don’t you think you need to rescue your crew?” Sebastian shook his head. “Finish your coffee. Let’s talk at the hotel. Not here. It’s not fair to Mrs. Maroney to take up her parlor.”

“Sure. Okay. Meet you there this evening for supper.” He knew it came out like a command not a request, but he wanted to make sure Seb came.

“What time, and I’ll see what I can do. I have to lock up the house and things, after your people leave.”

“Let’s shoot for six. We’ll be out of your place by…three thirty. And if you want us to help clean up, we can stay until four.” The guys would want to get back to the war room and look at footage and start pasting things up.

“I can handle it. I know where things go.” Sebastian shook his head. “This is a terrible idea. I just wanted?—”

“Hey.” He held up his hands. “If you don’t want to tell me your reasons, I understand.” He knew now it had nothing to do with him.

“Fine. If I can’t make it tonight, I’ll leave a message at the hotel.”

“Or you could text me?” That would be easier, wouldn’t it?

“No.” Sebastian shook his head. “No, that’s one of my hard limits. I did that one too many times.”

“I never got any texts.” Not one. Not a call. Not anything. And Sebastian had never texted or called him back when he’d initiated it.

Which he had.

“You don’t have to lie. I know my texts were received.”

“What are you talking about?” He opened his mouth again, but Sebastian held up a hand.

“At the hotel. Please. This is not something I want my neighbor overhearing.”

Dammit all to hell. He gritted his teeth, his scars pulling. “Okay, fine. But wewilltalk about it.”

“Whatever.” Sebastian shrugged, the move painfully casual. “I’ll do my best to be there.”

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