“I take it he’s not good at losing,” I said to Justin once Sebastian had disappeared aroundback.
“Not really,” Justin said. “But I wouldn’t count him outyet.”
8
Georgina
In the halfhour since I’d gotten Frank’s number and sent Sebastian sulking, I’d learned more than I cared to know aboutFortnitefrom Derek. He was mid-sentence when he paused and looked behind me. “Looks like you might have some competition,George.”
My heart sank. I knew instantly what Derek was referring to. Maybe Sebastian wasn’t sulking after all. There were generally only three reasons for a man to separate from the pack—food, alcohol, or sex—and since the bar was fully stocked on the first two, I wasn’t surprised to turn and find Sebastian alone at a table with an attractivewoman.
Averyattractive woman with a nose ring, a sleek, winding forearm tattoo most people could never pull off, and long, honeyed hair to match her long, golden-skinnedlimbs.
“Damn, she’s fine,” Albert said. “Sorry, George, but Sebastian’s going to score higher in thatdepartment.”
Justin agreed as he made a note in his pad. “Attractiveness of date,” he murmured. “Ten out often.”
I frowned. They didn’t have to rub it in, although I suspected they’d given Sebastian grief as well. No wonder he’d looked so cranky after my ten minutes with François. What had I expected, though? I was clearly out of my league. Sebastian had what women wanted, and he knew it. I hadn’t needed to experience much of his charm to know its potency. Not to mention hisactualjob was curating a style, conduct, and sex bible for men all over theworld.
Did he have all the answers? No, otherwise Vance wouldn’t have called me in. But was he miles ahead of the pack? Probably. Exhibit A—he’d been the first man in a long time to spark my curiosity and pebble my skin with just hiswords.
It was safe to say where women and sex were concerned, he knew what he was doing. The woman’s eyes sparkled as she set her elbows on the table and laughed. Sebastian turned her forearm up and traced the lines of her tattoo. She bit her bottom lip and I almost did too just wondering how it would feel for him to touch me with such focus, suchinterest.
He was making my attempt at game look like child’s play, and I didn’t have to stick around to watch. Not only was I about to get pummeled, but the jealous thoughts forming in my head weren’t going to helpanything.
I turned and signaled for Santino to close my bartab.
Justin leaned over to me. “You’re not going to sit back and let him win, areyou?”
“This has been fun, but I should get home,” I said and thought,Bruno, Luciano, and Tim Gunn are waiting forme.
“But he’s had it too easy for too long. If I know Seb, he’ll have this girl hanging all over him by the end of the night.” Justin ducked his head to catch my eye. “Provided he doesn’t encounter any, ah,turbulence.”
It would take more than a few bumps and jolts to knock Sebastian out of the sky. Justin thought I could still win this challenge, but in order to do so, I’d have to pull out all the stops. I looked back over my shoulder at the new couple that could only be described as beautiful. Had it always come as easy to Sebastian as Justin had said, or had he battled through an awkward stage like the rest ofus?
“Is sabotage against the rules?” Iasked.
“Hmm, let me see.” Justin pretended to check his notepad and said, “Nope.”
I had a choice. Slink away like I normally would and let Sebastian win, or prove that my strength carried outside the office. It would’ve been much easier to resign myself to the life I was clearly meant to have—knitting in a rocking chair, Bruno at my side, empty ice cream pints scattered on the floor. If I were an alien, my mothership would be a Dreyer’s pint. And, okay, I didn’t knit, but that was a minor detail. I’d have plenty of time to learn. At age thirty, I was probably about halfway to retirement, and then I could really lean in. It wasn’t such a badlife.
Unfortunately, the idea of Sebastian winning got under my skin almost as much as the thought of him taking the golden goddess home tonight. I’d had the pleasure of his attention once, and Monday morning was already beginning to feel like a lifetime ago, but I hadn’t forgotten how it’d felt to have Sebastian flirt with me. That alone wasn’t enough to get me out on a limb, but I’d known this job would be a challenge, and apparently that didn’t stop at the office. I owed this tomyself.
I racked my brain for a reason to interrupt them. Judging by the way the woman’s eyes were glued to his face, it would take a lot to unstick her. When Santino set the bill holder in front of me, I slid it back to his side of the bar. “Never mind,” I said. “I’mstaying.”
“Atta girl,” Justin said. “Take that arrogant assholedown.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “I thought he was yourfriend.”
“I love the guy, but I love to fuck with himmore.”
I sucked in a breath and started toward them before I could chicken out. The woman looked up first, and then Sebastian. His eyebrows rose higher the closer I got. I grabbed a chair from the next table over, pulled it up between them, and planted my ass right on it. “Bravo, Sebastian,” I said breathlessly and began to applaud. “That was excellent work. You’ve comesofar.”
His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “I’m sorry . . .what?”
“Oh, no. I’m being rude.” I turned to the woman and stuck out my hand. “GeorginaKeller.”
“Um, hello.” She took my hand. “I’mIsabella?”
