“Thanks! So do you. How long has it been?” The hair on the back of my neck bristles abruptly. Goosebumps break out, sending hot and cold shivers through my belly. The paparazzi, finally?
I glance around for That Stalker, but I don’t see the familiar sandy head. Instead, my eyes collide with seething green and gold.
“Sebastian,” I whisper. He approaches like an avenging angel in an impeccably tailored black Brioni suit, an elegant ruby and platinum tie pin the only splash of color. His self-reassured presence looms large, much bigger than Jason. Just staring up at him sends an electric chill racing along my spine, which I straighten further to hide my reaction. The hard set of his jaw says he doesn’t want to be here and everything about the situation is infuriating.
The ice underneath my feet grows more brittle.
My smile turns polished and practiced. “Hi, Sebastian.”
He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me away from Jason and drawing me close until my side is flush against his. At this distance I can smell his pine scent and soap—something minty and refreshing. His body radiates so much heat that I start to tingle. I make a surreptitious attempt to put a little space between us, but his arm just tightens.
“Who is this?” he asks, his voice entirely too sweet for me to trust.
“Jason Choi. The friend I told you about.” I gesture. “Jason, this is Sebastian Lasker.”
“Nice to meet you,” Jason says with a neutral smile.
“Likewise.” Sebastian’s mouth is curved into a beautiful line, but his eyes are hard. “My fiancéesaid you were doing us a favor.”
Why did he put that strong emphasis on “my fiancée”?
“Well, it’s not much of a favor. Anything for Lucie.”
“Lucie.” Sebastian repeats the name like it’s a curse. “I didn’t realize you two were so familiar.”
“Yeah, we’ve known each other since high school. Actually dated our senior year.” Jason laughs. “Prom king and queen.”
“How lovely.” Sebastian’s tone is like broken glass. “Lucemust’ve been stunning.”
I start, stunned that he’d use my nickname. It’s like he’s having some weird competition with Jason, except he has no reason to engage in such a silly contest.
“The most beautiful girl in the world.” Jason’s eyes take on a dreamy look.
What?He’s never behaved like this when we’ve talked about our time in high school. And it’s a little alarming, because hostility is now starting to openly pour from Sebastian.
Jason’s phone rings, and he checks the screen. “Oh, damn. Sorry, but Ihaveto take this. I may be a few minutes. Excuse me.” He adds the last part more for me than Sebastian, then walks away, head bent to his phone.
“Well, well, well.” Sebastian’s eyes are dark with disapproval. “You never told me about your history withJason.”
“Because it’s not relevant.” What is he getting at, anyway? If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was jealous, but why? He couldn’t have made it clearer that he would’ve never agreed to marry me if it weren’t for the contract between me and his family. And he’s in love with Gabriella.
“You could’ve told me an ex-boyfriend was marrying us,” he says.
“I could have, but I don’t see how it matters.”
“You don’t? Especially after that spectacle?” He points where Jason was just moments ago.
“What ‘spectacle’?” What did the gossip sites publish now?
“You were all over him.” His eyebrows pinch together in harsh judgment.
“Don’t be absurd! We gave each other a friendly hug!”
“Afriendly hug? More like a friendly dry hump.”
Is he serious? Outrage bursts in my chest. “For God’s sake, we didn’t do anything of the sort. You should get your eyes checked, just in case you’re going blind in your old age.”
Sebastian’s jaw flexes.
