Sebastian lets out an aggrieved sigh. “When do you sleep?”
I take another gulp of my sugar-laden coffee. “Sleep is overrated.”
“When do you relax, then? Netflix and chill?”
I almost spit out my drink at his unexpected words. Which would be a sad waste of caffeine.
I look up in surprise. His eyes are on me, a teasing smile on his handsome face. Even in this casual atmosphere, the man exudes magnetism, reminding me he was recently voted Sexiest Man Alive.
The last thing I need is to think about my boss in that way—not when I spend almost every hour of every day with the infuriating man. It’s bad enough that he has an incredible body and the classic, masculine bone structure of an old-time movie star.
Ugh. It sucks when your annoying boss is stupid-hot.
“Are you worried about my hook ups?” I ask. “Sweet of you. But there’s no need. I’m exceptional at multitasking. I can take on extra jobsandget laid.”
It’s all a lie. But it annoys me that Sebastian thinks he knows me so well. It would be nice not toalwaysbe so predictable. It would be nice to surprise him sometimes.
It would be nice to surprise myself.
I date very occasionally, but I haven’t been serious with anyone since I left my hometown on the heels of a shitty breakup. That relationship decimated my heart. Or at least my ego. And I haven’t wanted to repeat that experience.
He runs his hand through his hair and says grumpily, “IknowI pay you more than enough. So why would you take on extra projects for a douche like Brett Danners?”
“Are you sure you just don’t like him because the tabloids think that he and Allegra are having an affair?”
I feel guilty the second the words are out of my mouth. I never share tabloid gossip because I know how much of it is bullshit. But the photos of the two of them getting cozy at a party were pretty damning.
He stares me down, not taking the bait. “No. Allegra and I aren’t exclusive. Those rumors have nothing to do with it. Brett Danners gives me bad vibes. I don’t like the way he talks about women. He’s a manwhore.”
I snort. “Youare complaining thatBrettis a manwhore?”
“Seriously, Em. This is getting out of hand. You can’t keep working two jobs without burning out. And I don’t like you close to actors like Brett.”
I shrug. “LA is expensive.”
I’ve never told Sebastian that it’s been left to me to pay for Sadie’s school. Maybe it’s because I didn’t want him to feel sorry for me. Or perhaps I didn’t want to embarrass my dad since Sebastian respects him so much. Normally, it would be the parent’s job to help with university bills. But though my dad has overcome a lot to become a brilliant minister and counselor, there was no way he had the funds to help put Sadie or me through school. Addiction counseling is an important job, especially working for an NGO in the most disadvantaged populations. It just doesn’t pay well.
“I’ll give you a raise,” Sebastian says casually, as if he’s volunteering to pay for my coffee. “As long as you promise you won’t work for Brett.”
I hate how tempted I am to jump at the offer. “Do you have any direct knowledge that Brett is a creep?” I ask.
He presses his lips together and shakes his head. “Nothing definitive.”
“Then you can’t tell me who I can or can’t work for on my time. I was just informing you as a courtesy. Not for permission.”
“I could. Plenty of jobs have a noncompete clause.”
I laugh. “That’s not in my contract.”
He rolls his eyes. “God, you’re stubborn.”
“Takes one to know one,” I retort, stacking up papers.
“Want to come over Saturday night? There’s a car race on,” he says, switching gears and subjects with a swiftness that makes my head spin.
This is the way it is between us. One minute, we’re arguing. The next, I want to kill him, and then, we’re hanging out.
We started watching races together after I moved into the mansion for a few months. I lived with Sebastian only briefly—it was when Chase and Ryder first moved out, and I worried that, without roommates, he might spiral back into drugs.
