The woman hesitated. I must’ve looked desperate because her eyes darted around before she admitted in a low voice, “There’s an employee bathroom downstairs. The stairs are behind that door. It’s unlocked. Don’t tell anyone I told you, or I’ll get in trouble.”
“I won’t,” I promised. “And I’m going to give you the biggest tip ever later. I swear!”
With that, I snuck through the door and rushed downstairs. None of the other patrons paid me any mind, and the staff was too busy to notice me trespassing.
Luckily, no one was downstairs. I used the facilities, washed my hands, and fixed my hair before I stepped out of the bathroom.
I made it halfway down the hall when someone cut me off.
It happened so quickly, I didn’t have time for more than a small gasp. One second, I was walking toward the stairs; the next, my back was pressed against the wall.
I stared up at the man in front of me, my heart in my throat.
“Sebastian.”
CHAPTER 20
Maya
WE DIDN’T TOUCH.
His body hovered inches from mine, his muscles visibly taut, but his heat sank beneath my skin like a living, breathing thing.
I should’ve pushed him away. My fingers curled at my side, but the impulse fizzled before I could act.
“What are you doing here?” My pulse drummed in my ears. “Don’t tell me you’re stalking me again.”
Sebastian tipped his chin so our gazes aligned. The dim lighting cast his face in warm ochre, highlighting the sharp planes of his cheekbones and the amused curve of his mouth. “I was never stalking you, Sal. My family owns this bar.”
Right.The Laurents’ portfolio included several high-end cocktail bars in addition to their restaurants. But that didn’t answer my question.
“Your family owns a lot of places,” I said. “Yet you keep showing up to the ones I’m at. Seems like an odd coincidence.”
“It’s a small island.”
“It’s a big city.”
His smile kicked up a notch. “You’re the one who keeps goingto places that my family owns. I should ask ifyou’restalkingme.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m on a date.”
“I can tell.”
His gaze flicked down the length of my body and back up again. The perusal lasted less than a second, but tingles erupted in its wake.
This wasn’t how I’d imagined our reunion. We were supposed to meet in a bright office, safe behind the veil of work—not alone in the dark hall of an intimate bar basement, our bodies so close I could almost count the beats of his heart.
On the surface, Sebastian looked the same. Same thick, wavy hair, same amber eyes, same full lips and devastating features. But after so much time apart, the intensity of his presence hit me like the first shot of espresso after months without caffeine—rich, heady, and utterly consuming.
“Who’s the unlucky guy?” he drawled, his tone bored. “Eventually, your mother will run out of men to set you up with.”
“This isn’t one of her set-ups. I met Zack at a holiday party, and we hit it off.” I forced a casual shrug, refusing to let him see how his sudden appearance affected me. “This is actually our second date.”
Something dangerous sparked in his eyes. “Is it?”
“Yes.” Despite my best efforts, a trace of breathlessness spilled out.
A brief silence hummed in its wake.
