It had been the best evening she’d had in a long, long time. Finished off with a kiss so mind-numbingly amazing, she’d actually forgotten where she was for a few moments. For a man who hadn’t been involved with a woman in over three hundred years, Sebastian kissed like it was his superpower. And if he was that good at kissing…

That could explain why Evangeline wanted him back.

“That’s cool,” Jenna answered, gaze still fixed to whatever shirtless contest was ongoing in firefighter land.

Duncan was playing with a foil ball on the living room floor. He looked up at her and cried.

“Oh, poor baby, did you miss me?” Tessa dropped her purse and the treat bag on the side table and scooped him up.

For the first time since Tessa had walked through the door, Jenna’s eyes came off the half-naked men on the TV and focused on Tessa. She hit the pause button and leaned forward. “Odin’s good eye, what on earth is that rock on your finger?”

Tessa had somehow forgotten about the ring. Maybe because Sebastian’s unexpectedly good kiss had melted some of her brain cells. She stuck her hand out as Duncan chewed on a piece of her hair. “It’s just temporary. Obviously. But if we’re supposed to be engaged, I need a ring.”

Jenna grabbed Tessa’s hand and stared at the ring. “So it’s a fake, right?”

“No. It came from that jewelry store on Main Street.”

Jenna’s eyes widened. “Are you freaking serious? This is real? Holy hammer of Thor. That’s insane. You’re basically wearing a really nice luxury automobile on your finger.”

Tessa admired the stone. “Yes, and it’s mine for all of twenty-four hours. After dinner tomorrow night, it’s going right back.”

Jenna’s gaze narrowed. “You should see if you can get him to throw it into the deal. Those Ellinghams are loaded. Maybe it could be like a bonus if things go extra good.”

Tessa yanked her hand back. “I am absolutely not doing that. I’m already getting an incredible job out of this. That’s enough.”

Jenna sat back. “You get the job if things go well. If they don’t, you get nothing.”

“It will go fine. Even Sebastian thinks so.” And he’d basically said the job was hers regardless. Hadn’t he?

Jenna’s left brow lifted. “You’re giving off some majorly weird vibes right now.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Except that she did. Jenna was reading her, picking up on her happiness and growing fondness for Sebastian. That was the trouble with valkyries. You really couldn’t lie to them. Tessa hugged Duncan a little closer as she grabbed her purse and attempted an escape before her sister also figured out that Sebastian’s kiss had turned Tessa on. “Okay, see you in the morning. I’m going to bed.”

“You like him.”

Tessa hadn’t even made it past the kitchen. With a sigh, she turned. “Of course I like him. He’s giving me a job. Probably. And he just bought me dinner.”

Jenna’s disbelief was plainly evident on her face. “Yeah, but Sebastian Ellingham? He’s like the Grinch without the green fur. He’s Scrooge with fangs. Nobody likes him.”

Tessa couldn’t stop herself from leaping to his defense. “I’m sure his grandmother likes him. And his brothers. And Delaney seemed at least…tolerant of him. You shouldn’t buy into rumors and gossip. Granted, he might be a bit, I don’t know, set in his ways, but he’s very nice when you get to know him.”

“Get to know him?” Jenna’s mouth came open. “You’re defending him. Oh, wow, you really like him.”

“I just think you’re being judgmental and that’s unfair. You have no idea what he’s been through.” Or how amazingly loyal he was. Or how his kiss had the power to set things on fire internally.

Jenna threw one leg over the arm of the couch. “Judgmental is a valkyrie’s middle name. Speaking of being a valkyrie, I can tell you that every time I’ve had any contact with him, the read I get off him is true to what everyone says about him. He gives off strong vibes of wanting to be left alone, of being super concerned about details, and being generally standoffish when it comes to the opposite sex. He’s a cold, cranky fish. How you can like him, I have no idea.”

“Because he’s not that way all the time.” Tessa realized she was digging herself a deeper hole, but after what Sebastian had told her about keeping his promise to Evangeline’s father, she felt for the man. He was doing his best to do what he thought was right. He deserved to have someone stand up for him. “Just cut him some slack, okay? Everyone has a story and you have no idea what’s happened in his life to make him this way.”

Jenna shook her head. “Fine, you like him. Just don’t tell me you like him like him or I might lose it.” She snorted. “Next thing you know you’ll be kissing him. Gross.”

Tessa made a small involuntary sound. She turned quickly, headed for the guest room again. Duncan meowed when she squeezed him a little too tightly. Please let Jenna go back to her show…

“What a minute. You just went red. Did you kiss him? Did he kiss you?” Jenna was off the couch and in her face. “You did. You did! No. Way. Was it gross? Did he force you?” She gasped and shoved Tessa’s hair off her shoulder to peer at her neck. “Did he bite you?”

“No, he didn’t bite me and no, he didn’t force me. Don’t even imply that.” Tessa put Duncan down, tired of his squirming and tiny, needle-sharp nails, then she swatted her sister’s hands away. “And no, it wasn’t gross. It was…nice. Very nice.” It was the best kiss she’d ever had. Not that she’d had many.