Chapter 17
Emma
I’m disappointed but not surprised when I wake up to an empty bed. Again. This time, there’s a business card on my dresser and a note on the back.
Call me sometime.
– S.
Not exactly a love note, but I guess that means he’s open to a second date. As I’m putting his number in my contacts, Mercy texts. Can I come over?
Sure. Just waking up.
Good. I have donuts.
I love that girl. I quickly slip into some leggings and a sweater then wait for Mercy to arrive with my sugary breakfast.
When she does, she shoves her bag of donuts at me then heads straight to my couch. “You’re not gonna believe what happened.”
“Okay, should I get some coffee going or do you want to just dive right into it?”
She waves me toward my kitchen. “Coffee, obviously. But seriously, you’re gonna freak.”
I get my coffee pot started then put the donuts on paper plates and head back to the couch. I cross my legs sideways on the cushion, so I’m facing her as I take my first bite. “Okay, shoot.”
“Abbott, the guy who owns Pearls, is starting a new business, and he asked if I wanted to join.”
“That’s great. What kind of business?”
Mercy takes a deep breath and holds out her palms, and that’s when I know I’m not gonna like what she has to say.
“What?”
“Okay, it’s sort of like what I’m doing at Pearls, but instead of just having one or two clients I give the special treatment to, it would be all of them…”
“Like a hooker?”
“Not exactly…but kind of. But the money would be so good. I could quit Pearls and the restaurant and be home during all the hours that Owen is out of school.”
“So, what exactly is it?”
Mercy proceeds to explain that she would be called a relationship consultant and would get paid for that consulting work. That’s it. The sex, if there is any, would basically be free, so nothing illegal would be happening. I’m not sure if all that logic works out, but I know she needs the money. I also know Owen needs her home more often than she is, so I don’t immediately try to talk her out of it. “So, what now? Did you already decide, or are you going to think about it?”
“I’m still thinking.” She takes a bite of her donut right as the coffee pot dings that it’s ready.
I run into the kitchen to pour a couple mugs and then come back to the couch. “When do you have to decide?”
“There’s a meeting next week for all the consultants who are interested. I guess they’ll show us the offices and give us a chance to ask questions. But it’s being set up like a real company. Benefits and everything.”
She needs benefits. When Owen got the flu, she had to make payments to urgent care to get a prescription for him. “It does sound pretty good. And I guess you don’t have to do it forever.”
“Exactly. Maybe even just a year or two and I can make enough money to get certified as a personal trainer or get an accounting certificate so I can work at an office. I don’t know yet, but I think this is my best chance of having some options.”
I hold the mug of coffee in front of me and let the warm steam fill my senses. I love the smell of hot coffee in the morning. “Can I go with you?”
“What? You want to do it too?”
“No, I don’t think so. But I’d like to hear what they have to say.”
“Of course!” I manage to push my mug of coffee out of her path just before Mercy leaps into my arms from the other side of the couch. “This could be so great for us. We can finally get out of the shit hole and start doing what we want to.” I wrap one arm around her back and pat her gently.
“I hope so, Ang. But don’t get your hopes up yet. It might not be as easy as it seems.”
~**~
Two days pass before I hear from Sebastian, and then at 11:30 on Monday, I get a text from him. Join me for lunch?
Thanks, but I’m working.
The response bubbles pop up immediately. Are you actually going to make me order a ton of food just to get you into my office? Because you know I will.
And I do know he will. Fine, what do you want me to pick up?
Sushi… Sandwiches?
I’ve been craving a BLT, so I tell him that. I’ll place an order at Bacon Bits for a twelve o’clock pick up. Does that work for you?
Yep. That gives me time to do one more delivery before I head over there.
See you then.
:-)
I turn off my delivery app as soon as I finish my delivery, so I’m not called to go for another one. The best part about this job as a delivery driver for Meals2Me is that I just sign in when I want to work and sign out when I don’t.
After picking up lunch for Sebastian and me, I head straight to his office. I’ve had a busy morning, so I don’t mind taking some time off and to sit for a few minutes.
Rena waves me past her desk and directly into Sebastian’s office when I exit the elevator. I find Sebastian sitting at a small conference table on the other side of his office.
His dark eyes give me a once-over, and I shiver under his inspection. His slow smile confirms he likes what he sees. That’s good because I definitely like what I see. Seeing Sebastian in his big office and with his hair neatly in place instead of messy from my fingers running through it makes me want to whimper with need.
He pulls me into a quick hug, leaning down to kiss me gently. “I could’ve had someone else deliver lunch, you know.”
“Don’t be silly. I do this for strangers twenty times a day.” I place the bag of food on the small conference table in his office. “There’s no reason why I wouldn’t do it for you.”
Sebastian brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, slowly caressing my neck before he pulls away. “Well, thank you for picking it up.”
“Mm hmm.” Breathing is suddenly a lost art as I try to gain control of my faculties. Why does my body go haywire whenever he touches me? During sex is one thing, but a simple hug shouldn’t turn me into a puddle of desperation. But it does. It so does.
I accept the paper-wrapped sandwich Sebastian hands me, and we both settle at the table and start eating. After a few minutes of companionable silence, I put my sandwich down on the paper it was wrapped in and take a drink of water. “So, what do you do here?”
Sebastian smirks. “Some people would say I do nothing.”
I smile, knowing that can’t be true. “And what would you say?”
He takes a drink of water then leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. “This was my father’s company. I guess I’m being groomed to take over now that he’s gone, but light fixtures aren’t exactly my passion.”
I give him an incredulous look. “Does that mean you actually do nothing around here?”
He chuckles. “No, not nothing. I have some projects I’m championing, but I’m mostly just the face of the company. The PR department is plastering me all over the world as ‘Mr. Lighting’ these days.” He shakes his head in disgust. “It’s a little crazy.”
A smile forms on my lips as I imagine a billboard with Sebastian holding a lightbulb in one hand and wearing nothing but a pair of sexy underwear. “If lighting isn’t your passion, what is?”
His eyes bore into me as he contemplates his response. I don’t know if I’ve offended him, but it takes him a while to speak. “I’m not sure I have a passion. I’ve invested in several companies, and some are more interesting than others, but I haven’t really found the one thing that makes me want to get out of bed every morning.”
I nod in agreement. “I guess I feel the same way. Obviously, delivering sandwiches to people who are either too busy or too lazy to walk two doors down and get it themselves isn’t what I dreamed of doing when I was a kid.” I lean back in my chair and mimic his posture. “But I don’t really have anything better to do right now. So, here I am.”
Sebastian grins. “Here you are.”
A slow smile grows across my face until Sebastian’s phone rings from where it’s charging on his desk.
“Excuse me, please.” He goes to his desk and picks up his phone, glancing at me as he answers it. “Hey.”
Sebastian turns and stares out the window with his free hand on his hip as he listens to the other end of his phone call. “I see. Call me when you know more.”
He doesn’t say anything else before he hangs up and slides his phone into his pocket, staring out the window for another minute before turning and rejoining me at the table.
I pick up my sandwich and take a bite. Tension is heavy in the air, and I’m not sure why. Since I have no idea what kind of business drama he may have going on, I give him a minute before I clear my throat to get his attention. “So, is everything okay?”
“Of course it is.” He wipes the corner of his mouth and smiles. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason.” I watch his dark eyes peer right into me and want the rest of him to follow. “Things just seem serious with work.”
He nods and takes another bite of his sandwich. “I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire.”
“Sounds hot.” I smirk, giving in to the flirty side I feel whenever I’m around Sebastian.
He takes a drink of water then winks. “Well, ya know. Lighting isn’t just for libraries and hospitals. It can be sexy when used right.”
“Is that so?” I chuckle. “And how do you use it to be sexy?”
Sebastian reaches for my hand then trails a path from my thumb up to my elbow with just the tip of his finger. “Sparingly.”
My breath hitches and a shiver passes over my skin. “How are you still single?”
He laughs and pulls back, obviously thinking my lust-induced question was a joke rather than a completely real and serious question.
“I’m smart.” Sebastian winks then reaches for his sandwich. “I like to keep things casual so there aren’t any expectations. No expectations means no one gets hurt.”
I force a smile as his words sink in. It’s not like I had grand expectations of this becoming anything serious, but maybe I did. And now that he’s telling me he isn’t looking for a girlfriend, it hurts.
This is probably for the best, though. With all of Eli’s shit and Mercy needing my help with Owen, it’s better that I don’t look for anything serious right now.
“Yeah, I guess a guy in your position has too much to lose by settling down.”
“Totally,” Sebastian says over a mouthful of food. “I doubt I’ll ever get married. Too much risk for too little reward.”
“But you’re such a romantic…” I deadpan, hoping he buys my act.
I just need to get through lunch and then I can go lick my wounds by myself. Sebastian James is at the prime of his life. I’d probably think he was a weirdo if he was willing to sacrifice everything for a girl like me.
And if I’m looking for a bright side, I guess the fact that he’s opposed to relationships with all women and not just me is comforting.
Kinda.
But not really.