The Reluctant Heiress: A Novella(21)

His smile softens, eyes growing serious. “You’re only a mess because you don’t belong here. Los Angeles isn’t your home.”

My laughter winks out. “Yes, it is.”

He shakes his head. “That’s not true. You know exactly where you belong. A place with cool breezes and old trees. Where the night sky is alive with stars and you can walk barefoot over the earth.”

I stare, unblinking and dumbstruck. I know without a shadow of a doubt what he’s describing.

“You followed me?” I breathe.

“Not initially, no. I used to wander the property at night, too, when the walls felt like they were closing in.”

“I had no idea,” I whisper.

His lips curve with an emotion darker than humor—it makes my blood run hot and fast. He murmurs, “My fiery little nemesis, sneaking out of the big house to roam the forest in her transparent nightgown. How I wished you were coming to me, to give me the burn of your touch instead of your viper’s mouth.”

I’m falling into his endless midnight eyes, seeing myself as he saw me, young and fey, wandering under the stars. I can almost feel damp soil between my toes.

You’re drunk, Candace.

I find my voice. “I was fourteen, Bast.” But I don’t sound angry at all. I sound awestruck.

His lips twitch. “And I was almost eighteen. I won’t apologize. You had the body of a woman. Don’t imagine I didn’t notice.”

My chest hurts; I rub a hand over my heart. “But… I was so horrible to you.”

A veil drops over his eyes. The sensation of falling ceases—I sway a little but find balance.

Sebastian glances past me. “Take a shower before the water runs cold.”

As he turns to go, I blurt, “Are you leaving?”

He looks back—he’s distant now, here but not. Watchful and guarded. What is he thinking?

“I’ll wait until you’re finished so you can lock the front door.” Then he’s gone.





14





For the second time tonight, I have no idea what just happened.

I devote myself to a graceless soap-and-rinse, which takes substantially more effort than normal. By the time I’m through, the exchange with Sebastian has taken on the quality of a lucid dream. I don’t feel sick anymore, but I’m definitely still buzzed. And exhausted.

The shock of seeing Robert kissing another woman is gone, washed down the drain with my eyeshadow and mascara. I’m not angry. Hurt, yes, but mostly humiliated.

I wasn’t enough for him, after all.

I have to hand him some credit, though. He was a damned fine actor. I didn’t suspect duplicity for a second. He even had Vera fooled, and she has a remarkably low opinion of men.

“Fuck him and his Look,” I mumble, dragging a comb through my wet hair. “Stupid. So stupid.”

“What look is this?”

I glance into the bathroom mirror to see Sebastian leaning against the doorframe behind me. I don’t bother lying.

“Robert. Vera said he was giving me the Look. You know, the long-term one. Like he was falling for me.”

He stares at my reflection impassively. “He’s heavily in debt. Gambling problems. Mommy and Daddy cut him off a few months ago.”

The air leaks from my lungs. Lightheaded, I brace myself on the counter and laugh caustically. Wow, that stings.

“Don’t pull punches on my account, Bast.” He doesn’t respond, so I face him, feeling empty and small. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He glances away. “I just found out today. Alex did a background check after you took him to lunch. Said something felt off about your boy.”

It sounds exactly like something Alex would do. “Why did he tell you and not me?”

His eyes snap to mine. “He didn’t know how you’d handle it. He said when he saw you at Rhubarb you looked… happy.”

I don’t miss the hesitation, but have no clue how to respond. Was I happy? I don’t fucking know. I’m not sure I would know happiness if it hit me in the face with a metal pipe.

“Were you, Candace? Happy with him?”

I shrug helplessly, echoing my thoughts. “I don’t know. I think I was trying to be, or at least I was willing to try. That probably makes no sense. I don’t even know why I’m hurt, or if I’m hurt. I’m fucked up in the head.”

“No, you’re just a nonbeliever.”

I smirk; we’ve had this debate before. “Oh no, Mr. Bellizzi. I believe. I just don’t think everyone gets to have what my parents had. Although, maybe Alex does. He and Thea seem to be on that wavelength. Love is a different vibration, you know?”

He sighs heavily. “This is getting too existential. I’m not nearly drunk enough.”

A smile is coaxed from my lips. “You want a drink?”

His eyes narrow. “That’s not a good idea.”

It’s my turn to sigh—and I do it in exaggerated splendor, so loud and lengthy that he can’t suppress a short laugh. I belt my modest robe tighter and sweep past him.

“Come on, jackass. Let me pour you a drink. One for the road, or whatever.”

“So persuasive, Candy,” he murmurs.

But he follows me to the kitchen.