The Reluctant Heiress: A Novella(5)

“I just want you to have what you deserve,” I say in apology. “At least I’m not offering to buy you a house anymore.”

Vera snorts. “Speaking of my apartment, my new neighbors are freaking loud.”

I smirk, recalling that they’re newlyweds. “Good loud, though?”

She grins. “Whew, I’ll say. Headboard-banging, ass-spanking loud. They’re right up your alley, freak show.”

I throw back my head and laugh. “Whatever, so I like it a little rough. Sue me.”

With an embarrassed throat-clearing, our male waiter sets two more wine glasses and a bottle on the table. Vera and I trade confused glances.

“We didn’t order this,” I tell him.

The waiter, a young man with delicious caramel skin, points across the patio. “Compliments of the gentleman.”

I bend to see around Vera, then immediately straighten. “That’s no gentleman,” I say crisply. “Send it back, please.”

Vera follows my stare. “Jesus,” she hisses. “Can’t that guy take a hint? It’s been what, nine months?”

I nod shortly and wave at the bottle. “Please, I’m serious. Take it back.”

The waiter picks up the bottle, clearly uncomfortable. “W-what should I tell him?” He looks so tortured, I throw my napkin on the table and stand, picking up the bottle and glasses.

“Don’t worry about it. I got this.”





4





As I walk away, Vera calls brightly, “Don’t do anything that will get you sued!”

I skirt around tables and zero in on Alaster Brant. He watches me come, a knowing smirk on his lovely British face. Blond hair, blue eyes. Killer smile. I should have never fallen for his charms, but the accent had proven too much for my defenses. I’d broken my cardinal rule of never dating actors. Naturally, I came to regret it.

Reaching the table, I set the bottle and glasses down between him and his manager, Darcy Kaplan. Darcy nods at me, her attention barely wavering from her phone call.

Alaster smiles blithely. “Candace, you look ravishing.” Goddamn accent.

I smile sweetly. “And you still look like a philandering piece of shit.”

He chuckles. “I’ve missed your wit, dear. Are you free this evening?”

“No, and consider me booked for the rest of my life and yours.”

He places a hand over his heart, blue eyes widening with manufactured hurt. “You can’t dash a man’s dreams like that. It’s cruel.”

“Leave me alone, Alaster.”

I turn fast and walk smack into someone’s chest. A familiar chest—smelling of smoke, leather, and vetiver.

“Whoa,” says Sebastian, grabbing my shoulders as I jerk back. I glare up at him, wishing more than anything that I’d worn heels. It’s hard to intimidate someone who’s almost a foot taller than you are.

“Let go of me,” I growl, and shove past him. I make it the rest of the way to Vera without mishap and plunk into my chair.

“That looked awkward,” she says dryly.

I take a large swallow of my wine and glance across the patio. Sebastian has joined Alaster and Darcy, who’s his manager, as well. The men are laughing. Fucking actors.

“Smallest big city in the world,” I mutter.

Vera says, “I ordered us salads to go.”

“God bless you.”

When our food arrives, I make haste to the valet while Vera stops in the restroom. I stare at a palm tree as I wait, taking deep breaths to rid my nose of Sebastian’s scent. On my tenth breath, it floods my senses anew. My skin prickles as he moves up beside me.

“Are you stalking me, Bast?”

He waves a valet ticket. “Such vanity, Candy.”

Frazzled by his nearness and last night’s dream, I snap, “Don’t call me that.”

“But you’re so, so sweet.”

Arousal quakes in my belly and lower. I have a flash of recall that makes me dizzy—his head between my legs, his growling voice telling me how sweet I taste. That I’m candy to him.

I almost swoon with relief as my car pulls up and the valet steps out. Vera walks out of the restaurant and hurries toward me. Perfect timing. I smile up at Sebastian, glad he can’t see my eyes behind my dark sunglasses.

“Quit messing with me.”

His brows lift. “Is that what I’m doing?”

“How the hell should I know? But whatever it is, stop. There are millions of other women in this city you can test your pick-up lines on.”

“None of them blush like you do, Candace.” Before I can retort, he nods toward my car. “I’ll see you tonight at Alex’s. Don’t forget a gift.” He strides toward the valet with his ticket. He doesn’t look back.

Vera whistles softly. “That is one fine ass.”

I drag my eyes away from the area in question. Shaking my head, I skirt around to the driver’s door of my Mercedes convertible and slide into the seat. Vera passes a tip to the valet, then drops into the passenger side.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into him,” I mutter, gazing through the windshield at Sebastian, who swings a long leg over the back of his Harley. He settles, shifting his hips a little. Muscles clench low in my body.