The Long Game (Seattle Sentinels #1)

Chapter Sixteen

Present Day

Lexi

I haven’t looked at my clock since I got back up to the office after lunch, but when I see Sebastian walk up to my office door, I check the time. A few minutes until five.

"Hi." I smile at the surprise.

"Hey. I didn’t want to pressure you about coming tonight but you look like you haven’t taken a breath since I saw you in the courtyard this afternoon. I thought you might not be checking the time."

"Hmmm, not checking the time…might this be something you're guilty of a time or two?"

"I might be familiar with debilitating, soul-crushing deadlines, yes."

I laugh and it earns me a bigger smile from Sebastian. God, his smile is beautiful.

"Debilitating…sometimes. Soul-crushing…not in the least. I love what I do," I say.

"I can see that."

"Is that sad?" A small self-deprecating laugh escapes me.

"Not in the least. It’s sexy as hell."

I blush at the way he looks at me when he says it.

A second later, my father walks up to my door. "Hey, Sebastian, nice to see you again."

"You too, sir."

"Lex, I’m going to head out on time today. Don’t stay too late. A break will help."

"I’m not staying late tonight, actually. Sebastian and I are going to a gallery opening. We’re heading out now." I look at Sebastian, and he nods back at me in confirmation.

My father stops and blinks a few times. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but he chooses not to share it with me. He looks back over at Sebastian.

"Okay, well you kids have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Okay dad, see you tomorrow."

As my dad walks out towards the exit of our high-rise office, I shut off my computer earlier than I have in…well, forever. I grab my purse and walk towards Sebastian, turning the lights off on my way through.

"Sonia said she’d meet us there after she finishes a few things she needs to do for management before she can leave for the night."

Oh that’s right, Sonia is coming. I had forgotten that I am the third wheel to this gallery opening. I’m honestly relieved.

Sure, Sonia is far too old for Sebastian. I haven’t seen or heard Sonia talk about dating in the years she’s worked here either. But this is starting to feel more like a casual outing to get to know each other more than an official date. And with the words Tucker left me with earlier today...

"You’re still my home, Lexi."

I don’t know what he meant by them but I know tomorrow night he is going to fill me in.

Sebastian pulls into an industrial park and as we begin weaving in and out around buildings, I remember how he said his client likes unusual places to hold his galleries. This isn’t a gallery you would just stumble upon. You have to know exactly where this is being held.

It’s well after five. The industrial park is sparse of cars as most people have already left for home. I wonder if it will end up only being me, Sebastian, and Sonia present to this gallery.

We come up to a building where several cars are parked already and others are arriving behind us. We park and Sonia pulls in immediately behind us. We walk over to where the paintings are all perched on tall easels, pointing to face the metal building. It seems odd, but this is what is gaining him his following. Who am I to judge?

"Timothy!"

Sebastian calls out to an older man, about my father’s age, dressed in what looks like a mechanic's overalls, complete with some small grease stains. He is of average height, slender, with deep chocolate hair, salt and pepper starting to show around the sides. It’s that sophisticated way some men start to show their greys that actually looks pretty damn hot.

I bet Sebastian will look good with some greys when he gets older. But why I am imagining that I’ll be around to see it is beyond me. It’s almost as if he can read my mind and his eyes find mine and he smiles. That warm, sexy-as-sin smile that makes me wish I was wearing flats in case my knees give out.

"I’d like to introduce you to a couple of my friends."

"Oh, of course. How lovely for you two beautiful ladies to patronage my humble little art show," he says in his slight French accent.

He reaches down and takes Sonia’s hand, offering a long stare before kissing the top of her hand. She giggles…she giggles!

Then, he reaches for mine and kisses the top of it as well, but he doesn’t give me the look he gave Sonia.

I have always guessed she was beautiful in her younger years. What I couldn’t figure out was if her eccentric personality had driven men away, or if she truly just preferred life that way. I’d believe either version to be true.

As far as I knew, Sonia had never married, nor had any children of her own. Her nieces lived here in Chicago, though, and she spoke of them as if they were her very own. In fact, one of her nieces was a lawyer, as well. I wondered if Sebastian knew her… not that all lawyers know each other, but it’s possible.

Timothy begins asking us questions about ourselves, our work, and our interest in art. He redirects questions that are asked about his own art currently on display, stating once, "The art speaks for itself, so that I don’t have to". He is that kind of artist. But one of the least self-important ones I’d ever met.

After about ten minutes, another patron comes up to speak with Timothy.

"We’d better let you get back to your guests, Timothy. We have some art to see," Sebastian says as he leads me away, his hand resting gently behind my arm.

The physical connection shocks me at how natural it feels. I haven’t felt this instant chemistry with anyone I’ve dated before. It always takes a little time to feel this comfortable with a man’s hand on me, but there it is, and it feels good.

I hear Timothy call out to Sonia as we walk past.

"Give it another thirty minutes for the sun to start to set. Then you’ll have the lighting you require."

He doesn’t offer any more explanation as we walk toward the area set up for drinks and appetizers.

We do as he suggested, not admiring the paintings until the sun sets. When it does, I can’t believe what I am seeing.

Timothy had picked a warehouse with its large two-story metal siding facing the sunset. The colors of the warm amber sunset ricochet off of the building and onto the painting, offering the best mood lighting I have seen. Not only do the paintings facing the building receive the most beautiful lighting cast down from what seems like the heavens, but it positions the patron in such a way that when looking up from the painting, they are greeted with the most striking sunset. It quite literally takes my breath away. I am a sucker for a good sunset.

I stand there at the first painting, Sebastian by my side as Sonia moves onto the next. My jaw drops, and my eyes start to well just slightly. The only time I remember embracing the beauty of the sunset was at the lake house, my haven. A place I have left behind and completely forgotten in trade for my career.

The lake house is only a couple hours outside of the city but our lives are filled with the busy hustle and bustle of life.

Flashes of us as a young family vacationing there flood in, of me and Luca splashing in the lake. Me with floaty wings that caused my arms to stick straight out of my body while Luca boogie boarded with my dad. Then came the older memories. Memories of us in elementary school. Tucker starting to make an appearance. Lilly and Desh, too. Everyone else melts away, and the only person I can still see is Tucker. Standing at the end of the dock looking at me. Tucker, lying next to me on the sandy beach, reaching over to kiss me the year after the accident on the dock. Tucker laying me down for the first time and kissing away my fears. Holding me, protecting me… caring for me.

Will I ever truly be over Tucker?

Do you ever get over your first love?

"That’s the expression I had when I saw you for the first time across the way in your identical office."

Sebastian’s voice breaks me out of my trance, and I physically shake the thoughts from my mind. I am out with another man. I shouldn’t be thinking about Tucker right now.

Sebastian, the incredibly good looking, successful, and interested guy who lives in the same city, and although I’m tossing out assumptions, doesn’t have half-naked women throwing themselves at him on the regular. Although, I imagine Sebastian has had his share of being clobbered by women.

Another bonus? He works directly across from me and works more than I do. Sebastian, the guy who dethawed Sonia in two seconds flat, allowing him to slip through her impenetrable force field of a front office. Sebastian, who already broke the ice with my dad and has these incredible relationships with his clients.

This guy is beyond perfect in every possible way I can see.

After a couple hours of looking through the paintings and talking with other guests, it feels like time to leave as the sun set quite a while ago and it is starting to get dark, leaving very little light for socializing.

Sebastian said that was part of Timothy’s plan so he wouldn’t be forced to stay for hours talking about his work. Timothy truly is a unique artist.

When we find Timothy to say our goodbyes, he thanks us for coming and asks Sonia if she minds staying behind a little while longer while the other guests clear out. She is visibly blushing, and I can’t help but smile for her.

"Timothy, your work is exquisite… and the lighting tonight was genius. We’re finishing the work on a resort project in the Bahamas and my design team has been struggling to find a couple of pieces that really work with our design scheme. You wouldn’t be interested in contracting with us to do a few pieces, would you?"

"That’s quite an honor, Lexi. I’d really need to see the space to determine if I thought I could be inspired to produce something I would be proud enough to hang. When are you headed to the venue again?"

A bizarre thought pops into my head and I have no idea where it comes from. I’ll have to break the news to my dad that we will be without a front office assistant for a few days, but when he hears why, he’ll approve.

"My portion of the project is done. The design team has taken over the operations at this point. But Sonia will be headed there in a few weeks to look over the project for me to make sure everything is going smoothly. She could show you around."

Sonia stares at me with absolute irritation. She doesn’t like change and she certainly won’t like me jet setting her off without giving her time to wrap her head around it. This also is way above her pay grade, and she likes the comfort of the job title she’s held for over twenty years. She likes knowing what’s expected of her and completing it with utmost care.

Sonia opens her mouth to object, but I squash it quickly. "Sonia will be there for a few days. You two could take in some galleries while you're there." I switch my eye contact back to Sonia. "Make a little vacation out of it. You're certainly due."

She’s finally catching on and the blush that was there before has now deepened. There’s an appreciative smile on her face. I know the fact that I suggested she deserves a vacation will be the greatest compliment she could receive, since she still talks about the one my father sent her on years ago.

She works hard for our family and for our business. She deserves the recognition, as well.

"That would be perfect." Timothy smiles back at Sonia. "If you wouldn’t mind showing me around the resort? We could get some brunch at this great little cafe off the beaten path that I stumbled on last time I was there."

The timing feels right, and Sebastian and I walk away from the pair. They seem unaware of anyone else standing near anyway.

"This wasn’t a setup… was it?" I ask Sebastian as we walk back to his car.

"Who, Timothy and Sonia? I thought they would hit it off, but I didn’t think I’d be asked to be his best man in their wedding this soon," he jokes. "The only setup I was hoping for tonight was with you."

Now it’s my turn to blush.

"It’s still a little early. Any chance you would like to get a drink with me before I take you back to your office?" he asks.

"Umm…" I pause for a second, debating whether I want to turn this into a full fledged date.

"Or… sorry, you need to get back to work. I know you have a deadline, and I’ve already taken too much of your time."

"No, it’s not that." I make a quick decision. "I probably shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach."

I flash him a glittery sparkle in my eyes, the one I use when I’m trying to get out of a parking ticket or get bumped up to first class. His smile widens, showing off one stray dimple I hadn’t noticed before. As if the man could be more irresistible.

"I know a dive bar not far from our offices that has good drinks and some pretty incredible burgers… if you’re interested?" he asks with a hopeful grin.

"A dive bar? I didn’t peg you for the type." I say.

His eyebrows furrow together, his grin staying in place."What? Why? You thought I was the golden spoon type? That I wouldn’t set foot in a dive bar?" he asks in a teasing tone.

"I guess I have a lot to learn about you."

Admittedly, I still know next to nothing about the gorgeous lawyer.

"And I have a lot to learn about you. I’d like to start tonight if you’re interested?"

I beam back at him. "Burgers sound perfect."