Chapter 6 #3
“Oh. From the way you were talking, I assumed you knew all about constellations.”
“I just said that to get you to agree to go on a date with me,” I admit and run my fingers through my hair in a boyish fashion. Step one is to make her think I’m just a boy looking to impress a girl. In the sweetest and most romantic way.
She starts giggling. “This is crazy,” she says, shaking her head, her blonde hair flying over her shoulders. “This is absolutely so crazy.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because we barely know each other. I literally just met you, and you’ve already asked me out on a date. To gaze at the stars, yet you don’t even know the stars that well.”
“I’m not mad about it, are you?” I offer her a warm smile. Step two is to make her think I’m approachable and warm. “At least we get to be together.”
“No, I guess I’m not mad about it.” She laughs. “I just—ow!” she cries out as she trips over some rocks.
I quickly reach over to grab her before she hits the ground.
She clings to me, her breath ragged. I can feel her heart racing against me.
Her body is cool, but soft and pliable. I’m surprised by how strong she is as she hangs on to me.
She has an inner strength. Self-preservation runs through her veins, which is likely how she tells herself that what she’s doing is okay.
“Oh my gosh, I nearly fell and busted my face,” she says, laughing shakily. “Thank you so much for catching me.” She stares into my eyes, a small smile on her lips as she takes a deep breath of the night air.
“I’d never let you fall,” I say softly. Step three is to establish the connection that we have and what a good man I am. She blushes, and then I press my lips against hers for two seconds before leaning back.
“Trust me,” I whisper, “I would never, ever let you fall.”
She looks breathy and taken aback, and I can’t help wondering if she deliberately tripped over those rocks.
Maybe she is playing a game, as well? Maybe we are playing each other.
How did she not see them? Yes, it’s dark, but the moonlight casts enough light to see the path, and we were just talking about the rocks a few minutes ago.
I have a feeling this is part of her plan—to make me fall for her and make me feel protective of her.
Well, I’ll fall for her, all right. A twisted smile crosses my face for a few moments.
What an insidious situation for us both to be in, faking it for each other.
“Do you like it here in Whispering Haven?” I ask as we continue toward the open field. I’m carrying a small telescope that I’d brought with me from the city. I’m excited to see the sky a little clearer. It’s not often I get to come out far enough in nature to be able to stare at the stars.
“I don’t really know how to answer that,” she says as we walk.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I do like it here, but it’s not necessarily where I think I’ll be for the rest of my life. I have plans.” She pauses. “But we don’t need to talk about that right now.”
“I see.” I study her face. “You don’t want to tell me about your plans? Are they small plans, big plans?”
“Big,” she says with a grin. “Very big.”
“I see.” I want to ask if I’m part of those plans, but I don’t want to let on for even a second that I know what she’s up to.
I can’t let her know that I know what she did to Sergio and who knows how many other men.
I can’t let her know that her acting is wasted on me, because I know who she really is on the inside.
A cunning golddigger. “I think life sometimes has a way of tripping up plans,” I say with a shrug. “But I hope yours come true.”
“I think they will. One day,” she says. “Katherine, Brielle, and I—we’re trying really hard to make sure we get what we want.” She sounds wistful, and the look she gives me is almost sad, like she’s regretful she has to hurt me.
“I see.” I can’t believe she’s openly admitting that she and her two friends are in on it.
I suppose she thinks it’s an innocent comment, since she doesn’t know what I know.
I want to confront her, but a part of me isn’t ready for this to end.
Just telling her that I know how she targets and rips off men is not enough.
I need her to feel the pain that Sergio is currently feeling.
My phone starts beeping then, and I sigh.
“Sorry.” I reach down to turn off the volume.
She shakes her head. “No worries. You should check who is calling, just in case it’s important.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be rude.”
“No, go ahead. It’s fine.”
I answer and see that it’s Louisa. “Hey, what’s going on? I can’t really talk right now.” I stare at Willow and watch as she casually brushes dirt off the front of her jeans. She’s trying to show that she’s not listening, but I know I have to be careful about what I say.
“I just wanted to let you know that your mom is really concerned about Sergio.” Louisa’s voice sounds pained, and I think about Jack’s words. He doesn’t know Louisa like I do. She’s a caring woman and has always been there for me.
“She is?” I say, not really believing it. My mother has never been concerned about Sergio—and she’s certainly never been concerned about me. “What did she say exactly?”
“Well, she just called me and asked if I knew where you and Sergio were, as she’s been calling you both and not getting an answer. I’m concerned about Sergio and assumed she was, as well. And I’m concerned about you too, Seb.” Her voice turns breathy.
“I appreciate it, Louisa. Do you have any other information on… well, you know?” I notice Willow gazing up at me under her eyelashes. She really is beautiful.
“Not yet,” she says. “Where are you, by the way?”
“I’m just working,” I reply. “Out of town.”
“Oh. Okay.” There’s a pause. “Guess what?” she says softly.
“What?”
“I just got out of the shower.”
“Okay.”
“And my body’s still slightly wet.” She moans, and my eyes rise to the moon.
“Okay.”
“And it’s not just from the shower.” She giggles, and it’s the most girlish I’ve heard her in years.
“Sorry, I’m not following.” I’m barely able to concentrate on her as I watch Willow stretching her arms and playing with her hair.
“Has anyone ever told you you have one of the sexiest voices?” she purrs. “I think I’ve—” She pauses.
“Sorry, what?” My voice is curt.
“I’m sorry. Oh my gosh, Sebastian, I’m so sorry. I just had a couple of drinks and—”
“It’s fine,” I say, not wanting to embarrass her.
“Are you in bed?” she whispers.
“No, not yet.”
“I can wait, if you need a release tonight. If you want to slip your fingers into your boxers, we can—”
“Hey, I have to go now, Louisa, but you have a good evening, okay?” I hang up before she can say another word.
I have a feeling she was attempting to have phone sex with me, but that’s not something I’m interested in.
I would have to tell her not to call me after drinking.
I look over and see Willow standing there, giving me an awkward smile.
I wonder how much of that conversation she heard, and whether she thinks I’m some sort of player.
“Sorry about that,” I say. “It was a work thing.”
“Really?” She looks at me and shakes her head. “A work thing, huh?”
“Yes, it was.” I tuck my phone into my back pocket and walk over to her, a playful grin on my face. “Now, where were we?”
“I don’t know.” She frowns, and the light banter we’d had before the call is now gone.
“I think I was about to pick you up and carry you to the field,” I say, reaching for her arms.
“What are you doing?” She starts laughing. “Put me down!”
“I thought a dainty young thing like you would want to be carried.”
“Oh,” she says, looking up at me, her eyes laughing as she stares into my face.
“Yeah. Don’t you just feel like there’s magic in the air tonight?”
She stops wriggling against me, then nods slowly, her lips parted as she looks up into my eyes.
I press my lips against hers again. I want to deepen the kiss—to slip my tongue into her mouth and place my hand beneath her shirt.
I want to have her naked on the ground, to take her hard and fast. But of course, I can’t.
I won’t do any of those things. Not yet.
Step four is to ensure that she doesn’t think that this is just a sex thing.
I let her down slowly and kiss the tip of her nose.
“There’s something about you,” I murmur. “Something in the way you move—something you do that drives me crazy, Willow.”
“Oh, yeah?” she says softly, her eyes wide, and I watch as she licks her lips. She nods slowly, tilts her head to the side, and then murmurs. “I think there’s something about you that drives me crazy, too.”
“I hope so,” I whisper under my breath and grab her hand to pull her close.
“Tonight, let’s look at the stars and enjoy each other's company,” I say.
“Let’s thank the universe for our meeting again.
Let’s just enjoy each other's company....” My voice trails off as she leans into me, gazing at me incredulously.
She looks delighted and happy. She looks like she’s in bliss, and I want to clap.
I want to present her with an Academy Award because her acting skills are superb.
She could be the next Viola Davis or Meryl Streep.
The sad part for her is that I’m smarter than most of the men she works over.
I’m smart enough to know this is all a game to her.
Only this time, she’s the one who is going to get burned.