9. Sebastian
CHAPTER NINE
SEBASTIAN
To say that my ego wasn’t a little hurt last night when Stevie declined my offer for a late-night breakfast would be an understatement.
It’s not like I’m thrilled with the idea of her being my partner on this project either, but we’re all we’ve got since River and Lux are gone for the next six weeks.
“Ms. Stevie is joining you for a late lunch, Seb?” Ben asks, placing a sandwich and salad in front of me.
I shrug. “Who knows? I haven’t seen her all morning.”
“She’s working with you on your next project?” he questions. Ben has worked for River and me for years and is well aware of our nighttime activities.
“Yep.” I take a bite and answer him between chews. “Stevie will be my fake girlfriend.”
His eyebrows raise. “Okay, well, remembering from the last time she stayed with us, she’s a bit of a spitfire.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I know.”
“Women like that are something else, Sebastian.” He begins preparing another sandwich and side salad for her.
I lean in to take a bite of my food when Stevie comes into the kitchen wearing a crop half-bra thing that could be painted on her skin and high-waisted workout pants to match.
I do a double take.
“Good morning. Or should I say good afternoon? Because we all know at the Thompson house, people sleep all day.” Her upbeat tone fills the room.
As Stevie slides into the high-top chair to my side, I let my eyes glide across her glistening body, appreciating her defined curves.
“I made you a sandwich and a salad,” Ben says. “Let me know if you like it or if you want anything altered.”
She smiles and holds up one finger. “Everything should be good. But absolutely no tomatoes. Thank you, Ben.”
By the time my eyes make it back to her face, she’s already looking right at me. Heat creeps up my neck at being caught ogling her.
“Enjoying the view?”
I laugh. “As a matter of fact, I am. And since you’re officially my girlfriend as of today, I think I’m entitled to look.”
“Fake girlfriend,” she corrects sarcastically. “And you can look, but no touching.”
“You got it.” I smile. “So, where have you been all morning?”
She sips the carbonated water Ben just placed on the island in front of her. “I’ve been working out with Sensei Clark.”
My eyebrows snap together, stunned and a little impressed she felt comfortable enough to go into the gym. “How did—”
“Well, I had your aunt call him this morning and ask if he has time to fit me in,” she tells me with a proud smile. “Since I’m going to be staying here and not taking my regular self-defense class, I figured I needed to get in a good workout somewhere.”
“Hmm.” I glance at Ben to see he has a mirrored surprised expression like mine. “I’m glad you’re comfortable going about your regular activities.”
“It’s not like I have a choice, do I, Sebastian?” she spits a playful comment.
“You always have a choice, my beautiful girlfriend.”
Ben remains silent while cleaning up, then heads into the laundry room to drop off the dish towels to be washed.
A few minutes pass while Stevie and I eat before I speak. “Look at us having our first meal as a couple. This is sweet.”
She clicks her tongue, then steals a bite from my salad. “Does that mean we get to share food, too?”
Oh no.
I move my bowl and plate farther away. “I don’t like to share my food.”
She frowns. “Oh, really?” Then reaches across the counter to stab another bite from my salad.
“Stevie,” I warn.
“If we’re dating, you’re going to have to share your food.” She pouts, poking fun at me.
One of my biggest pet peeves is people eating off my plate. “It was made for me for a reason.”
“But yours looks better than mine.” She continues leaning all the way over the counter until she’s almost on my lap. I grip her hips, lifting and sliding her on top of me in one swift motion. She gasps. Now, straddling me, her core rests snugly against my dick.
“Stevie, I do not like to share my food.” I lower my voice, deepening it into a growl.
Her throat bobs with a hard swallow. “Fine.”
“But you do feel nice on my lap.” I smirk.
I catch a sharp rise of her chest. “Funny. But too bad you’ll never get to enjoy it.”
“You never know.” Clutching her tight, I lift her up and set her down.
Her lips push out in a pout. “Just remember…outside the house, I’m your girlfriend. Inside the house, we’re simply partners who respect each other.”
“Again, fine by me.” Letting my eyes go right to her chest, I make it known I’m looking to simply piss her off.
She notices immediately and gives me her back before returning to her chair.
“So, what’s on your schedule for the rest of the day?” I ask, curious about where she’ll be and what she’ll be doing.
“I have to head to Nevermore to get some things done,” she tells me. “Kristine and Noah will be expecting me today.”
Our nighttime projects have been my life for the past couple of years, but I remember what it was like to put on a suit and go into the Thompson Innovations offices. It wasn’t for me. The bureaucracy and fakeness of it all was nauseating.
“They’re your employees?” I ask.
“Yep. Kristine is the mortuary manager and literally my right-hand woman. And Noah is a mortician and embalmer. He’s been a great help ever since he got out of the apprentice program.”
“I’m glad you have people you can rely on. Have they worked for you for a while?”
“Since before I’ve owned the mortuary. So awhile.” Stevie runs her black fingernails along the condensation on her drink. The movement traps my gaze.
A rapid blink shakes the thought away. “And I remember you saying before that you bought it from an older couple?” I ask to be friendly.
A small smile appears on her face. “You remember that?”
I tuned out most of her ramblings when she stayed here the first time with her sister, but we didn’t really get into any real personal details. I was in and out, working on the current project at the time.
“I remember some of what you say.”
She rolls her eyes, still smiling. “Going for boyfriend of the year, are you?”
Stevie and I both stand at the same time.
“I’ll take it,” I say, removing the plate from her hand.
“Thank you.”
Walking over to the sink, I can see her still standing in the kitchen from my periphery. “We have to leave for the masquerade ball at eight thirty. I’d like to touch base beforehand.”
She nods. “We only discussed some of it the night you broke into Nevermore.”
I lean my back against the sink with my arms crossed against my chest. We discussed most of what our story will be. This is the first event, and I’m sure the Society will be vetting us cautiously.
“How long have we been dating?” I ask.
“Three years. Long enough to know each other, but not too long where we know everything about each other in case one of us stumbles over something.”
“Good.” I smile. “And how did you find out I was a serial killer?”
“We were both hunting the same night and ran into each other.” A cocky hand lies to her hip. “And the rest is history because we fell madly in love.”
“Exactly.” I push off the sink and walk toward her. “Above all, it’s important for us to protect our privacy, so most questions we will not be answering.”
“Okay.”
“And remember, if at any point you’re unsure how to respond, just tap me on the leg, or we can have a code word.”
“What about a phrase?”
“Sure,” I say. “Do you have any in mind?”
She nods. “I read the phrase ‘The dead have heard enough’ in a poem once.”
“Morbid.” I shrug. “But I like it.”
“So, anytime you’re stuck, uncomfortable, or would like the conversation to end, say those words, and I’ll know to jump in. You can always give my hand a quick squeeze if the phrase doesn’t fit the moment.”
“Good.”
“I’ll be back later this evening,” she says, before heading out of the kitchen.
Staring into the space she only just occupied, I get the urge to follow her.
And that’s exactly what I do.
Watching the minutes tick by as I sit in my car outside Nevermore Mortuary and Funeral Home, I think of why I’m waiting in the parking lot while Stevie is inside meeting with her staff.
It’s been a couple hours since she left the manor.
Maybe it’s because she’s supposed to be my girlfriend now? I’ve dated women in the past and never had the urge to stalk them. Or is it because we’re partners now and I’ve never been one to trust people?
Who fucking knows.
I shake my head as if having full conversations alone in a car is a normal thing people do. I also can’t deny it’s also the magnetic energy she pulls me in with—I can’t stay away. Which I don’t like much either. It makes me feel like I’m thinking with the wrong head.
I catch some movement in her office and suddenly realize that I don’t have a good reason to give her for why I’m here.
Dammit.
A quick thought of how I could have simply used TI’s tracking systems on her phone or car seems like a more logical option, but I didn’t. If we’re going to be working closely together, I might as well show her where I really am.
Oh, fuck it. I jerk open the door, letting my boots step onto the asphalt, then lean against the car door in plain sight.
I squint my eyes through the bright sunlight which remains after the deep gray clouds roll in for late afternoon.
Stevie emerges from the entrance of the small building, dressed in jeans and a cream-colored sweater.
As soon as she heads toward the parking lot, she spots me.
Her shoulders fall in annoyance, causing her loose sweater to slide off one shoulder.
I break a smile.
“Sebastian,” Stevie says my name as she approaches me. “You are stalking me.”
I cross my ankles, getting more relaxed. “Maybe I am.”
“You don’t have to follow me around everywhere. You have my phone number, and I’m staying at your house.” She runs a hand through her long corkscrew curls, shoving her hair to one side.
“But you’re my girlfriend.” I smile, knowing the comment will get under her skin. Every time I mention her being my girlfriend, her lips purse into a pout. She makes it too easy for me not to bait her.
“I thought we talked about this earlier?” Her flippant question doesn’t match the light blush on her cheeks.
“You said outside the manor.” I glance around the tall pine trees between each building lining the street. “Technically, we are outside the manor.”
She laughs through the exasperated sigh which fills me with joy. I like getting under her skin. “Fair enough. What did you come here for? I’m heading back to the manor now.”
A question I’d like an answer to myself. “I really don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“No. When you left earlier, I just had the urge to go with you to make sure you’re safe.” I’m surprised at how the words fall from my mouth without a thought.
“Oh.”
A silent moment passes.
I push off the side of the car. “We have to leave for the masquerade ball soon. I’ll walk you to your car.”
Stevie’s hair flips around. “My car is right there.” She points at the BMW parked only two spots away from mine.
“I know,” I say, and escort her to her car.
She slowly follows me.
I open her car door. “I’ll see you at home.”
Perplexed and unsure how to respond, she slides in and rests her bag on the passenger seat, then turns to close the door.
As I ride close behind her all the way up the mountain, a call comes through my Bluetooth.
“Hey,” River greets me as soon as I answer the call.
“Did you guys land already?”
“Yeah. The flight was easy and smooth.”
“Awesome. So, what’s up?” I ask.
“That masquerade ball is tonight and I wanted to check in with you. Do you need anything? Are you ready?”
“I’m fine. I don’t need anything.” Irritation whips at my back at my cousin’s constant checking in with me. “Honestly, this is nothing like what we’ve ever done before. There’s no playbook.”
“That’s it?” he asks, and I can almost feel my control freak cousin’s anxiety at my nonchalant approach.
“River, sometimes we need to rely on our knowledge and instincts.” I remind him that we don’t always operate the same way. He likes to plan things out in advance, but since this is my first solo project, I find myself more controlled than I thought I’d be.
“What about Stevie? Have you guys gone over the specifics at all? Or what could she expect?”
My eyes bore into the bright red taillights of the car. “Yes. And she’s fine. I’m following her back to the manor right now.”
“You’re following her home?”
“Yes.”
River’s sarcastic chuckle booms through the speakers. “How does she feel about that?”
I can’t help but laugh as well. “She doesn’t like it. But she’ll have to get used to it.”
“Oh, man. I hope you two don’t kill each other before you’re able to get the job done,” he says.
Stevie pulls off the highway onto the bottom of the hill leading up to the property.
“Wouldn’t that be a plot twist?” I comment. “Look, I’ve got to go. We’re back at the manor.”
“Okay, good luck. Text me if you need anything.”
“Will do,” I reply, then end the call.
Stevie and I take the long, windy road up to the house as the sun lowers over the horizon.