Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
He was so disarmingly boyish sometimes it made my chest ache.
“Hi.” I waved shyly.
Juno grinned, shrugging off Sebastian’s arm to pull me into a hug. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“You have?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She released me but only to study me like a prospective mother-in-law might. She stared and then announced, “You’re frightfully attractive, aren’t you?”
I bit my lip against teasing her for using the word frightfully. “You are too.”
“Oh, I know.” She tilted her head cockily. “Did I hear you were leaving? You can’t leave yet. Stay for a bit, please. I’m only in the city for one night.”
“What are you doing here?” Sebastian asked.
“I have a meeting with an art gallery who might be interested in showcasing and selling my latest pottery collection.”
“You’re a potter?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“You didn’t tell her about me?” Juno smacked her brother’s arm. “What’s wrong with you?”
He snorted. “I did tell her about you. I somehow forgot the potter part.”
“I feel so loved.”
Sebastian hooked an arm around her again, crushing her into his side as he guided her toward the kitchen for drinks.
For the next hour, we lounged and chatted in the living room on the giant sectional. Juno seemed only to be interested in me, so I felt a little under the microscope. At first, I was worried she thought I wasn’t somehow good enough for Sebastian. In friendship or otherwise. Seeing his penthouse flat here on the Royal Mile reminded me of something I often forgot when we were together, unless we were directly talking about it: Sebastian was from money. A lot of it. And not just money. He was the son of Lady Clarissa Hanover, the daughter of a princess.
To my relief, however, Juno, despite her posh accent and manner, wasn’t a snob. She was hilarious and kind. I’d just finished telling her about my bad date that evening.
“Dating is the worst.” She leaned against Sebastian on the couch. “I once had to climb out of a ladies’ restroom window to escape a bad date.”
I chuckled at the imagery. “It must have been pretty terrible if you had to do that.”
“Oh, awful. It started off as little ‘icks.’ If you know what I mean. Talking with his mouth full, ogling my breasts.”
“Yes, that’s enough, thank you.” Sebastian wrinkled his nose.
“It got much worse. He suddenly started talking about what he wanted to do to my breasts—”
“I think I might be sick.” Sebastian did look a little green, and I struggled not to laugh.
“Anyway, when he asked me what my safe word was, I got out of there.” Her eyes twinkled with devilishness. “It was far too soon to share a safe word. And who wants a man who talks while he eats to tie them to a bed? Will he keep talking while he eats, I ask? It’s rather a distracting and ineffective use of his tongue.”
Sebastian squeezed his eyes closed. “I beg of you, stop talking.”
I, on the other hand, cackled so hard, I had to wipe tears from the corners of my eyes.
Juno grinned unapologetically.
“You and my sister January would get on so well,” I told her as my laughter melted.
“What are you lot giggling about?” Zac asked from the other side of the sectional.
It seemed Harry and one of the girls had disappeared.
“Juno is torturing me. I don’t know what I did to deserve it.” Sebastian mock glowered at her.
“I’m not torturing you. I’m bonding with Lily. I thought that would please you.”
In answer, he pressed an affectionate kiss to her temple.
And that’s finally when the confusion I’d felt for weeks dissipated. In its place I felt deflated, and I had to keep smiling to cover it up. I hadn’t understood Sebastian’s affection toward me. His physical affection. Putting his arm around me tonight. Holding me while we watched the band. Kisses to my temple and cuddling me close.
However, watching him with Juno I realized it was just who he was. He was a physically affectionate person. And I should count myself lucky that he liked me so much, he treated me as he treated his sister.
Unfortunately, at that moment, I realized I had been holding on to a wee bit of hope that his behavior toward me meant he was actually attracted to me. That maybe our friendship would develop into something more.
But Sebastian hadn’t lied to me. Or to himself.
He needed a friend and he’d chosen me.
I’d take that for the compliment it was and get over myself.
“I really do need to get going.” I stood slowly. “I’ll call a cab.”
“I’ll walk you,” Sebastian spoke up.
“I can do it,” Zac offered. “Your sister is here.”
“No, no, don’t mind me.” Juno waved Zac off. “Bastian, see her safely home. Crash on the couch when you get back because I’m stealing your bed.”
“Of course you are.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN