Page 84 of The Arrangement

"Yeah…" Pausing, he passed over the rest of the bundle of papers, he added, quickly. "If you want it." I was crying in earnest now, my arms wrapping around Emma as she let out a surprised laugh; patting my back, I wrapped my head around everything that was happening.

When I finally let my old boss go, she squeezed my hand and looked up towards Sebastian. "I'm going on my last lunch break. Let you guystalk." Emma looked as if she was trying to hide a smile as she walked past, all but giving me a thumbs up as she walked out the door, the jingle of the bell announcing her exit.

We were alone. In Hemingway's. InmyHemingway's.

"Say it."

Turning to Sebastian, the deed to the business still cradled to my chest as I wiped the tears away once again, knowing that I was smearing whatever makeup I had left from the night before. The taller man stepped closer to me, backing me up until I hit the counter, his large arms caging me in as he leaned forward, the absolute lust apparent in his eyes. But the closer I looked, there was more than just passion. It looked like…love.

Dipping his head, I thought he was going to kiss me again, but he moved at the last minute to whisper in my ear, his breath hot against the nape of my neck as he bent over me. "Say my name, say I can have you." My stomach flipped at the sound of his deep voice so close, the overwhelming scent of him. "Georgia, please.”

The sound had my toes curling in my shoes and I leaned into him, his lips brushing against my neck, against my jaw.

"Sebas—"

I never finished the sentence because his mouth was covering mine, swallowing the remaining syllables. I wrapped my arms around his neck, scattering the papers and key to the ground as he lifted me up on the counter so I could wrap my legs around him.

It's not like I could be given a bookstore without christening it, right? Well, the first time didn't count. Because this time? There were no cameras. This time? It was just for us.

Chapter 37

Georgia

Iwas holding my breath as we pulled up to Morning View; I’d had a shower and straightened my hair like I was going in for a first date. Sebastian had been holding my hand the entire way, gently rubbing circles into my skin as if he could feel the anxiety radiating off of me. We drove my car this time, mostly because I had Hannah in the front seat with me, and as much as Seb loved the old feline, cat hair is ridiculously difficult to clean up.

"You good?" he asked as he pulled into the visitor's parking spot, idling the vehicle as snow fell around us in thick, fat drops. December had arrived with an onslaught of snow and bitter cold; however, it wasn't too bad. Sleeping next to Sebastian Quinn was like sleeping next to an oven, so I was toasty warm every night. Sure, we were still neighbors, but we had just officially started dating and always came up with an excuse to be in each other's company.

I blew out a breath, scratching Hannah's head as she looked out of the passenger window curiously, her large yellow eyes following the drifting snowflakes. "Yeah, Abbey said it was a good day. I just have never introduced her to any…" I trailed off, the word still foreign on my tongue.

Seb raised a dark eyebrow in amusement and prodded, "Boyfriend?"

I rolled my eyes and nodded. "I know it's early, but with the dementia, I just never know." I sighed, looking out the window along with my grandmother's cat. "I just don't want to wait too long to introduce you, because I don't know how long it will be that I will have to introducemyselfto her."

Squeezing my hand, he replied, "I'm excited to meet her. I remember her a bit from when she would drop you off at school or functions. You two seemed very close."

There was silence for a moment, before he finally seemed to get the courage to say what had been on his mind the entire drive here.

“I want to quit the website,” Sebastian said resolutely, looking at me for my reaction. We had kept filming; it was something we had worked into our relationship, something we did for fun that we both enjoyed. I loved getting on his socials and reading the thirsty comments out loud while he blushed redder than his stage lighting.

“Okay,” I shrugged, scratching Hannah’s ear. “Why did you decide that?”

Sebastian shrugged. “I don’t know, I started doing it for fun and then a bit more for a sense of control. Charles didn’t give me an inch, and it was a way to make my own money and own decisions without his involvement. With Charles gone, Maria set up and my investments and savings paying off, I just don’t need it.” He looked at me, amber eyes roaming over me with an appreciative glint. “Besides, I’m done sharing you. I want you to myself.”

Rolling my eyes as I tried to hide my blush, I responded, “Greedy, Quinn, very greedy.”

He smiled, grasping my chin and leaning over for a chaste kiss. “You love it, Clark.”

I bit my lip and gave him another short peck before reaching for the door handle. I paused when a sudden thought came to my mind, and I looked at him curiously. "Were you really into a silent rivalry with me in high school?"

Sebastian groaned and pressed his forehead to the steering wheel inembarrassment. "I am going to kill Fletcher for ever mentioning that." I waited with an amused expression on my face, still petting the purring cat in my lap. "I guess I was. I might have been a little obsessed. Not like in a stalker way, but I was curious about you. Charles had been on my case the entirety of my high school career about my grades and my attendance. I never had a sick day until that lacrosse injury; I just thought if I could get that spot, it would prove something to him. Or at least get him off my back."

I looked at him sympathetically. "I guess I had something to prove, too, back then. I was the poorest in the whole place and had nothing going for me other than academics." I turned my high school memories over in my mind; most of them I had buried for good reason, but I remembered my time in the library fondly. "I remember you in the library studying, wearing your stupid letterman jacket." He had looked extremely hot in said letterman jacket, but he already had a social media full of women and men telling him how attractive he was; I couldn't let him get a big head.

Sighing, I looked at him forlornly and teased, "Sorry I was so smart, Sebby."

Sebastian gaped at me in feigned annoyance and shoved my reusable grocery bag at me before mumbling, "Get out of the car, Georgia, Jesus Christ."

I laughed as I gently placed Hannah into the oversized reusable bag, the bottom lined with her favorite blanket. The cat didn't even seem fazed. She just lay down like she was in on the plan.

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