Page 21 of Midnight Serenade
I sighed. “I’ve never gone out with someone I felt this safe with, or someone I’ve been this interested in.” I took a peekat him and then stared down the hallway. “And I think you’re interested in me?”
“I am,” he affirmed.
I nodded. I thought so. I mean, hehadkissed me. “I guess... I just thought... that things would move slower? That there would be more getting to know each other before we kissed and dated? That we would start as friends instead of jumping right into things?” I shook my head, frustrated with myself. “But I can’t seem to keep my lips off of you,” I said self derisively.
He chuckled. “If I remember correctly, I kissedyouthe last time.”
His hands circled low on my hips, his expression thoughtful. “Let me see if I’m understanding you correctly. You’re feeling a little let down because we met, liked each other right off the bat, and kissed on the first and second date? That all of this happened too quickly, and that we did not take our time to really get to know one another first and start as friends?”
I groaned and put my hands over my face. “Just pay no attention to me. I’m an idiot.”
He peeled my hands gently away from my face. “You’re not an idiot. Whatever your feelings are, Grace, you’re allowed them.” He pursed his lips. “Are you still willing to go out with me as friends? I only have thirty days to convince you of how amazing I am,” he teased.
I laughed. He was good at that. Getting me out of the chaos of my thoughts and getting me to laugh. “Yes. I genuinely like you, Sebastian, and I enjoy being around you. I’m sorry my head is such a mess right now.”
A disquieting intent appeared in Sebastian’s eyes. If I had known him better, I would have known that it was the fiery look of someone facing a battle.
But, I mean, how could I have known that the battle would be for my heart?
Sebastian leftme at my door with a hug and a handshake.
A handshake!
I growled as I slipped inside my suite, closed the door, and leaned against it. “Mama, I think I just messed up big time.”
Mom was hanging the clothes she’d been too tired to hang up before up in the closet. She and Micaela had moved into the main living room with me, rather than taking a bedroom. I could hear Micaela in the shower, and Kazi was on my balcony, watching the ocean like an emo kitty. Mom must have let him out. Or maybe he’d pulled a Houdini again and opened the sliding door.
“What happened?” Mama looked at me with concern.
“I think I just told the sexiest man that I’ve ever met that I wanted to go slower. That I wanted to start with friendship instead of jumping right in.”
I groaned and flopped onto the bed, bummed that I was so logical sometimes. And so finicky.
Mom hummed. “It all sounds sensible, honey. Are you disappointed in your own sensibility?”
“Yes!” I said in exasperation. “Sebastian seems to be every woman’s dream, including their sexy dreams, and I basically just told him I want to go at a glacial pace.”
“Did you freak out? Is that why you said it?”
I rubbed my tired eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t think so? I think I just want the build-up as friends, you know? The little things that lead to bigger things that lead to the best things.”
“Nothing wrong with that.”
I sighed. “Maybe not, but I need to have my head examined. I mean, Sebastian seems wonderful.”
Mom nodded, setting out an outfit for tomorrow. “And he may be, but this will give you time to really know.”
“Thanks, mom.” I got up and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
She bussed my cheek and started organizing her shoes. My mom was the most organized woman I knew. I’d gotten all my superpowers from her. Which reminded me...
“Mama, do you know if there was any documentation of my birth? Any clue where I came from?”
She turned to me, her hand lining up a pair of nude heels perfectly with her other heels. “No. I asked when I adopted you. You were one of those babies who was surrendered to a hospital. They went and checked the surveillance video afterward, and they couldn’t even see who’d surrendered you. One moment you and your basket weren’t there, and the next, you were.”
“Like magic,” I whispered.
Mom nodded. “I suppose so, yes.”
