Page 52 of Hollywood Undercover
Chapter 22
SEBASTIAN leaned forward,looking at the chessboard on the card table back at Clint’splace.
“Oh, by the way, I went out on that date,” he said, deciding on moving a pawn as the game was in its earlystages.
“It looks like you scored, by that stupid grin on your face,” Clint answered. “What date wasthat?”
“The speed dating thing I was telling you about. Rob and Nate took me. It was nothing like I expectedthough.”
“Yeah? So, how did itgo?”
“Not that great. Kinda funnythough.”
“Did you meet any hot babes? It would be just like you to get lucky, youbastard.”
“No, man. I didn’t score last night, but there was one hot woman inthere.”
A wry grin rose up on his face. The vivid mental picture took shape—Alexandra in her black blazer and black slacks, pants snug across her firm ass, curls falling around her face, her smile when he had opened his front door before they left his house thatnight.
“I invited a guy pal of mine to tag along—Maxwell Storme’s nephew—and he pretty much stole the show. The minute Alex sits down next to me, he clams up tighter than a stone. I end up giving him pointers, and one of the woman notices. She gets the idea there must be something wrong with the kid. She goes, ‘Aww, your little brother has Asperger’s!’ Poor guy had women coming at him from all sides. Well, you had to be there, but it was ahoot.”
He quieted down when he realized he was the only one laughing. Clint gave him a confusedlook.
“Don’t tell me you let some other guy steal your thunder,” he said. “You got to be off your game, buddy. Actually I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Me and Beth have been talking—not gossiping or anything. Just talking…Anyway, I told her how dismal things have been for you in the dating scenelately.”
“Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Not you, too,man.”
“Come on, Bash. You’ve got to admit, things aren’t what they used to be. I remember when you were on my crew. We all saw you with a different chick every week. You went out more. You were enjoying life. That was just two years ago, pal. Now all you do is sulk and stayhome.”
“That’s not all Ido.”
“Yeah. Whatever. Since you blew out your knee, it’s been worse. Do you know why I invite you here every month? So I can check up onyounow. I worry about you,man.”
“It’s not as bad as you think,” he said. “I’m not that isolated. I told you my neighbor’s been sick, and the time off with my knee has just given me the chance to help out. I’m not staying away from the dating scene. I’m doing just fine without anyone’s help. Plus, I hang out withAlex—”
“Are you listening to yourself rightnow?”
At this point, the chess pieces had gone untouched for at least five minutes. Sebastian looked down at the rook and pawns with irritation, wishing Clint would make his next move and stop prying into his private life. He didn’t add fuel to the fire by mentioning he had a long phone list of women available whenever he wanted them. There was also no way he would out Alexandra Storme, especially not to Clint, who would definitely make the connection to Lexxi Rock. As far as Sebastian’s romantic life was concerned, Clint would just have to think whatever hewanted.
Then again, Sebastian wasn’t just fine. He wasn’t fine at all. Alexandra Storme was still in her disguise, and she thought he was gay because he was so attracted to her, or ‘Alex’. It was too complicated, and too big a risk for Lexxi Rock, to let Clint inon.
“Just leave well enough alone, Clint. What is it with everyone around me trying to playmatchmaker?”
Clint eyed him suspiciously. “It’s that ex of yours, isn’t it? Aileen? Wait a minute, are you still seeingher?”
“Of course not.” His frustration wasmounting.
This level of meddling by his present and former firefighter crew was a double-edge sword. On the one hand, as the men at the firehouse lived in close quarters for so much of their time at work, they were close-knit. On the other hand, because they were so tight, interfering and intruding came with the territory. Today, their closeness wasn’t helping atall.
Clint raised his hands to convince Sebastian he was backingoff.
Sebastian knewbetter.
“Now, I won’t judge you if you are. All I would say is you can’t have much of a future in dating a marriedwoman.”
“I’m not seeing her,Clint.”
He continued like Sebastian never said a word. “Beth seems to think I’m wrong about you being off your game. She thinks you have someone tucked away somewhere. She’s convinced you’re getting serious with whoever it is. At least that’s what she’s telling me. If it’s that ex of yours, I hope you know what you’re getting yourselfinto.”
