Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 101399 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101399 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
He frowned. “Surely, I can think of something to tempt you.”
“I love teaching.” I shrugged. “It was my true first love. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
“I used to have that sort of passion, for business of course. And then for Mrs. Lindstrom.”
My interest piqued, I turned toward him. “Can you tell me more about her? Sebastian never said much.”
“Harmony was an amazing woman. Strong-willed, smart, and curious. Beautiful. Any man who had half a brain wanted her on his arm.” He laughed. “Convincing her to date me took a while, let me just put it that way.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”
“When we had Sebastian, we were both over the moon, of course. Harmony was running a successful cosmetics company at the time, but took some time off with him. He was a happy baby, never too bothered by much. Things that would have set another baby off, he’d just move right along. No tears, no problem. We didn’t realize it was a symptom of a much bigger issue until he got older. When he was diagnosed, they characterized it as a version of Asperger’s. And sure, he had some of that, but we eventually took him to a specialist who did a series of tests. Psychotic. It sounds scary, right? And as parents, we were terrified.”
I couldn’t imagine.
“And that’s when Harmony changed. Like the light inside her went out. She didn’t interact with Sebastian as much anymore. I gave him more attention to make up for it. I sort of became his single parent.”
“Oh.” I couldn’t wrap my head around a mother doing that to her child, psychotic or not.
“No, sweetheart, don’t blame her.” He patted my arm. “With a situation like we had, everyone reacts differently. She supported me, and I supported Sebastian. When I’d have a breakdown about something he’d done—and there were several times—she’d put me back on my feet. All the encouragement she used to give him, she gave it to me instead. Now, I realize that was the only way it could have worked. I needed her. He needed me.”
“I get it.” I’d never been in that situation, never had to face something so difficult. But I understood tough choices.
He glanced at something behind me and nodded before pushing back and rising from his seat. “Excuse me for a moment.”
The hackles on the back of my neck rose. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
“I couldn’t resist a little gamesmanship.” He kissed the crown of my head and strode past me.
His scent hit me first, the fullness of it giving me a heady buzz. He could bottle it and sell it for any price he wanted.
“Camille.” His voice slid across my skin like silk as he took the seat his father had vacated. “I hope you liked the orchids.” He was a lady-killer in a perfectly fitted suit, light blue dress shirt, and dark blue tie.
I swallowed thickly, unsure if I should storm out or crawl into his lap. “Yes.”
“Good.” He smiled as his emerald eyes flickered to my lips. “I’ve missed you.”
My mind finally clicked into motion. I slapped my napkin on the table and rose.
“Camille,” he called.
“Hey.” I stopped a passing server. “Quickest way out of here?”
He pointed toward the back. “Leads to the alley, though.”
“Fine by me.” I hurried into the dim hallway and burst through the heavy door. The cold air assaulted me as I rushed toward the busy Manhattan street to my left.
“Stop.” Sebastian was at my heels.
When he grabbed my arm and pushed my back against the brick wall, I gasped.
“Get off me!” I shoved at his chest, but he didn’t move.
“Calm down, please.” Genuine concern in his voice felt like a blade to my heart.
“What are you doing to me?” Tears threatened as I stopped fighting and stared up at him. “What is this?”
“Love,” he said it as if it was the simplest answer. What’s two plus two? Four. Why are you holding me against a wall while I’m losing my mind? Love.
“You aren’t capable of love.”
“I would have agreed a few months ago.” He smoothed his palm down my cheek.
God, I was starved for his touch. I wanted more of it, just like an addict wanted the next hit of their eventual death.
“Let me go.”
“I don’t have you.” He kissed my forehead. “You’re free to do what you want.” As if to prove it, he stepped back. “Run if you want.”
I didn’t move, only stared up at him as my world rattled off its hinges.
He returned, pressing against me, one hand at my throat. “But I’ll always chase you. I’ll never cage you again, but I can’t stop my pursuit. It isn’t possible.”
“This is the obsession thing your dad mentioned.”
He grinned, giving him an even more villainous air. “Precisely.” Running his fingertips down my throat, he leaned closer, his lips at my ear. “Your heart is racing.”