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“You’re taking her to lunch?”
A smirk crossed Gus’s face. “Working lunch, brother.”
“Why didn’t you mention this earlier?”
“What’s the big deal? I just want to see what all the fuss is about. If you’re willing to change your identity for this girl, there must be something special about her. And I have to make sure she’s good enough for my big brother.”
Sebastian scowled. “That’s not why.”
“Sure it is.”
He set his eyes on Gus, waiting for him to admit what he already knew.
“Fine. She’s gorgeous.”
“Hands off,” Sebastian warned.
“It’s lunch, Bash. You think I’m going to seduce her in the middle of Cygnus?”
Sebastian’s stomach dropped at his mention of seduction. “I like this girl, Gus.”
“You like a lot of girls.”
His forehead scrunched up. “No, I don’t. But maybe you’re too wrapped up in your own life to notice anyone but yourself.”
“Harsh, Sebastian.”
“Truth hurts, Augustus.”
Gus narrowed his eyes at his brother. “Despite your less than kind comments, I love you, brother. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t think twice about wining and dining the lovely Genevieve.”
The sound that came out of Sebastian’s mouth was nearly a growl.
“I can’t promise she won’t fall in love with me, but I won’t try anything with her.” He held his palm open to Sebastian, revealing the tiny scar from their silly blood brothers ritual when they were kids—cutting a small slit until they drew blood, then clasping hands so their blood blended together.
Sebastian held his hand open showing his identical scar.
They clasped hands and squeezed as they had back then, only without the blood dripping, and pulled each other in for a hug and a pat on the back.
“Bros before—”
“Don’t finish that,” Sebastian scolded his sometimes crass brother.
Gus cracked up laughing.
“I expect you to report back on everything you talk about, especially relating to the fundraiser.”
“Have I mentioned this is a crazy, messed up scheme you’ve got going?”
Sebastian sighed. “I know, okay.”
“I approve.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Of course you do.”
SIX
Genevieve felt out of her element, sitting across from Sebastian Schultz, dining at one of the nicest restaurants in town. The fanciest place she’d ever eaten was Charley’s Crab before her high school prom, but that felt a little more casual than Cygnus 27 in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, where they were currently seated, looking out over the Grand Rapids skyline and the Grand River below.