Page 68 of Falling for Them

The noise Natasha makes is difficult to describe.It’s something between a gasp and a shriek, with a large helping ofohmygawd ohmygawdthrown in.

She sets down the tray of empty pint glasses on Carl’s station, then grabs me by the shoulders.“This is exactly what we were talking about, Ella.You will talk to that man, and you listen to me.You deserve good things.Good, nasty things.Go get that D.”

Carl’s eyes grow wide.I think mine must be wide, too.Natasha spins me around and pushes me through the swinging door, back into the dining room.

I approach Sebastian once more.He’s watching me over the glass of water the busser brought to him.

Instead of asking him what he’d like to order, I blurt out, “How—how did you know to find me here?”

“Well,” he drawls, “I thought about hanging around outside your apartment building, but that was a little too creepy, even for me.Then I remembered seeing you at the karaoke place, and I wondered if you might hang around this area sometimes.I didn’t realize you worked a second job.”

“Yes, well, that’s how the other half lives,” I say.“I doubt you’d understand.”

He doesn’t smile, but something around his eyes makes me think he finds my statement humorous.Then his hazel eyes darken and I see something in there—something like the sorrow and abandonment I’ve been feeling ever since Dad died.

He says, “Princess, you have no idea.”

It’s none of my business.I wouldn’t want him asking about my past, so I’m not going to ask about his.But this tiny glimpse of his old hurts makes me less suspicious of his motives, and I find my shoulders relaxing.

“What do you want?”I ask.“Are you here for a meal, or a drink, or…?”

“Kingston and I want to be with you,” he says, like it’s so fucking simple.

“We can’t,” I say.“It’s just…we can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

Tears fill my eyes, but I blink them away.Stupid tears don’t solve anything.They never have, and they never will.“We just can’t, okay?”

His voice goes soft.“Okay, princess.How about we just hang out tonight?You and me?No pressure, no asking for anything more.In fact, even if youbegfor sex, I won’t give it to you tonight.”

I don’t know what to say to that.Surely he can’treallymean that he wants to spend more time with me.And not just for sex?

“We can go to the Kitty Cat again,” he says.“We’ll visit.Maybe you’ll sing for me again.”

Natasha, standing across the room, is pouring soda from the fountain.She looks at me over the machine and mouths, “Say yes.”

I want to laugh, because she can’t have any idea what Sebastian has asked me, but whatever it is, she wants me to do it.

And I want to do it.

“Okay,” I say.“Karaoke.Let’s do it.”

His fingers close around my wrist, and I get a flash of the night of the gala.Being restrained, held, fucked.

That’s not happening tonight, but I’ll be thinking about it.

Constantly.

Nineteen

Sebastian

I only have to wait a few minutes for Ella’s shift to end, and to be completely fucking honest, I don’t mind waiting at all, because I get to sit here and watch her work.She’s quick on her feet, and thoughtful.She has a smile for the people she waits on, and when one group gets her into conversation, she blushes and grows shy.

Finally, though, she finishes up and gives me a “one minute” gesture before disappearing down a side hallway.

A man across the room watches her go.He’s wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and looks like he belongs here, given everyone else’s casual wear, but something about the intensity in his eyes bothers me.Why’s he watching Ella?