He ordered a whiskey and soda when the waitress came around and then sat back in the chair, just watching Gigi.
And she didn’t like it. His gaze made her uncomfortable, like she was stripped bare and he was seeing all the parts of her she kept hidden from the world.
“You really don’t want me here, do you?” he asked.
Gigi closed her eyes and prayed for patience or grace or hell, even courage. “It’s not that I don’t want you here,” she lied. “It’s just that I was surprised. I wasn’t expecting a date and…” She shrugged. “I’m sure you know how it is when you think you’re just going out for a drink and it turns into something completely different.”
“Is that what this is?” he asked. “Something different than a drink with a friend? We were friends once, right? We can be again.”
It seemed so simple. For most people it probably was. But not for Gigi. Her past was in the past for a reason. And that was damned sure where it was going to stay. She told herself to get to her feet, to get up out of the chair and walk out the door. It’s what she was supposed to do. It’s what she should’ve done. But instead, she sat back in her chair, smiled at him, and said, “Yes. We can be friends again.”
By the end of the night, Gigi knew she’d had one drink too many. But she hadn’t been able to help it. Talking with Sebastian was everything it had been way back when they were teenagers. Easy, fun, intelligent. And he made her laugh, which was extremely rare when one was talking about the opposite sex. For some reason, she had a hard time letting her guard down around most men. But not with him.
She was laughing so hard from a story Sebastian told her about his dating life in college that she barely noticed when her friends stood and were ready to go.
Sebastian looked up at them and smiled. “Is everyone heading out?”
“Yes,” Troy said. “This one has to be at the set early.” He pointed at Joy and then wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her neck.
Gigi felt the sigh leave her before she could stop it.
Sebastian eyed her for a moment, and she knew he’d heard it. Dammit.
Hope leaned down and whispered, “Looks like my gamble paid off. You two sure have been having fun. Does this mean you won’t hate me in the morning?”
“No. Still going to hate you,” Gigi said, but she couldn’t help the smile that claimed her lips.
“Uh-huh. I can see that.” She stood up again. “Do you need a ride, or is Sebastian going to give you a lift?”
“I can take her home,” Sebastian said immediately.
Gigi wanted to protest, because even though she hadn’t gotten up and left like she should have, she knew without a doubt that if he took her home she was going to do or say something stupid. Like, Come on in, Sebastian. Rip my clothes off and have your way with me.
Nope.
Couldn’t happen.
Never going to happen.
She was a liar, liar, pants-on-fire liar, because the moment he pulled into the driveway of her house, she said, “Walk me to my door?”
Being that he was a gentleman, he climbed out of his BMW SUV and came around to open her door. Then he walked her to the vine-covered entryway of her house. “This place is fantastic, Gigi. It reminds me of home.”
“Me, too,” she said wistfully. “Do you remember the wisteria vines on the treehouse? They were so gorgeous.”
“I do. I remember you being livid when your dad chopped them back, too.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to think about that.” Instead, she nodded to his car. “That doesn’t look like a rental.”
He shook his head. “Nope. It’s not.”
“Does that mean you drove up here from LA? Kind of a long drive,” she said, suddenly wondering why he was back in Premonition Pointe at all. She’d assumed he was there to do work for Carly, but now she wasn’t sure.
“It would be, if I wasn’t staying here through the summer.” He glanced around as if taking everything in. “I decided I needed some time away from the city, and Premonition Pointe seemed like a good place for now.”
“So you’re here for a while,” she said, placing one hand on his chest and stepping into him.
“Yeah. Just for a while.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and without allowing herself to overthink it, she said, “I’m having second thoughts about getting horizontal with my blind date.”
The amusement that she expected to see in his gaze had vanished and been replaced with pure heat. His head came down and his lips covered hers, his tongue tasting, exploring, owning hers.
Gigi melted into him, her arms going around him, and for the first time in years she felt safe in a man’s arms. But then he pushed his hand into her hair and tugged. It wasn’t painful, nor did she feel threatened by it. But it was enough to send her hurtling back into reality, and she jumped back, putting distance between them.
This could not happen. Not with Sebastian.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, his expressive gaze full of concern.
She shook her head. “No. Sorry. This just isn’t…” After sucking in air and blowing it out, she tried again. “This is a mistake. We’re old friends. I think it’s better if we just call it a night.”
He took a step back and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Of course. It’s only the first date anyway. I’d never expect to get horizontal until, say, at least the third date.”
She blinked at him. Then she laughed. He was such an easy going guy that she imagined if she’d gotten him totally naked and they were seconds from consummating the act and she’d reversed course suddenly, that he’d just nod, make a joke, stuff his junk back into his briefs, and then stroll away whistling as if nothing had ever happened. She laughed again at the imagery.
“What’s so funny, Clarity?” he asked softly.
The use of her old name sobered her instantly, and all the reasons she had for needing to keep this man at arm’s length came flooding back. “Nothing. Sorry. I should go in. Goodnight, Sebastian. It was good to catch up.”
“It was. Maybe we could do this again sometime. Maybe get a meal instead of just a drink?”
She shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m interested.”
His expression went blank. Then he nodded and said, “I understand. Goodnight, Clar—I mean, Gigi.”
She was completely still as she watched Sebastian, the only man she thought she’d ever truly loved, walk out of her life. And it was all her fault.
***