and matched his mood.
Ashley saw a different side of Sebastian tonight. A side that she liked. A side that intrigued her.
“Sebastian, maybe you’re trying too hard. You don’t have to arrange elaborate dates. You’re very thoughtful and your plans are great, but truthfully,” she paused, flexing her fingers. “This is temporary.”
Sebastian raised his brow. He glanced at Ashley. “You think I should be more spontaneous?”
Ashley bit down on her bottom lip, remembering the taste of Sebastian’s sweet, salty lips. “Oh, I don’t think spontaneity is a problem for you.” Sebastian’s chuckle made her stomach flip-flop.
He pursed his lips. “I can’t take all the credit for my actions.” His eyes darkened. “We can’t keep our hands away from each other.” The glint in his eye indicated Sebastian shared as vivid a memory of the evening as she did.
“I’m just saying every date doesn’t have to be staged.”
“All right. No plans. You want to hang out with me? See where the night takes us?”
“Sure. I’d love to see what happens when Casanova lets spontaneity guide him.”
“Fine.” He twisted his lips, and turned the steering wheel hard to the left. The Jeep made a U-turn. “We haven’t eaten. Are you hungry?”
“Well, I didn’t get this curvy figure by eating air pie,” she said.
Sebastian huffed. “No, I suppose you didn’t.” He shot Ashley a sidelong glance.
She winced. “That was rude. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “No apology needed. I like your plainspoken honesty. I like that you speak your mind. And I especially like your curvy figure. No, air pie will not do.”
Ashley laughed. Being herself felt like being unshackled.
Sebastian pulled the Jeep into the parking lot. “I imagine people never wonder where they stand with you.” His dimpled grin her tonic, Ashley’s slumped shoulders lifted.
“Honesty is my gift to the world,” she raised convicted hands, shrugged her shoulders, and released a sigh. “And my personal burden.”
Fine lines creased the edges of his eyes. He cupped his chin. “You should never see your strength as a weakness. I admire your outspokenness.” He stared at her in puzzlement. “Beautiful independence,” he muttered under his breath. “That’s the way I see you.”
“Beautiful independence?” She frowned.
Sebastian placed a hand on the door handle. “You’re strong. Independent. You can take care of yourself. I like that about you.”
Ashley smiled. Most men cowered at her confidence and didn’t have an appreciation for her quick tongue. Before she could respond, he jumped out the Jeep and slammed the door.
Despite his gruff exterior, Sebastian was chivalrous, opening doors and pulling out chairs. The sort of behavior that made a woman feel like a woman. Even a strong, independent woman like herself wanted a man like him. Mr. Chivalrous.
The passenger door opened. He held out a hand. “I hope you like hot dogs and chips.”
A man pumping gas into a sporty red convertible eyed them as she hooked arms with Sebastian.
Ashley laughed aloud. “Convenience-store store grub. My favorite.”
He winked. “Not staged. Not elaborate,” he said with a cocky smile.
“Perfect!”
“Oh, but there’s more. Come on.” He gave a gentle nudge. “Our dinner awaits.”
“I can’t wait to find out what else you haven’t planned.” She walked through the door. He followed behind.
Sebastian’s arm settled across her shoulders. “That makes two of us. I’m making this up on the spur, so anything goes.” Unwittingly, Ashley leaned into him.
A new feeling emerged. A feeling she hadn’t felt before. A feeling she didn’t think was possible. Safe. Safe to be her. Sebastian’s strength and self-assuredness didn’t come at the expense of stifling hers. Not having to temper her temperament freed Ashley, felt as natural as the erratic pitter-patter of palpitations in her chest and clammy palms whenever Sebastian held
Ashley saw a different side of Sebastian tonight. A side that she liked. A side that intrigued her.
“Sebastian, maybe you’re trying too hard. You don’t have to arrange elaborate dates. You’re very thoughtful and your plans are great, but truthfully,” she paused, flexing her fingers. “This is temporary.”
Sebastian raised his brow. He glanced at Ashley. “You think I should be more spontaneous?”
Ashley bit down on her bottom lip, remembering the taste of Sebastian’s sweet, salty lips. “Oh, I don’t think spontaneity is a problem for you.” Sebastian’s chuckle made her stomach flip-flop.
He pursed his lips. “I can’t take all the credit for my actions.” His eyes darkened. “We can’t keep our hands away from each other.” The glint in his eye indicated Sebastian shared as vivid a memory of the evening as she did.
“I’m just saying every date doesn’t have to be staged.”
“All right. No plans. You want to hang out with me? See where the night takes us?”
“Sure. I’d love to see what happens when Casanova lets spontaneity guide him.”
“Fine.” He twisted his lips, and turned the steering wheel hard to the left. The Jeep made a U-turn. “We haven’t eaten. Are you hungry?”
“Well, I didn’t get this curvy figure by eating air pie,” she said.
Sebastian huffed. “No, I suppose you didn’t.” He shot Ashley a sidelong glance.
She winced. “That was rude. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “No apology needed. I like your plainspoken honesty. I like that you speak your mind. And I especially like your curvy figure. No, air pie will not do.”
Ashley laughed. Being herself felt like being unshackled.
Sebastian pulled the Jeep into the parking lot. “I imagine people never wonder where they stand with you.” His dimpled grin her tonic, Ashley’s slumped shoulders lifted.
“Honesty is my gift to the world,” she raised convicted hands, shrugged her shoulders, and released a sigh. “And my personal burden.”
Fine lines creased the edges of his eyes. He cupped his chin. “You should never see your strength as a weakness. I admire your outspokenness.” He stared at her in puzzlement. “Beautiful independence,” he muttered under his breath. “That’s the way I see you.”
“Beautiful independence?” She frowned.
Sebastian placed a hand on the door handle. “You’re strong. Independent. You can take care of yourself. I like that about you.”
Ashley smiled. Most men cowered at her confidence and didn’t have an appreciation for her quick tongue. Before she could respond, he jumped out the Jeep and slammed the door.
Despite his gruff exterior, Sebastian was chivalrous, opening doors and pulling out chairs. The sort of behavior that made a woman feel like a woman. Even a strong, independent woman like herself wanted a man like him. Mr. Chivalrous.
The passenger door opened. He held out a hand. “I hope you like hot dogs and chips.”
A man pumping gas into a sporty red convertible eyed them as she hooked arms with Sebastian.
Ashley laughed aloud. “Convenience-store store grub. My favorite.”
He winked. “Not staged. Not elaborate,” he said with a cocky smile.
“Perfect!”
“Oh, but there’s more. Come on.” He gave a gentle nudge. “Our dinner awaits.”
“I can’t wait to find out what else you haven’t planned.” She walked through the door. He followed behind.
Sebastian’s arm settled across her shoulders. “That makes two of us. I’m making this up on the spur, so anything goes.” Unwittingly, Ashley leaned into him.
A new feeling emerged. A feeling she hadn’t felt before. A feeling she didn’t think was possible. Safe. Safe to be her. Sebastian’s strength and self-assuredness didn’t come at the expense of stifling hers. Not having to temper her temperament freed Ashley, felt as natural as the erratic pitter-patter of palpitations in her chest and clammy palms whenever Sebastian held
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