She told me she was going for a walk.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Much like you were?”
“Fair point,” I concede. “But I was coming to see you. What was she up to?”
“I honestly don’t know. But in case you’re indirectly asking me what I think you are, I assure you, Phoebe was not here with me. Nor does she know where my room is, as far as I’m aware.”
The heaviness in my belly lifts and I’m surprised at how relieved I feel to hear him say it. “I’m glad we cleared that up.”
He takes a step closer to me, and I catch a hint of his scent, his physical presence making my heart thud like a beating drum. Why does he have to stand so darn close? Doesn’t he know it’s confusing for me?
More than confusing.
“What is interesting, Brady, is how the thought of another woman visiting me has clearly upset you so much.”
“I’m not upset. I’m only—” I search for the correct word. “—concerned.”
“You’re concerned.”
“Yes. I’m concerned about our deal.” He holds my gaze and I fight the urge to wrap my arms around him and kiss him.
Wait, what?!
Me, kiss Sebastian? Have I completely lost my mind?
I clear my throat. “Speaking of which, I need to thank you for the chance to promote my label tomorrow when we travel. It’s really great of you to set that up for me.”
“I’m only pleased I could help.”
“You’re a total lifesaver. Truly.”
“Well, there’s only so many times I want an angry Texan turning up at my room in the middle of the night.”
I bat him playfully on the arm. “Oh, you love it.”
“Once you’ve got your label on camera, I imagine you’ll want to leave.”
Getting away from here is all I’ve been able to think about since the Regency clothes bomb was dropped. But that was before I began to feel things for Sebastian I never expected to feel. Confusing things.
Wonderful things.
I nod. “That’s the plan.”
“As impossible as I imagine you’ll find this, I will be sorry to see you go.”
My heart rate picks up again. “I thought I was a pain in your butt.”
A smirk spreads across his face. “What makes you say that?”
“Are you serious right now? I haven’t exactly been nice to you.”
“Granted, you are pushy, and you came here to promote your label, which I might remind you is against the rules. And not only that, you get extremely bolshie when you don’t get your way.”
“Don’t hold back there, cowboy.”
“Despite it all, Emma Brady, I find you intriguing. Irritating beyond belief, but intriguing all the same.”
A blink at him. Sebastian finds me intriguing? I swallow down a rising lump. “You do?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“Well, I am a thoroughly intriguing person,” I deadpan.
His eyes crinkle as his smirk reaches across his face. “And extremely modest, as well.”
“So, what’s so intriguing about me exactly, huh?”
Please don’t judge me. It’s not every day a guy who looks like Sebastian compliments me like that.
“How about we start with the fact that you’re the only contestant who’s not trying to impress me in the least. In fact, you’ve made it abundantly clear you want nothing to do with me.”
My heart sinks. I’m intriguing because I’ve shown no interest in him. “That sounds like a classic avoidance strategy to me.”
“Perhaps it is, Brady, but I like having you around.”
My breath catches in my throat. He likes having me around? Does that mean ... ?
I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. “You do?”
“I do.”
Although my tummy does a flip at the thought, I narrow my eyes at him and reply, “No, you don’t.”
“Who are you to tell me who I do and don’t like? I think I’m the best judge of that.”
I chew on my lip, watching him. “Sure, you’re right,” I concede. “But you’re also wrong.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Thank you for being so very clear.”
“What I mean is, you think you like having me around, when really you don’t.”
“Might I refer you to my earlier statement about me being the best judge of how I feel?”
“Let me spell it out for you. This is a totally artificial environment. We’ve been thrown together, we’re all dressed up, you’re pretending to be Mr. Darcy, I’m one of The Lizzies.” I roll my eyes on behalf of Jane Austen. “It’s only natural that we would develop feelings for one another.”
His face creases into a smile. “You have feelings for me, Brady?”
Dang it! Did I just say that?
“No, I don’t!” I insist far too firmly.
“You just said