Sebastian (The Billionaire Boyfriend #1) - Christina Benjamin Page 0,24

Holly is the right woman, then you don’t need to worry about your business or your money either. All you need to worry about is if you’re okay with waking up tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, without her in your life. If you don’t chase her now, you may lose her forever.”

Even though the music continues, my body halts its movement, the song muting in my mind.

“Are you okay with that?” Clara asks firmly, gazing at me as I step back from her, arms falling limp at my side.

My eyes travel the room, passing over every single person inside on a hunt for the one person who matters.

I know what I have to do.

Chapter 14

Holly

“Why can’t you be here, Mom?” I whisper to myself, chin tilting up toward the sky.

Overhead, gray clouds slowly creep across the sky. They swirl, blocking out the twinkling stars one-by-one. The weatherman promised a completely clear night. Obviously he was wrong. It’s not like I could blame him, it’s so easy to be wrong.

If I could have just one more conversation with my mother, maybe I could make some sense out of all of this. My emotions are more tumultuous than the brewing storm, whirling around like a hurricane in my core.

When I close my eyes, all I see is Bash’s face. I see his warm eyes, that faint smile, I feel his hands curling around my hips to pull me against him. I see his gentleness with that stressed mother this morning. I see his reassurance to Mary. I see him focused intently on the cupcakes for his sister.

A hot breeze blows through the veranda, floral scents prickling my nose. Lavender suddenly wafts through the air, my eyes springing open. Bash stands before me, several long sprouts of the purple tipped herb trapped carefully in his large hand.

“I saw them on my way over here. They made me think of you.” When he speaks, the sound is quiet, gruff . . . uncertain.

He thrusts the flowers toward me. I take them, inhaling the comforting scent that reminds me of my bakery and my mother.

“Are you all right?” he asks, edging closer. “You ran off so quickly . . .”

I nod, scooting over on the bench so that he can join me. Together, we gaze back at the reception as music drifts through the breeze. The people inside are all having a great time and here Bash and I sit in tense, awkward silence.

I open my mouth, struggling to put words to my thoughts, but I can’t seem to manage any.

“Will you dance with me?” he asks abruptly, cocking his head just slightly so he can gaze at me from the corner of his eye.

His question is so unexpected that I can’t help but laugh in surprise. The action eases my troubled heart. Or, perhaps, it’s just being with Bash again that makes me feel calmer. When I’m around him I feel truly content.

Well, when I'm not imagining him ripping off my clothing, that is.

“You want to dance?” I ask.

He nods.

“Why?”

“We didn’t finish our song,” he explains simply, as though that made all the sense in the world.

Strangely, it did.

When he stands, holding out a hand toward me, I can’t imagine saying no. Silently, I take his hand in mine, shivering at the brush of our palms as I settle in his embrace.

We rock together, moving slowly despite the quick tempo of the song. Soon the music seems to fade away all together. All that remains is the rushing of wind through the trees, the buzz of fireflies in the air, and the scent of lavender from the flowers in my hand.

Bash takes a sudden breath, his grasp tightening on my hips as he pulls me closer to his chest. Arms snaking around me, his fingertips press into my bare back as he holds me tight. Our movement stops, my breath freezing in my lungs. I can’t help but melt against him, relishing in the feeling of his body pressed to my own. I feel the same thundering against my ribs and realize with a start that it’s both of our hearts beating rapidly in time.

“Holly,” he murmurs huskily, “I don’t want tonight to be the last time I see you.”

I pull slightly back from him, gently pressing my palms to his chest. He tries to hug me back against him and I can see now that he’s trying to hide his expression. Those eyes, usually so cool and