A Second Look: A Forbidden Second Chance Romance Read online

  “Because you haven’t changed at all. You’re still—”

  She cut herself off.

  “Go on,” I prompted, amused.

  “You’re still cocky. You still think being charming is a good cover up for being irritating.”

  “I’m irritating?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “You just don’t like how you feel with me,” I said to her.

  “Hmph,” was all she said, sighing in relief as we pulled up to the little jewelry store, the first one I’d ever bought. I parked outside and she got out, looking up at the storefront. When we went inside, she paused in the show room, looking around in wonder at the new and antique jewelry adorning the walls and cases.

  “Hi, Ernest,” I said to the man behind the counter, thin and lanky with a big, bright smile. “Wanna take a lunch? I’ll watch the store.”

  “Sure,” he said enthusiastically, his eyes darting to Eve, a smirk playing over his lips. He left us in the store then and Eve drifted to a counter, looking in the case with interest.

  “What do you think?” I asked her.

  “Everything is so beautiful,” she said, running her fingers lightly along the case. I pulled out a tray of rings and she tried them on her fingers, holding her hand in front of her and admiring the gems. She took the rings off carefully and put them back. Despite the beauty of the jewelry, I could only look at her face, the soft smile there as she looked at and held pretty things. She picked up a necklace and held it delicately between her fingers, gazing at the sapphires and diamond accents. I took it from her and moved around the counter, going to her back.

  “Do you want to try it on?” I asked from behind her. She shivered and nodded, and I pulled the necklace around her throat, holding my breath as my knuckles brushed the soft skin of her neck. I clasped it, feeling her body trembling there, and buried my face in her hair. I couldn’t help it. I kissed her head, lowering my face to softly kiss the nape of her neck. I could feel her breath catch in her throat when I kissed her shoulder, her body molding to mine from the front. My arms wrapped around her, moving down her body to her hips, holding her there as I kissed her neck again.

  “Sebastian,” she said softly, tilting her head back, letting me taste her skin. My hands traveled lower, down to her thighs, lifting her dress. She stopped me with her hands, turned around and looked into my eyes.

  “That’s never going to happen,” she said, searching my face.

  “Okay,” I said to her. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” she said, clearing her throat. “Can you take this off?”

  “Yes,” I said to her, reaching around, unclasping the necklace. She hesitated but then she pulled away.

  “Is this what you usually do here? Show off to women?”

  “No.” I said, no humor in my voice. “No, I don’t.”

  She stared at me for a moment.

  “Why do you come to the stores?”

  “I like to come to this one. It reminds me where I came from.”

  “You worked hard to get here,” she said, and I was surprised by her acknowledgment.

  “I did,” I said. “Very hard.”

  “Can we—get out of here?” she asked. “I’m not—I’m not used to this kind of thing.”

  “Jewelry?”

  “Opulence. There’s no real reason to own any of this.”

  “What’s wrong with owning something just because it’s beautiful?” I asked her. She shrugged.

  “It’s just impractical.”

  “Maybe you should allow something impractical into your world, Evelyn,” I said. She shot me a look.

  “I need to go home to get ready for this thing tonight. What should I wear?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  “So if I show up in jeans—”

  “I’ll defend—to the death—your right to wear jeans,” I said to her, and a small smile appeared over her lips, lingering for only a moment before it was gone again.

  “I won’t do that to you.”

  “No, feel free,” I said, grinning at her. “I kind of want to see what you look like in a nice pair of jeans.”

  She rolled her eyes at me, though there was amusement in her gaze.

  “Let’s go,” she said. “I need a couple of hours.”

  I nodded, glad that some of the tension had dissipated and that I’d seen somewhat of a smile from her.

  Chapter 8: Eve

  “Is this fine?” I asked him, standing in front of him with my arms to my sides. I was wearing a sweater and a thick pair of black leggings, short black heels and just enough makeup to look casual and natural. In truth, I had no idea what casual meant amongst a group of the wealthy elite, but I knew when Sebastian looked me over that I had made a good choice.

  “Perfect,” he said, nodding at me in approval. He winked and my breath caught in my chest for a moment, a feeling I pushed away as we turned around to go to his car.

  We arrived at the house of the party within a few minutes—Sebastian and the host, a man named Jeremy, lived in the same neighborhood. Sebastian got out quickly and opened the door for me, taking my hand to step out of the car.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  “No,” I said. He slipped his hand in mine and I gave him a questioning look.

  “You can’t be press, remember?”

  “So I’m your girlfriend?” I asked. “Can’t we just be friends?”

  “I’d never bring someone who was just a friend to a gathering like this,” he said. “And they know that. You’ll just have to pretend to like me for a couple of hours.”

  “I’ll try,” I said, glancing away from the amused look on his face. He squeezed my hand and led me to the front gate, pushing the button and speaking into the intercom.

  “Jeremy,” he said. “It’s me.”

  “Seb?”

  “Yeah,” Sebastian said. The gate swung open slowly and we walked up the straight stone path to the front of the mansion. The door was already open when we got there, and Sebastian opened the screen door and pulled me inside without knocking.

  “Hey,” came a familiar voice to the left of me. I turned to see Eddy hurrying toward us. I let go of Sebastian’s hand and turned to greet him. Eddy swept me into a hug and I laughed at his warmth. He’d always been funny and kind, though he was nearly ten years younger than we were.

  “Hi, Eddy,” I said, beaming at him. “How are you?”

  “I’m perfect,” Eddy said, pulling back, looking me over. “Wow. I was half-sure Sebastian was lying when he said you two were dating.”

  “I told you,” Sebastian said, taking my hand, bringing it up to his lips for a soft kiss that made me shiver. “I’m lucky.”

  “Very lucky,” I said, gently slipping my hand away, unable to stand his touch without shaking.

  “I’d definitely say so,” Eddy said, looking me over again. “You look really incredible, Evie.”

  “Thank you,” I said to him.

  “Oh, come to the study, Sebastian. We’re about to do a toast.”

  “To what?” I asked as we started up the stairs.

  “To life. To beautiful things,” Eddy said in a grand tone. “What else?”

  “What else, indeed,” Sebastian said, glancing over at me. We went through a set of wide double-doors to see a dozen or so people milling about a room talking to each other. I recognized Lola, as well as Sebastian’s cousin, Joseph, who had been in school a year above us. They all turned when we walked in, and Lola raised her eyebrows in surprise.

  “Hey,” Sebastian said, taking my hand again, guiding me over to a couch. He sat down lazily, pulling me with him as a man I didn’t recognize brought us each a drink.

  “Seb,” Jeremy said, clinking their glasses together. “I’m glad you could make it.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it,” Sebastian said. “Jeremy, everyone, this is Evelyn Fox.”

  “Eve,” I said to them. There were murmurs of greeting and I could feel Sebastian�
�s eyes on my face as he took a sip of his liquor. A moment later, we had second glasses in our hands— thin champagne flutes filled with bubbling liquid.

  “To beauty,” Jeremy said, holding his glass up. The rest of us did the same. Sebastian’s eyes locked on mine as he downed his champagne and for a moment I couldn’t look away. The room disappeared around me and all I could see were the crinkles at the corner of his eyes as he smiled, the color of his gaze, the curve of his lips.

  “So,” Jeremy said, sitting across from us. “How long have you two—”

  “A few months,” Sebastian said quickly, exchanging a glance with me before he spoke.

  “Three.” I said.

  “That’s a long time for you, Seb,” Jeremy said, clapping him on the shoulder.

  “There’s no going back after her,” Sebastian said. I didn’t look at him— I didn’t want to see the lie on his face. I knew Sebastian wanted me but that was as far as it went, and for some reason it put a sour feeling in my stomach to see how effortless the lie really was for him. I wondered if he lied that way to other women, but tried not to think about it, instead smiling at Jeremy as the man stood up and went to the corner of the room. He used a remote to open a panel in the bookcase, revealing a stereo that he turned on to fill the room with music. Sebastian stood up and so did I, and he lowered his face to speak into my ear.

  “Two hours,” he promised. “No more.”

  “Fine,” I said to him. He nodded at the drink in my hand.

  “Have fun,” he said, and I downed it in two swallows. All I could think about was how Sebastian’s skin felt pressed to mine—he was still holding my hand, and though I knew it was just for show, something in my chest felt light and bubbly when his thumb stroked mine. I was bereft when he did let go, but the feeling left when he turned to look into my eyes. He smiled and something fluttered in my stomach as he leaned forward to kiss me softly on the lips, taking me by surprise.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said to me. I nodded and watched as he went to his cousin, formally shaking his hand, a serious look on his face.

  “Eve,” came a voice behind me. I turned to see Lola standing there, a questioning look on her face.

  “Hi, Lola,” I said to her.

  “What is going on?” she asked. “Why—why are you kissing Sebastian?”

  I blushed and looked away from her.

  “I didn’t—he—I was as surprised by that as you were,” I said to her. “I’m pretending to be his girlfriend so I can get into this party.”

  “Oh,” Lola said slowly. “I see.”

  “Yeah,” I said to her, filled with embarrassment. “I’m—where’s the bathroom?”

  “Through that hall and to the left,” Lola said. There was a suspicious look on her face that put a knot in my throat. I hurried away from her, down the hall toward the bathroom. I stopped when I heard Sebastian’s voice, too soft to know what he was saying but loud enough for me to know it was him. The door of the room was slightly ajar, and I peered inside to see Sebastian talking to his cousin, arms folded across his chest, a furious look on his face that I had never seen there before. I looked at Joseph to see that there was a sympathetic look on his face.

  “It isn’t supposed to be this way with your dad. You know that.”

  “I’ve tried to get him help, Sebastian.”

  “I know,” said Sebastian, sounding defeated, a bit of the rage gone out of him.

  “He’s going to be okay. I promise I’m taking care of him,” Joseph said softly. Sebastian said something again, his voice going quiet. I darted away as he turned toward the door, going to the bathroom, locking myself in for a moment to gather myself.

  I opened the door, let out a small cry of surprise when I ran straight into Sebastian’s chest. He put his hands on my shoulders to steady me, looking down at my face. There was still anger there, but also a heated desire that made my whole body react, growing warm and flushed. A soft noise escaped his throat and he backed me against the door, lowering his face, taking my mouth in a hot kiss that filled with an instant hunger. I slipped my tongue between his lips and he sighed, tasting me back, pressing me against the door with his body. I was filled with need and desire, rubbing myself against him like a cat. The kiss went on and on until I heard someone clear her throat. Sebastian didn’t care. He continued to kiss me, ignoring the sound. I had to force myself to turn my face away from him, shame filling me when I saw Lola standing there.

  “Do you want to go home, Eve?” Sebastian asked, not addressing Lola at all.

  “Yes,” I said to him.

  “Good,” he said, sweeping past Lola. I didn’t meet her eye as I followed him, relieved when he quickly said goodbye to Jeremy and told him that I didn’t feel well. I apologized to Jeremy as we left, hurrying to the car. I felt breathless as we got in, and Sebastian turned to look at me as he started the car.

  Chapter 9: Sebastian

  I stared at Eve, studying her face, the look of wanting there, of shame and guilt and longing. I felt something expand in my chest, leaned in again, trying to kiss her the way I needed to so badly. She moved away from me, shaking her head.

  “I’m not going to do this,” she said. “I’m not going to be one of your toys.”

  “My toys?” I asked her. “You think you’re some plaything?”

  “I know I am,” she said sharply. “And we don’t need to do this. We’re working together. It’s unprofessional.”

  “I don’t want to use you and throw you away,” I said to her.

  “You think it matters?” she asked, her face screwing up in irritation. “You treat women like—”

  She cut herself off. I took a deep breath to steady my anger, though I knew she was right. There had been periods when I’d taken a different woman home each night, desperate for the touch, unable to know her beyond her body.

  “Eve,” I said to her. “I’m sorry I kissed you.”

  “I am, too,” she said. “But it was—just for show. There’s no reason to do it again.”

  “Just for show,” I repeated.

  “Yes,” she said. I grinned at her.

  “Okay,” I said. “Let’s go home.”

  “Thanks,” she said dryly. I started the car and we spent the few minutes it took to drive back in silence. When we got to my place and through the gates, she got into her car without another word and left. I sighed and pulled out of the drive without even going inside. I headed into the city, to my uncle’s place— a small, basic house that he wouldn’t allow me to move him from. I used my key to get into the house and saw my uncle sitting in his wheelchair in front of the TV. He turned to look at me when I walked in, a weak smile coming over his face.

  “Sebastian,” he said warmly. “Come sit down.”

  “Hey, Uncle Mike,” I said to him, joining him in the living room, taking a seat on the couch.

  “How are you?”

  “I’m fine,” he said, but his voice wasn’t convincing.

  “Are you sure?” I asked. “I talked to Joseph—”

  “Joseph has been taking care of me,” my uncle said in a tired voice. “He’s doing his best.”

  “I told you to let me hire you a nurse,” I said to him. “It’s really no problem. You’ll get around much better, and—”

  “I’m not some old man. I can take care of myself.”

  “You look thin,” I said to him, frowning.

  “I’m fine,” he repeated again, waving me off. “How are you?”

  “I’m—okay,” I said to him, thinking for a moment about Eve and her anger. I didn’t feel okay when I thought about her expression, but I didn’t have it in me to talk to my uncle about that. “I’ve been doing well.”

  “Good,” he said, reaching over, patting me on the knee. “You’re a good kid, Sebastian.”

  I laughed. “I’m not exactly a child.”

  “You’re still a kid to me,” he said with another small, almost sad smile.

  “How’s your brother?
” he asked.

  “Eddy? He’s good. I just saw him.”

  “Is he safe?” my uncle asked. I looked at him in confusion.

  “Why wouldn’t he be safe?”

  He didn’t respond to that, but took a deep breath before he spoke.

  “Just take care of him,” he said. “Keep him safe.”

  “I will,” I promised. “Why wouldn’t he be safe, Mike?”

  “The two of you—too rich for your own good. Makes things dangerous.”

  “We’re fine. We can both take care of ourselves.”

  “I know,” my uncle said softly. “I just worry about you boys.”

  “We’re okay,” I said again. “You don’t have to worry.”

  He nodded, then yawned, stretching in his chair.

  “I’m going to go to bed,” he said. “Thank you for stopping by.”

  “Do you need help?” I asked him. His lips pressed into a thin line.

  “I can take care of myself, too, Sebastian,” he said, his voice almost cold. I apologized and told him goodnight, then left as he disappeared into his room. I made my way back to my house, my mind full of questions. The first thing I did when I got there was pull out my phone and call Eddy. I cursed when he didn’t answer, getting more nervous about my uncle’s words than I wanted to admit. I thought about going back to Jeremy’s just to check on him, but told myself that I was just being paranoid. Instead, I went to bed, and was only asleep for a few hours before there was a knock on my front door. I awoke with my heart pounding in my chest, a sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew what it was even before I made my way down the stairs and to my front door, opening it to see two police officers outside.

  “Eddy,” I said.

  “Are you the brother of Edward Cunningham?”

  “Yes,” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat.

  “I’m sorry I have to tell you this,” the female officer said with no hint of sympathy in her voice. “Your brother is dead. His body was found by a couple walking the path in Pawnee Park.”

  “Oh,” I said, my knees feeling weak. I leaned against the door to support myself, feeling dizzy and sick at the words.

  “How?”