Another huge clap of thunder rolls overhead and I jump, making us both giggle even more.
“Chris and Leo?” I decide against forcing my own views on these men on her - she is happy and that’s what matters - who am I to comment on the fact that she’s up for testing the waters with several at once?Instead, I just grin back at her. “I think we need to get your lucky knickers out and strategise.”
Meg shrugs her shoulders saucily in response. “Or I could just get my lucky knockers out? That should do the trick!”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I’m full-on belly laughing at this point, glad of the distraction from my thoughts about all things Sebastian and baby for all of two minutes but notice something flash past the window. I look up to see Meg step aside, allowing someone to come in out of the heavy rain. Speak of the devil.
“Evening, ladies,” Sebastian drawls in his deep sexy voice, his eyes immediately on mine. “I wonder if I could have a word with you, Lucia.” He smiles in the direction of Meg and adds, “In private, if you don’t mind, love.”
Arrogant bastard. He’s early and now my nerves are going haywire.
As my stomach does somersaults I try to hold his gaze steadily. It takes everything I have to appear nonchalant, as if I don’t want to throw his cocky arse back on the street and say I’m not ready for you, come back in an hour but it needed to be done and now.
“Oh don’t mind me, guys, I’ve tea to sort for the kids anyway.” Meg flusters, open mouthed in her awe of Sebastian’s presence. I sense that she is not ready to escape from the difficult atmosphere but would actually prefer to be a voyeur. This is probably the most excitement she’s had in forever, now that she’s dating dreary Leo the accountant. Sebastian turns his head back to her, obviously questioning why she is still there and with a quick eye-roll directed at me, over Sebastian’s head, she mouths Good Luck and closes the door behind her. Thanks, I’ve a feeling I’m going to need it.
It’s only then, that I allow myself to really look at Sebastian and my mouth dries, as I take-in the image of his black leather attire. Oh my word he’s come in his motorbike gear; I’m already on the back foot – which he probably realised would happen when he decided to come. He’s so not playing fair!
Putting his helmet down on the console table, he walks straight through to the lounge, down the stairs and into the kitchen, (sorry my kitchen, I think petulantly) and barks up in my direction, “Are you coming down then?”
He’s in a great mood.
Dumb-founded at his arrogance, I duly follow, hastily checking my appearance in the frameless hall mirror en route. I flick my hair over and smooth it out a little and apprehensively pad down into the basement floor. Taking a deep breath, I hold it a while and then expel it with an exaggerated pursing of my lips; this was going to be tough but I had that excitable flippy-floppy tummy thing going on that happened before you went on a death-trap ride; all eagerness and fear rolled-up into one ball of butterflies.
Sebastian has already opened the back door when I enter the kitchen, the fresh breeze that fills it is a welcome addition. The rain is pouring into the small yard to the exterior of the house and the sound is deafening as it runs off the roof, through the gutter and escapes via the many cracks, running in heavy trickles onto the path below.
“Well?” he practically spits the word out, his eyes burning into me in pure contempt.
What the fuck? Who the hell does he think he is? What have I done?
I purposely delay answering him and wander over to the door leaning against it. I stare right back at him, taking in his dark brown eyes and tight jaw. God, he is angry.
“I don’t jump at your every command, Sebastian.”
His eyes assess my every move but he doesn’t speak so I continue. “Get rid of the attitude. Now!” My own voice trembles. I am so annoyed. He was pissed, I understood that but he wasn’t helping and the more he acted so foul the more I retracted from him and it would get us nowhere fast.
He rubs his hand over his smooth head in exasperation, obviously uncomfortable.
“We need to talk.” Nothing but silence…again.
“We do. I agree.”
“You’ve ignored me since last night - do I have something to be worried about?”
“No. Of course not.” Leaning out into the night air, my face and hair are instantly soaked from the overhanging drip above. Great. Not such a good look. Fuck it. The air is so humid in the kitchen, due to the weather and the tempestuous tension in there, that the cool water now running off my hair onto my skin is actually very liberating and enjoying the sensation I step out onto the patio. I don’t wait for Sebastian as I hold my arms up to the dark grey turbulent sky and embrace the cool shower. Seb is leaning against the doorframe, just watching me. I cannot tell what he is thinking, but his eyes are hooded and his mouth set in a grim line.